Laurent Clerc: Pioneer of Deaf Education and Culture

Laurent Clerc is a name known by many around the world. Clerc was born in June 27, 1880 in La Balme-les-Grottes, France. Clerc was pronounced deaf as baby. When he was about a year old, he had been left alone for a few moments, in a chair by the fire; he fell and badly burned his face. His family believed it was the accident that deprived him of his hearing and sense of smell; but he may have been born that way. When Laurent was 12 years old, he was enrolled in the Instit National de Jeune Sourds-Mirets in Paris which was the first public school for the deaf in the world. Laurent Clerc captivated the world by excelling in deaf education, was honored and respected by all who knew him, and helped shape America with deaf culture and education.
Laurent Clerc excelled in his studies and learned many important lessons through his education. Laurent’s first teacher, Jean Massieu, was 25 years old and deaf just like him. Massieu became a mentor and lifelong friend of Clerc’s. Abbe Margaron, an assistant teacher, tried teaching him to pronounce words. Clerc had difficulty in pronouncing certain syllables which often frustrated Margaron. “One day he became so impatient he gave me a violent blow on the chin; I bit my tongue and dissolved in tears” (Lane 1984) and therefore swore

he would never try to speak again. This experience helped teach him that the art of signing for deaf people is more influential and easier at the time. After just eight years of schooling, Clerc was chosen to become a tutor and a year later was hired as a teacher.
Being honored and respected by all who knew him, Laurent Clerc helped shape deaf culture around the world.

In 1815, Clerc and Massieu, Clerc’s mentor, went with Sicard to England where they lectured and demonstrated their teaching methods. One of their lectures was attended by a minster from Hartford, Connecticut, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet. By 1816, Clerc had become Sicard’s chief assistant. He taught the highest class in the Institution. Gallaudet was given private lessons by Clerc. Gallaudet was so impressed by Clerc that he invited him to go to America and help him establish a school for the deaf there. Clerc was only 28 years old and knew the work would be an enormous benefit for the

Americans.
Motivated by the fact that deaf Americans had no language and were receiving no education, Laurent Clerc fascinated the world with his influence on American deaf culture. On June 18, 1816, Clerc and Gallaudet left for America. The voyage was fifty-two days long and Clerc used that time to teach Gallaudet signs. In return Clerc received tutoring in the English language from Gallaudet. “On April 15, 1817, rented rooms made up their school which opened with seven students – Alice Cogswell being the first to enroll.” (Canlas, 1999). The school was originally called the Connecticut Asylum at Hartford for the Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons, but is now called the American School for the Deaf. Gallaudet served as the principal and Clerc was the head teacher. Clerc devoted his life to the interests of this institution which was very successful. Clerc taught students and also trained future teachers and administrators, both hearing and deaf. Many of their students went on to become productive deaf citizens and educated deaf leaders, spreading his teachings and making Clerc the greatest influence in establishing new deaf schools in the States at that time. Although Clerc never attended college, he was given several honorary degrees for his pioneering work in deaf education.
Through the teachings and efforts of Laurent Clerc, many people have seen the greatness he accomplished. As the Hartford students and teachers widely spread Clerc’s teaching in original format while still adding new signs, deaf communication acquired an individual form. This gradually developed into the American Sign Language, used in education and integrated into the personal lives of America’s deaf population and its culture. Clerc died on the 18th of July in 1869 at the age of 84. He was respected and honored by all.