The Education of Laura Bridgman : First Deaf and Blind Person to Learn Language

In the mid-nineteenth century, Laura Bridgman, a young child from New Hampshire, became one of the most famous women in the world. Philosophers, theologians, and educators hailed her as a miracle, and a vast public followed the intimate details of her life with rapt attention. This girl, all but forgotten today, was the first deaf and blind person ever to learn language. Laura's dark and silent life was transformed when she became the star pupil of the educational crusader Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe. Against the backdrop of an antebellum Boston seething with debates about human nature, programs of moral and educational reform, and battles between conservative and liberal Christians, Freeberg tells this extraordinary tale of mentor and student, scientist and experiment. Under Howe's constant tutelage, Laura voraciously absorbed the world around her, learning to communicate through finger language, as well as to write with confidence. Her remarkable breakthroughs vindicated Howe's faith in the power of education to overcome the most terrible of disabilities. In Howe's hands, Laura's education became an experiment that he hoped would prove his own controversial ideas about the body, mind, and soul. Poignant and hopeful, The Education of Laura Bridgman is both a success story of how a sightless and soundless girl gained contact with an ever-widening world, and also a cautionary tale about the way moral crusades and scientific progress can compromise each other. Anticipating the life of Helen Keller a half-century later, Laura's is a pioneering story of the journey from isolation to accomplishment, as well as a window onto what it means to be human under the most trying conditions. (20010401) In the mid-nineteenth century, Laura Bridgman, a young child from New Hampshire, became one of the most famous women in the world. Philosophers, theologians, and educators hailed her as a miracle, and a vast public followed the intimate details of her life with rapt attention. This girl, all but forgotten today, was the first deaf and blind person ever to learn language.Laura's dark and silent life was transformed when she became the star pupil of the educational crusader Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe. Against the backdrop of an antebellum Boston seething with debates about human nature, programs of moral and educational reform, and battles between conservative and liberal Christians, Ernest Freeberg tells this extraordinary tale of mentor and student, scientist and experiment.Under Howe's constant tutelage, Laura voraciously absorbed the world around her, learning to communicate through finger language, as well as to write with confidence. Her remarkable breakthroughs vindicated Howe's faith in the power of education to overcome the most terrible of disabilities. In Howe's hands, Laura's education became an experiment that he hoped would prove his own controversial ideas about the body, mind, and soul.Poignant and hopeful, The Education of Laura Bridgman is both a success story of how a sightless and soundless girl gained contact with an ever-widening world, and also a cautionary tale about the way moral crusades and scientific progress can compromise each other. Anticipating the life of Helen Keller a half-century later, Laura's is a pioneering story of the journey from isolation to accomplishment, as well as a window onto what it means to be human under the most trying conditions. In the mid-nineteenth century, Laura Bridgman, a young child fromNew Hampshire, became one of the most famous women in the world.Philosophers, theologians, and educators hailed her as a miracle,and a vast public followed the intimate details of her life withrapt attention. This girl, all but forgotten today, was the firstdeaf and blind person ever to learn language. Laura's dark andsilent life was transformed when she became the star pupil of theeducational crusader Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe. Against the backdropof an antebellum Boston seething with debates about human nature,programs of moral and educational reform, and battles betweenconservative and liberal Christians, Freeberg tells thisextraordinary tale of mentor and student, scientist and experiment.Under Howe's constant tutelage, Laura voraciously absorbed theworld around her, learning to communicate through finger language,as well as to write with confidence. Her remarkable breakthroughsvindicated Howe's faith in the power of education to overcome themost terrible of disabilities. In Howe's