04.06.01 Hein’s Castle
36th Clip - Title: First Speech Lesson - (08:59 m. - 3:31:39 h.)
This clip is posted in gratitude to the 1992 committee of the GUAA’s Laurent Clerc Cultural Fund who granted funding for my airfare to Europe that summer. See here for this blog’s first deaf history video clip of the oldest oral school in Germany. I am grateful for GUAA’s support because this trip to various deaf history sites in Europe invaluably helped me visualize many scenes in the myth, even more so while presently enlarging the myth three times more. I will repeat my gratitude to the GUAA Clerc committee whenever I post myth clips having symbolic representations of places in Liepzig, Paris, Hartford, and Washington, D.C.
Enjoy the Deaf Child’s first speech lesson with Dr. Hein. Click away . . .
Click here for YouTube if above undownloadable or not working. Thank you.
I could not embed here my video of my visit to the Samuel Heinicke School in Liepzig, Germany. I will keep on trying. Meanwhile, please click on the words - Heinicke School - to view the video. Thank you. HEINICKE SCHOOL
Commentary: As you may notice, words used in the deaf child’s first speech lesson came from a different language. Yes, from the German language because it was in Germany where oralism first began (around the same time in England with the Braidwood schools) and was instrumental in spreading the oral method before the 1880 Milan Convention where Italian and French oral educators cemented the spread of oral method all over the world. The German words used in this clip were: sprechen, horle, taub, eule, vater, and mutter. Can you guess what they mean based on contextual clues in the clip?
Again this clip is too long. It can be split between after the speech lesson and the grieving mother’s return to the castle to sign the papers. I apologize for the length which could tax on your attention span. Thank you for you patience and continuing to view the clip(s).
Myth Commentary: In this TDC blog, I have not discussed the significance of the emergence of a myth in the deaf community. As the creator of a genuine mythology based on the Deaf Spirit, I felt it is arrogant and presumptuous for me to state that my story here is the myth of the Deaf because any story or epic becomes a myth only when its viewer/readers/users fall in love with it and declare it a sacred myth (or “bible-like” epic). My research/reading on the functions of mythology and religion in society have demonstrated to me that mythology plays a very critical role in making a community more cohesive and proud of themselves (very psychological). And that the deaf community has not yet seen, accept, love, and celebrate one that represent their Deaf spirit. People, both deaf and hearing, still do not understand the importance of the role mythology play in the their minds and souls.
Once deaf (and hearing) people fully understand and appreciate this (and any other) mythology, their Deafhood SOAR!
Let me close by sharing this anecdote. Few weeks ago, a deaf woman, a “famous” blogger, told me that viewing clips of this mythology is like reading the bible. I gasped at the truth she saw. She is beginning to grasp the full meaning of this myth and what it means for the deafhood of the deaf community. I have decided not to proselytize, attempt to “sell” this myth, or try to shove this story in any one’s throat (eyes). Truth and reality in life are best understood when voluntarily sought, and not forced upon.
May VisMa be with the readers/viewers/users of this sacred story.
Namaste’
Hello Mr. Katz, I am still enjoying the myth of the deaf child. I’m delighted to see you have expanded your site and continue to grow. I believe that Dr. Heinecke meant well by what he did, but he was trying to ‘fix’ the child not give him the communication device of a language. The worst part of this is I know, in parts of our world, this is still happening. It brings tears to my eyes when I think of the pain and suffering that still occur. I’ll be watching as your site grows to its completion. Bless you, Jeanne
Comment by Jeanne Walker | April 15, 2008