Laurent Clerc: The Story of His Early Years

by Cathryn Carroll

Laurent Clerc won lasting renown as the deaf teacher who helped Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet establish schools to educate deaf Americans in the 19th century. Now, his character as a young boy growing up in Paris has been captured in the novel Laurent Clerc . In his own voice, Clerc vividly relates the experiences that led to his later progressive teaching methods. Especially influential was his long stay at the Royal National Institute for the Deaf in Paris, where he encountered sharply distinct personalities — the saintly, inspiring deaf teacher Massieu, the vicious Dr. Itard and his heartless “experiments” on deaf boys, and the “Father of the Deaf,” Abbe Sicard, who could hardly sign. Young adult readers will find his story richly entertaining as well as informative.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography

208 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1991

Reviews

[Liam Donahue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had to read a book for one assignment in a language class so that’s pretty fricking lame, but it offers a different perspective than my own, so can’t complain when I learn so much.
3.5/5

[Morgan :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good and informative! (I read this for ASL class.)

[Becca Rankin · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10 would recommend

[Gaile · Rating 4 out of 5]

This the story of Laurent Clerc who was persuaded by Tomas Hopkins Gallaudet to come to America with him and prove the deaf could be taught with sign language. As a result the first school for the deaf
was opened in America and called the American School For The Deaf. It still exists today.
Later Amos Kendall bought property to farm in Washington D.C. in 1864 Abraham Lincoln signed Gallaudet into an accredited college. Edward Miner Gallaudet, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet's son became the first president.The college, now a Universary resides on the property Amos Kendall bought.
This book is easily read and could be read to children.

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good to know some more history way before Gallaudet University existed... What Dr. Retard, as I call him (known as Dr. Itard) did was very irritating. I cannot forget this memory I had when reading his part in the story.

[Deranisha Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book. I didn't expect to enjoy it as it was assigned for my ASL class, but it kept me interested. I want to kidnap and torture Itard! I felt I'll reading about his "cures".