The Story of My Life: With her letters (1887-1901) and a supplementary account of her education, including passages from the reports and letters of her teacher, Anne Mansfield Sullivan, by John Albert MacyKeller, Helen
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The Story of My Life: With her letters (1887-1901) and a supplementary account of her education, including passages from the reports and letters of her teacher, Anne Mansfield Sullivan, by John Albert Macy
Keller, Helen
Deafblind women -- United States -- Biography; Keller, Helen, 1880-1968
There is, moreover, a reason why Helen Keller writes good English, which
lies in the very absence of sight and hearing. The disadvantages of
being deaf and blind were overcome and the advantages remained. She
excels other deaf people because she was taught as if she were normal.
On the other hand, the peculiar value to her of language, which ordinary
people take for granted as a necessary part of them like their right
hand, made her think about language and love it. Language was her
liberator, and from the first she cherished it.
The proof of Miss Keller's early skill in the use of English, and the
final comment on the excellence of this whole method of teaching,
is contained in an incident, which, although at the time it seemed
unfortunate, can no longer be regretted. I refer to the "Frost King"
episode, which I shall explain in detail. Miss Keller has given her
account of it, and the whole matter was discussed in the first Volta
Bureau Souvenir from which I quote at length:
MISS SULLIVAN'S ACCOUNT OF THE "FROST KING"
HON. JOHN HITZ, Superintendent of the Volta Bureau, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir: Since my paper was prepared for the second edition of the
Souvenir "Helen Keller," some facts have been brought to my notice which
are of interest in connection with the subject of the acquisition of
language by my pupil, and if it is not already too late for publication
in this issue of the Souvenir, I shall be glad if I may have opportunity
to explain them in detail.
Perhaps it will be remembered that in my paper*, where allusion is made
to Helen's remarkable memory, it is noted that she appears to retain in
her mind many forms of expression which, at the time they are received,
she probably does not understand; but when further information is
acquired, the language retained in her memory finds full or partial
expression in her conversation or writing, according as it proves of
greater or less value to her in the fitness of its application to the
new experience. Doubtless this is true in the case of every intelligent
child, and should not, perhaps, be considered worthy of especial mention
in Helen's case, but for the fact that a child who is deprived of
the senses of sight and hearing might not be expected to be as gifted
mentally as this little girl proves to be; hence it is quite possible
we may be inclined to class as marvelous many things we discover in the
development of her mind which do not merit such an explanation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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