The Evolution of
Deaf Education in Utah
Compiled & Written by Jodi Becker Kinner
Edited by Bronwyn O'Hara & Valerie G. Kinney
Contributing Editing by Minnie Mae Wilding-Diaz
Published in 2006
Updated in 2021
Edited by Bronwyn O'Hara & Valerie G. Kinney
Contributing Editing by Minnie Mae Wilding-Diaz
Published in 2006
Updated in 2021
Note
After working on the project "The Evolution of Deaf Education in Utah," I have a newfound respect and admiration for the Utah Association of the Deaf and their persistent lobbying for better deaf education and services. The document includes the key persons' names so they'd be remembered and appreciated. My hat is out to UAD and the significant players involved!
It is not intended to portray Utah School for the Deaf or specific parties negatively but rather to provide a clear picture of what occurred historically through the perspective of the Utah Deaf community and allies, including hearing parents of Deaf children. A deaf perspective on the history of deaf education in Utah has never been recorded and should be highly respected. It also highlights the tireless efforts of the Utah Association of the Deaf, the Utah Deaf community, and the Utah Deaf Education Core Group to safeguard American Sign Language and the Utah School for the Deaf, particularly the Jean Massieu School of the Deaf.
To anyone concerned about this website, I do not believe we can try to hide, disregard, or deny the significant impact of Dr. Grant B. Bitter and oral advocates on Utah's Deaf history. It is, after all, a part of our history.
As Robert Heinlein famously said, "A generation that ignores history has no past and no future," it is critical for us to understand the long history of political debate in Utah over the circumstances surrounding Deaf education inequality to better advocate for deaf children's rights to language and communication.
It is not intended to portray Utah School for the Deaf or specific parties negatively but rather to provide a clear picture of what occurred historically through the perspective of the Utah Deaf community and allies, including hearing parents of Deaf children. A deaf perspective on the history of deaf education in Utah has never been recorded and should be highly respected. It also highlights the tireless efforts of the Utah Association of the Deaf, the Utah Deaf community, and the Utah Deaf Education Core Group to safeguard American Sign Language and the Utah School for the Deaf, particularly the Jean Massieu School of the Deaf.
To anyone concerned about this website, I do not believe we can try to hide, disregard, or deny the significant impact of Dr. Grant B. Bitter and oral advocates on Utah's Deaf history. It is, after all, a part of our history.
As Robert Heinlein famously said, "A generation that ignores history has no past and no future," it is critical for us to understand the long history of political debate in Utah over the circumstances surrounding Deaf education inequality to better advocate for deaf children's rights to language and communication.
Standing at left is Frank M. Driggs, Superintendent of the USD, 1903
Acknowledgement
I am highly indebted to several people who were integral to the completion of this Evolution of Deaf Education in Utah project. I am grateful to all of them for their support and contribution to this project. First and foremost, I want to thank my husband, Duane, and my children, Joshua and Danielle, for their endless patience with my obsession throughout this project over the years. This project has been ten years in the making and would not have been possible without the help of many people. Notably, Dr. Robert G. Sanderson, Ned C. Wheeler, W. David Mortensen, Lloyd H. Perkins, and other Utah Deaf leaders are commended for their bravery and vigilance in protecting the Deaf educational system from oral and mainstreaming influence.
I want to show my deep gratitude and appreciation to my father-in-law, Kenneth L. Kinner, for sharing the fascinating Deaf Education History in Utah with me. Without his encouragement and guidance, this project would not have materialized.
I want to show my deep gratitude and appreciation to my father-in-law, Kenneth L. Kinner, for sharing the fascinating Deaf Education History in Utah with me. Without his encouragement and guidance, this project would not have materialized.
Reading class at USD, 1903
Thank Dr. Robert G. Sanderson for inspiring me to do my homework to make this project happen. I also gratefully acknowledge the enthusiastic support from David Mortensen and Eleanor McCowan while working on the project. Finally, I also wanted to thank my parents, John and Jeanne Becker, for supporting me in completing this project.
