The oral method is given a formal status

In deaf history, the switch to the oral method is typically deemed to have taken place at the Second International Congress on Education of the Deaf held in Milan in 1880. The convention passed a resolution in which a strong stance was taken against sign language, helping cement the position of the oral method. In Finland, a formal decision on the matter had been made three years earlier.

In 1877, a meeting of headmasters of schools for the deaf was held in Helsinki where the participants decided that because the oral method had produced good results, the schools would adopt it in their tuition. However, it was agreed that not all students could be taught with the oral method. Sign language classes would be set up for them and the so-called overaged students. The meeting also decided that ‘natural sign language’ should only be used as an aid in tuition. Thus, the decision on the matter had been taken in principle. However, sign language was used in tuition for another couple of decades.

The matter progressed when the Senate decided in 1885 to send a suitable person to learn about schools for pupils with sensory disabilities in other countries. Valter Forsius, a master of philosophy, was selected for the task and he visited schools abroad over a two-year period to learn about deaf education. On the basis of these visits, he prepared a proposal for Finland’s school system concerning pupils with sensory disabilities.

Forsius also received reports from Finnish operators. Kustaa Killinen, the head of the Kuopio school, stated that in Kuopio, they had succeeded in teaching all the pupils with the oral method. In the end, Forsius ended up recommending this method.

The sensory disability committee discussed the matter in 1889. At the time, the only person to express opposition to the switch to the oral method was Anna Heikel, the head of the Pietarsaari school. She regarded implementing the oral method as an injustice against deaf people. However, sign language only had a few advocates. In addition, it is not known how deaf teachers commented the situation because they were not allowed to act as headmasters. Therefore, they could not participate in meetings where decisions on the oral method were made. It is quite likely, though, that they were against the decision.

Finally, a decree on teaching methods was passed in 1892. Finally, a decree on teaching methods was passed in 1892. Pursuant to the decree, the schools in Kuopio and Turku became Finnish language schools that used the oral method and the school in Porvo became a Swedish language school. The school to be founded in Mikkeli and the Pietarsaari school would use the writing method and the school in Jyväskylä would educate overaged pupils using writing and signing. After the decree entered into force, deaf teachers were no longer hired. The decree made no mention of the subjects to be taught at schools for the deaf. Therefore, the teaching method was given more emphasis than the content of tuition. After the decree entered into force, deaf teachers were no longer hired. The decree made no mention of the subjects to be taught at schools for the deaf. Therefore, the teaching method was given more emphasis than the content of tuition.

Schools adopted the oral method at different times. In 1892, a Finnish language oral method school began in Turku but the old school, which used sign language, also continued until 1898. The school in Porvoo switched to the oral method in 1896. New schools were founded in Mikkeli in 1893, Jyväskylä in 1894 and Oulu in 1898. At the end of the 1890s, the state schools had 339 pupils.