Dr. Albert Louis Edgerton Crouter
1867-1925
In 1909, the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (PSD) shocked the nation when the superintendent announced that the school banned the use of sign language in classrooms and would use oral methods exclusively. Superintendent Dr. Albert Louis Edgerton Crouter caused it all.
The PSD was well-known school and the
largest deaf residence school in the United States of America. During 1860's
the school had approximately 190 students. From 1823 to 1884, the
Superintendents, Dr. Hutton and Dr. Foster, exercised their common belief
concerning the use of sign language in the classrooms. Their philosophy was
very simple. They believed that things should not change drastically nor should
new ideas be accepted. They were taught signs by a legendary deaf man, Laurent
Clerc. He served as acting Superintendent for 7 months when the school was
opened in 1820.
Crouter hailed from Canada. His first
teaching job was in the Kansas School for the Deaf in 1865. The school offered
him a principalship but he declined to accept a teaching position at the
Pennsylvania School for the Deaf in 1867. He was only 23 years old. His tenure
at PSD lasted for 58 years.
In 1870, the school offered a trial oral
class but it was a dismal failure, lasting only a few years.
Crouter succeeded Superintendent Foster in
1884. One of his first actions was to establish an oral section. That was a
separate building from those students who used signs. He also improved the
condition of the classrooms and provided the students with textbooks and
materials. In later years the enrollment grew to almost 800 students.
Crouter first met Alexander Graham Bell in
1877 while teaching in a classroom. Bell was walking pass Crouter's classroom
with a Philadelphia Star reporter. Later in the day they met and chatted for a
while. Crouter had heard of Bell through his works relating to inventions and
speech for deaf children.
During Crouter's superintendency, he became
close with Bell. Together they established the Volta Bureau, currently the
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf. Dr. Crouter was actively
involved in the Bureau serving as president and a director and remained active
until his death in 1925.
Crouter was respected and loved by many
deaf people. He had a remarkable ability to remember faces, particularly of the
deaf. He was very supportive of the Pennsylvania Society for the Advancement of
the Deaf (PSAD) founded in 1881. The Society's main objective was to create a Home
for the Aged and Infirm Deaf. Dr. Crouter played a major part in establishing
the Home to which he gave not only advice, but also financial support. He
rarely missed the annual PSAD convention. He communicated with the deaf people
through signs.
In 907 the Board of Directors of the School
decided that the use of oralism in the classroom was a failure. They decided to
discontinue it and return to using signs in the classrooms. But Crouter stopped
them and convinced the Board Members to set up a committee to further explore
oralism and collect information from various oral schools in both America and
Europe. The Board agreed and Crouter appointed himself to the task and did the
research. When he returned with the information, he convinced the Board that
(delete) oralism was the best way to educate deaf children. The school decided
in 1909 to ban the use of signs and use oralism exclusively in the classrooms.
For 25 years the school had maintained separate facilities for oral and sign
classes.
Ironically, in 1910, the PSAD gave Crouter
an expensive plaque for his loyal dedication and great service to the deaf
people. Upon receiving the plaque, he told the audience, signing, "I want
to talk directly to you, I do not want to use speech or use an interpreter..."
Crouter wrote to Edward Miner Gallaudet,
President of Gallaudet University, suggesting he establish a separate building
for deaf oralists on the same campus. He added that if Gallaudet did not
approve his idea, he would act to start another college for deaf oralists.
Gallaudet's long reply stated that it would be foolish to have another separate
college for deaf oralists mainly out of financial concerns. One college could
successfully serve various kinds of hearing loss individuals.
When Crouter died in 1925 at age of 79, he
received many letters of appreciation from all over the United States, and
Europe. Many came from deaf people. In his will, he asked to have his body
viewed in the school, knowing that deaf people could come. He specifically
requested deaf pallbearers. He was buried in New England.
Warren Smaltz, one of the Board member of
PSAD recalled his encounter with Crouter. Warren Smaltz acknowledged that Dr.
Crouter was success in educating the Deaf must be ascribed his love for them,
and to his sincere devotion. He also regarded his work as a service rendered to
God. He was a loyal churchgoer. He attended the Church where the Deaf people
attended. The Priest was also a Deaf man. He was Rev. Henry Winter Syle, the first
Deaf to be ordained into priesthood. A few years ago, Mr. Smaltz asked him,
"Why he labored to impart speech to all the deaf, however, inapt some of
his pupils may be." In answer he opened a Prayer book and pointed to the
vesicle: O' Lord, open thou our lips, then he pointed to the responses: And our
mouth shall show forth Thy praise"
When Crouter died in 1925, he requested to
have 4 Deaf ball bearers. He was buried in New Hampshire.
Sources-
-Gallaudet University Archives - Pennsylvania School for the Deaf
Materials.
-Pennsylvania Society for the Advancement of the Deaf Annual
Reports, 1900
-1925.Volta Review, Washington, D.C. 1925.
Contributing:
Reginald L. Boyd