Clarke School for the Deaf
Encyclopedia
Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech, formerly Clarke School for the Deaf, is a private school located in Northampton, Massachusetts
that specializes in educating deaf children using the oral method through the assistance of hearing aids and cochlear implants. In the meantime, the school respects the decisions of the student to use sign language outside of campus or once they graduate or leave the school. While there are only 60 full-time students who attend Clarke's Northampton campus, over 3,500 people were directly benefited from Clarke's services, programs and research in 2009 and 500 students were directly enrolled at Clarke's five campuses in Northampton, Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Jacksonville.
as the first permanent oral school for the Deaf in the United States and has gained an international reputation as a pioneer and a leader in the field of auditory/oral education. A local benefactor, John Clarke, offered a $50,000 grant to anyone who would start a school for the deaf in Northampton. Gardiner Greene Hubbard
, with the state government and numerous individuals, played a role in the founding of the Clarke School. The Clarke School was not only the first school to teach children with hearing loss to speak in the United States, but also the first to initiate education in the early years and the first to recognize the importance of students entering mainstream classrooms. Clarke School also was the first to train teachers in auditor and oral education and in 1962 enhanced the Teacher Education Program by partnering with Smith College
, where graduates could earn a Masters of Education of the Deaf. As in 2008, over 1,400 teachers of the deaf have been trained through the Smith College/Clarke Graduate Teacher Education program. The school has been fortunate in employing notable leadership to determine its programs and policies. Alexander Graham Bell
, President Calvin Coolidge
, and First Lady Grace Coolidge
served on Clarke’s Board of Trustees, with Bell and Grace Coolidge at different points serving as Chair of the Board. In the first quarter of 2010, Clarke announced the new name better reflecting their mission from Clarke School for the Deaf to Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech. Subsequently, a new logo and website was created to complete the rebranding.
In the present day, the Clarke School has campuses not only in Northampton, but at:
All of the satellite schools are early intervention schools where young children from birth to five years old attend before starting in a mainstream school.
According to historians at the school, Calvin Coolidge
(standing far right in the photo with Clarence W. Barron
in the center) lived on campus where he met his future wife in Grace Anna Goodhue (standing far left of picture below). In 1902, Mr. Coolidge lived in Adams House (formerly known as Weir House), a faculty house behind to the school's main dormitory. Grace Goodhue was a teacher at the school at the time when one morning, while working in the garden between Adams House and dormitory, she saw Mr. Coolidge (a lawyer working for a local practice) shaving in his second floor bathroom with a hat and an union suit on. Grace Goodhue thought it was a funny sight, and laughed out loud.
That apparently got the attention of Coolidge and later that year, he and Grace Goodhue went out on a few dates. In 1905 Grace Goodhue left the school after only three years of service to marry Calvin and join him in his political career. After finishing his work as a local lawyer in Western Massachusetts
, Calvin would go on to be the Mayor of Northampton, Governor of Massachusetts
, Vice President and President of the United States of America.
and Deaf culture
in the United States and the choices parents face between sign language
and spoken language
.
Northampton, Massachusetts
The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton's central neighborhoods, was 28,549...
that specializes in educating deaf children using the oral method through the assistance of hearing aids and cochlear implants. In the meantime, the school respects the decisions of the student to use sign language outside of campus or once they graduate or leave the school. While there are only 60 full-time students who attend Clarke's Northampton campus, over 3,500 people were directly benefited from Clarke's services, programs and research in 2009 and 500 students were directly enrolled at Clarke's five campuses in Northampton, Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Jacksonville.
Introduction
Clarke School for the Deaf was founded in 1867 in Northampton, MassachusettsNorthampton, Massachusetts
The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton's central neighborhoods, was 28,549...
as the first permanent oral school for the Deaf in the United States and has gained an international reputation as a pioneer and a leader in the field of auditory/oral education. A local benefactor, John Clarke, offered a $50,000 grant to anyone who would start a school for the deaf in Northampton. Gardiner Greene Hubbard
Gardiner Greene Hubbard
Gardiner Greene Hubbard was a U.S. lawyer, financier, and philanthropist. He was one of the founders of the Bell Telephone Company and the first president of the National Geographic Society.- Biography :...
, with the state government and numerous individuals, played a role in the founding of the Clarke School. The Clarke School was not only the first school to teach children with hearing loss to speak in the United States, but also the first to initiate education in the early years and the first to recognize the importance of students entering mainstream classrooms. Clarke School also was the first to train teachers in auditor and oral education and in 1962 enhanced the Teacher Education Program by partnering with Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
, where graduates could earn a Masters of Education of the Deaf. As in 2008, over 1,400 teachers of the deaf have been trained through the Smith College/Clarke Graduate Teacher Education program. The school has been fortunate in employing notable leadership to determine its programs and policies. Alexander Graham Bell
Alexander Graham Bell
Alexander Graham Bell was an eminent scientist, inventor, engineer and innovator who is credited with inventing the first practical telephone....
