Share away! Thank you in advance! ♥️
[Video transcript]
Adonia: Hello, I’m here at the old GSD building called the Primary Building (or “PB”). I’m going to tell you a story about this building. As you know, Deaf schools in USA are very important – yes – and the stories of the Deaf students, in ASL, are very precious. They should be preserved! This building, “PB”, can become a National Deaf Schools Museum. It is a really huge and beautiful building which has been left abandoned for more than 20 (oops 40!) years now. It should be put to good use.
Adonia: What I want to ask from you all is to please reach out to your friends, families, and anyone you know in Deaf community to share this video to everyone in the world. Anyone, even corporate companies, or any affluent people who would be happy to donate for the purpose of purchasing the Primary building and converting it into the National Deaf Schools Museum. It’s that important.
Adonia: I’ll share a short historical story about how the Deaf schools are established and spread across USA. In Paris, France, a Deaf school was established in the summer of 1760. It was a result of two young Deaf twin sisters who already knew signed language at the age of 15. They were taught in their own house by Charles Michel de l’Epee (earlier the girls were tutored by a cleric who then passed away, and l’Epee had since taken over his job). l’Epee also started teaching other Deaf children/adults who came to his private school from all over the country. That school incorporated many different signed languages – but it’s not French Sign Language, yet! But Epee’s school supported all signed languages.
Adonia: But later on, Charles de l’Epee passed away. Two years later, on July 29, 1791, the French government, understanding the importance of education for the Deaf school, allocated the money and incorporated l’Epee’s private school into a government-run Deaf school (which had earlier opened the door to Deaf students in 1760).
Adonia: The point is, the Deaf Paris School is connected to the other Deaf schools in USA who celebrated their own incorporation dates and/or opening dates. (No Deaf schools or their opening/incorporating dates are alike, of course.) In America, none of the Deaf schools have set up an offical standard for others to follow. ASL Rose, though, set a series of standards for all Deaf schools. For example, American School for the Deaf opened their doors on April 15, 1817…that’s the day Laurent Clerc taught Deaf students there. That is correct. But the incorporation date? It was May 19, 1816. So that means the date of incorporating the Deaf school by the state is recognized, but also acknowleged the opening of the doors on April 15, 1817.
Adonia: See what I mean? All Deaf schools should have incorporation dates and also the dates of the opening of doors too, and of course they’re not all the same – meaning one will have opening date first, incorporating date later, or vice versa. Or just one date – incorporation – and not the date of opening the doors. Even so, both dates are equally important. But I won’t tell all the Deaf schools to show both dates. Some of them will have different ideas how to designate the date for the first day their schools opened to Deaf students.
Adonia: So, the point is, please share the video to all people out there, including private investors, or even to big companies too – to donate to National Deaf Schools Museum! Families, friends, everyone – please share and show your support! And if you agree with this story in this story – say yes or no – please comment! Thanks!
