Neil Genco
Sept. 8, 2012
Saint
Mary’s School for the Deaf
It all started about 150 years ago on September 26th,
1853 when a society was formed to aid and educate people who were
Deaf. The society was known back then as "LeCouteulx St. Mary's
Benevolent Society for the Deaf and Dumb." Little did they know back
then, what an impact their society would have on so many
individuals.
The school would have never been possible without help
from one of the trustees of the society -- Louis LeCouteulx de
Caumont donated to Bishop Timon one acre of land in the city of
Buffalo. LeCouteulx de Caumont donated the acre of land for the sole
purpose it being used as a location to establish an institution
which would educate people who were Deaf. The education program at
St. Mary’s School for the Deaf started with only four girls and a
few boys.
In order for the education program to grow, Bishop
Timon sent Sister Mary Anne Burke to receive specialized training in
different methods which were being used to teach the Deaf. The
training took place in Philadelphia at the Mt. Airy State Institute
for the Deaf in the year 1861. Sister Burke brought back different
teaching methods such as the combined method which included the use
of signs, fingerspelling, and speech. By implementing such methods
Saint Mary’s School for the Deaf transitioned itself to be more
attractive to potential students because it was up to date with the
contemporary teaching methods being used around the country. Sister
Burke became Saint Mary’s School for the Deaf principal in 1863.
Over the next couple of decades there were several additions to the
property -- expanding the campus of St. Mary’s and the student body
grew to eleven students. Then in 1873, Mother Mary Anne Burke
obtained state aid for all students attending Saint Mary’s School
for the Deaf over the age of twelve. Students that were under the
age of twelve were provided aid by the local county. This was a huge
financial turning point for the institution which allowed the school
to purchase the current site of Saint Mary’s School for the Deaf
located on Main Street at Dewey in the city of Buffalo, New York in
the year 1883.
In 1898 the main building that currently occupies
students today was dedicated to St. Mary’s School for the Deaf by
Bishop Quigley. By January of the New Year 1899 Saint Mary’s School
for the Deaf had increased its total student population to 77 boys
and 75 girls who came from all different surrounding areas. The main
building was the rock that has helped Saint Mary’s School for the
Deaf grow and educate the numerous Deaf students over the course of
its 158 years of existence.
Saint Mary’s School for the Deaf has provided an alumni
association, several sports teams, a teacher’s prep program with
Canisius College, a recreational park, a summer home for orphans,
summer camps for youth, and an everlasting impact on the lives of
the Deaf and hard of hearing.
One aspect of Saint Mary’s School for the Deaf that may
have facilitated the school's success and wide-reaching impact is
its educational philosophy of total communication. Saint Mary’s
School for the Deaf supports all methods of communication with its
students through amplification, hearing aids, cochlear implants,
assistive technology, speech and auditory training, sign language,
speech reading, voice and spoken English, written English, and
visual imagery.
The school's mission statement reads “Saint Mary’s
School for the Deaf is committed to providing equitable access to
exemplary educational programs that prepare Deaf students to be self
directed, lifelong learners, who are productive members of society.
Saint Mary’s School for the Deaf continues today to leave its mark
on the lives of many and has given the right of equality in
education to the Deaf community for 158 years. Saint Mary’s School
for the Deaf is looked to as a model of success for others and will
continue to lead others in Deaf education for years to come.
References:
http://www.smsdk12.org/
You can learn American Sign Language (ASL) online at American Sign Language University ™
ASL resources by Lifeprint.com © Dr. William Vicars