, President Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge
John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
, and First Lady Grace Coolidge
Grace Coolidge
Grace Anna Goodhue Coolidge was the wife of Calvin Coolidge and First Lady of the United States from 1923 to 1929.-Biography:...
served on Clarke’s Board of Trustees, with Bell and Grace Coolidge at different points serving as Chair of the Board. In the first quarter of 2010, Clarke announced the new name better reflecting their mission from Clarke School for the Deaf to Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech. Subsequently, a new logo and website was created to complete the rebranding.
In the present day, the Clarke School has campuses not only in Northampton, but at:
- Clarke's Boston campus (or Clarke East) in Canton, MassachusettsCanton, MassachusettsCanton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 21,561 at the 2010 census. Canton is part of Greater Boston, about 15 miles southwest of downtown Boston.- History :...
- Clarke's Pennsylvania campus (Clarke Pennsylvania) in Bryn Mawr, PennsylvaniaBryn Mawr, PennsylvaniaBryn Mawr from Welsh for "big hill") is a census-designated place in Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, just west of Philadelphia along Lancaster Avenue and the border with Delaware County...
, about 10 miles west of Philadelphia. - Clarke's New York campus (Clarke New York) in New York City, New York
- Clarke's Jacksonville campus (Clarke Jacksonville) in Jacksonville, FloridaJacksonville, FloridaJacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
All of the satellite schools are early intervention schools where young children from birth to five years old attend before starting in a mainstream school.
Summer Adventure
Clarke hosts a two-week long summer program (formally called "Clarke's Summer Adventure") for deaf children from ages 9 to 14 each summer. The program consists of a residential program and a school program which revolves around a central theme. For example, the most recent summer program focused on "Going Green" and the practices of preserving the environment. The classes are not academic and the campers enjoy swimming at Clarke's indoor swimming pool, gym and many other fun activities that occur in the dormitory and at school. Each camper is carefully placed into small groups of five or six other campers of similar age or placement. The "academic" portion of the program occurs during the weekdays and during the lone weekend, the residential program plans and executes activities that explore the world outside of campus such as taking a field trip to a Whale Watch or attending events around New England.President Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge
John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
(standing far right in the photo with Clarence W. Barron
Clarence W. Barron
Clarence W. Barron is one of the most influential figures in the history of Dow Jones & Company. As a career newsman described as a "short, rotund powerhouse," he died holding the posts of president of Dow Jones and de facto manager of The Wall Street Journal...
in the center) lived on campus where he met his future wife in Grace Anna Goodhue (standing far left of picture below). In 1902, Mr. Coolidge lived in Adams House (formerly known as Weir House), a faculty house behind to the school's main dormitory. Grace Goodhue was a teacher at the school at the time when one morning, while working in the garden between Adams House and dormitory, she saw Mr. Coolidge (a lawyer working for a local practice) shaving in his second floor bathroom with a hat and an union suit on. Grace Goodhue thought it was a funny sight, and laughed out loud.
That apparently got the attention of Coolidge and later that year, he and Grace Goodhue went out on a few dates. In 1905 Grace Goodhue left the school after only three years of service to marry Calvin and join him in his political career. After finishing his work as a local lawyer in Western Massachusetts
Western Massachusetts
Western Massachusetts is a loosely defined geographical region of the U.S. state of Massachusetts which contains the Berkshires, the Pioneer Valley, and some or all of the Swift River Valley. The region is always considered to include Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties, and the...
, Calvin would go on to be the Mayor of Northampton, Governor of Massachusetts
Governor of Massachusetts
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
, Vice President and President of the United States of America.
Clarke School in the Media
In 2007, Clarke School was featured in the PBS documentary, "Through Deaf Eyes" produced by Larry Hott. The documentary depicted deafnessHearing impairment
-Definition:Deafness is the inability for the ear to interpret certain or all frequencies of sound.-Environmental Situations:Deafness can be caused by environmental situations such as noise, trauma, or other ear defections...
and Deaf culture
Deaf culture
Deaf culture describes the social beliefs, behaviors, art, literary traditions, history, values and shared institutions of communities that are affected by deafness and which use sign languages as the main means of communication. When used as a cultural label, the word deaf is often written with a...
in the United States and the choices parents face between sign language
Sign language
A sign language is a language which, instead of acoustically conveyed sound patterns, uses visually transmitted sign patterns to convey meaning—simultaneously combining hand shapes, orientation and movement of the hands, arms or body, and facial expressions to fluidly express a speaker's...
and spoken language
Spoken language
Spoken language is a form of human communication in which words derived from a large vocabulary together with a diverse variety of names are uttered through or with the mouth. All words are made up from a limited set of vowels and consonants. The spoken words they make are stringed into...
.