Why Did AG Bell Want to Eliminate ASL?

Back in 1880 in Milan, Italy, over 90% of the convention attendees (all hearing) decided to start promoting the Oral method for Deaf babies and children more aggressively all over the world.

What bothered me was that why not just add oral training to the already established (sign)language philosophy of Deaf education rather than throw it all away? Completely eliminate natural sign language from all the Deaf babies and children in school?

Just why did the world think that it was alright for oralists at Milan to perpetuate linguicism against the Deaf people’s natural sign languages all over the world?

Was it because the oralists and other people assumed that Deaf people did not have the self-dignity to be concerned about it?  Why did Alexander Graham Bell enthusiastically push the resolutions of the Milan, Conference in America?

I am not against speech but WHY eliminate or oppress American Sign Language? It’s the language that enabled me as a Deaf person to finally be able to achieve being a normal person at the age of 19 after being able to interact with another human beings.

I just did not realize the value of American Sign Language until I learned how to use it to interact with others and I understand why those who don’t know ASL are actually very ignorant and have a biased attitude against it, because I was once the ignorant one.

Now back to the question, Why did AGBell try to eliminate ASL? Why not promote bilingualism?

Enough is Enough!

John Egbert