hands, Laura's educationbecame an experiment that he hoped would prove his owncontroversial ideas about the body, mind, and soul. Poignant andhopeful, The Education of Laura Bridgman is both a successstory of how a sightless and soundless girl gained contact with anever-widening world, and also a cautionary tale about the way moralcrusades and scientific progress can compromise each other.Anticipating the life of Helen Keller a half-century later, Laura'sis a pioneering story of the journey from isolation toaccomplishment, as well as a window onto what it means to be humanunder the most trying conditions In The Mid-nineteenth Century, Laura Bridgman, A Young Child From New Hampshire, Became One Of The Most Famous Women In The World. Philosophers, Theologians, And Educators Hailed Her As A Miracle, And A Vast Public Followed The Intimate Details Of Her Life With Rapt Attention. This Girl, All But Forgotten Today, Was The First Deaf And Blind Person Ever To Learn Language. Laura's Dark And Silent Life Was Transformed When She Became The Star Pupil Of The Educational Crusader Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe. Against The Backdrop Of An Antebellum Boston Seething With Debates About Human Nature, Programs Of Moral And Educational Reform, And Battles Between Conservative And Liberal Christians, Freeberg Weaves An Extraordinary Tale Of Mentor And Student, Scientist And Subject. Under Howe's Constant Tutelage, Laura Voraciously Absorbed The World Around Her, Learning To Communicate Through Finger Language As Well As To Write With Confidence. Her Remarkable Breakthroughs Vindicated Howe's Faith In The Power Of Education To Overcome The Most Terrible Of Disabilities. In Howe's Hands, Laura's Education Became An Experiment That He Hoped Would Prove His Own Controversial Ideas About The Body, Mind, And Soul.--jacket. 1. In Quest Of His Prize -- 2. Mind Over Matter -- 3. In The Public Eye -- 4. Body And Mind -- 5. The Instinct To Be Good -- 6. Punishing Thoughts -- 7. Sensing God -- 8. Crisis -- 9. Disillusionment -- 10. A New Theory Of Human Nature -- 11. My Sunny Home -- 12. Legacy. Ernest Freeberg. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [223]-257) And Index. "In the mid-nineteenth century, Laura Bridgman, a young child from New Hampshire, became one of the most famous women in the world. Philosophers, theologians, and educators hailed her as a miracle, and a vast public followed the intimate details of her life with rapt attention. This girl, all but forgotten today, was the first deaf and blind person ever to learn language.". "Laura's dark and silent life was transformed when she became the star pupil of the educational crusader Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe. Against the backdrop of an antebellum Boston seething with debates about human nature, programs of moral and educational reform, and battles between conservative and liberal Christians, Freeberg weaves an extraordinary tale of mentor and student, scientist and subject.". "Under Howe's constant tutelage, Laura voraciously absorbed the world around her, learning to communicate through finger language as well as to write with confidence. Her remarkable breakthroughs vindicated Howe's faith in the power of education to overcome the most terrible of disabilities. In Howe's hands, Laura's education became an experiment that he hoped would prove his own controversial ideas about the body, mind, and soul."--BOOK JACKET. Contents 5 Introduction 9 1 / In Quest of His Prize 15 2 / Mind over Matter 37 3 / In the Public Eye 57 4 / Body and Mind 74 5 / The Instinct to Be Good 99 6 / Punishing Thoughts 117 7 / Sensing God 130 8 / Crisis 155 9 / Disillusionment 181 10 / A New Theory of Human Nature 199 11 / My Sunny Home 213 12 / Legacy 223 Abbreviations 230 Notes 231 Introduction 231 1. In Quest of His Prize 231 2. Mind over Matter 236 3. In the Public Eye 240 4. Body and Mind 242 5. The Instinct to Be Good 246 6. Punishing Thoughts 248 7. Sensing God 250 8. Crisis 254 9. Disillusionment 260 10. A New Theory of Human Nature 261 11. My Sunny Home 263 12. Legacy 264 Acknowledgments 266 Index 268 In the mid-19th century, philosophers, theologians, and educators hailed Laura Bridgman as a miracle because she was the first deaf and blind person to learn language. Her life was transformed by educational crusader Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe. Freeberg tells this extraordinary tale of mentor and student, scientist and experiment. In 1831, as New England entered its period of romantic flowering, Samuel Gridley Howe struck many Bostonians as their city's very own Byronic hero.