Apart from my efforts, I wanted to extend my sincerest thanks and appreciation to Valerie G. Kinney and Minnie Mae Wilding-Diaz for donating their time to revising and editing this document. My heartfelt gratitude goes to my editor, Bronwyn O'Hara's contribution to editing.
Ironically as it may sound, I wanted to thank Dr. Grant B. Bitter for saving and donating his papers to the J. Willard Marriott Library at the University of Utah. The manuscripts would not have existed without his donation.
Finally, I wanted to thank Doug Stringham for sharing the version of the manuscript with Dr. Bryan K. Eldredge and making a senior-level "special topics" class called "Deaf Education in Utah" possible at Utah Valley University in 2011 and again in 2016. I wanted to thank Dr. Eldredge for teaching this course to increase awareness of the deaf education system in Utah and to become a better advocate for ASL/English bilingual education.
Jodi Becker Kinner
Apart from my efforts, I wanted to extend my sincerest thanks and appreciation to Valerie G. Kinney and Minnie Mae Wilding-Diaz for donating their time to revising and editing this document. My heartfelt gratitude goes to my editor, Bronwyn O'Hara's contribution to editing.
Ironically as it may sound, I wanted to thank Dr. Grant B. Bitter for saving and donating his papers to the J. Willard Marriott Library at the University of Utah. The manuscripts would not have existed without his donation.
Finally, I wanted to thank Doug Stringham for sharing the version of the manuscript with Dr. Bryan K. Eldredge and making a senior-level "special topics" class called "Deaf Education in Utah" possible at Utah Valley University in 2011 and again in 2016. I wanted to thank Dr. Eldredge for teaching this course to increase awareness of the deaf education system in Utah and to become a better advocate for ASL/English bilingual education.
Jodi Becker Kinner
USD Library, 1903
Deaf Education History in Utah
I. National Deaf Education History
II. Origin and Early Beginnings of Utah School for the Deaf
II. Appendix A
III. Controversies Surrounding Communication/Educational Methods and Educational Placement Regarding Interpretation of “Least Restrictive Environment” in Utah
III. Appendices A-Q
IV. The Evolution of the ASL/English Bilingual Teaching Method in Utah
IV. Appendices A-H
V. In Danger: Deaf Education in Utah and Its Impact on ASL/English Bilingual Program as well as Inequality of Deaf Education in Utah
V. Appendices A-I
VI: Final Thoughts on Deaf Education in Utah
Read the materials for more information about the Deaf Education in Utah:
Social Gathering at Ned C. Wheeler's house,
Ogden, Utah in mid-1950s
Ogden, Utah in mid-1950s
Bottom Row (L-R): Robert Sanderson, Kimito Yokamura, Mary Sanderson, Edith Wheeler, Ned Wheeler, Donald Jensen, Vida White, Kenneth Burdett, Ray Wenger, George Laramie.
Second Row (L-R): Walter Zabel, Arthur Wenger, Marie Stone, ________, Mabel Driggs, Supt. Frank Driggs, Jack White, Katie Woodbury, Theo Logan, Elise Hertell, Georgia Walker, Edna Glenn.
Third Row (L-R): Ivy Low, Cyril Jones, Myrle (Edwards) Jones, Mae Stewart, Afton Burdett, Max Woodbury, Beth Jensen, Violet Zabel, Cleo Thorup, Milo Culter, Carlos Seegmiller, Gladys Wenger, Ralph Glenn.
Top Row (L-R): Frank Stone, Kay (Kinner) Curtis, LaVern Burnett, Joseph Burnett, Carl Hertell, Rodney Walker, Wayne Stewart, Verl Thorup, Robert Welsh, Lorraine Welsh, Hart Wenger.
Second Row (L-R): Walter Zabel, Arthur Wenger, Marie Stone, ________, Mabel Driggs, Supt. Frank Driggs, Jack White, Katie Woodbury, Theo Logan, Elise Hertell, Georgia Walker, Edna Glenn.
Third Row (L-R): Ivy Low, Cyril Jones, Myrle (Edwards) Jones, Mae Stewart, Afton Burdett, Max Woodbury, Beth Jensen, Violet Zabel, Cleo Thorup, Milo Culter, Carlos Seegmiller, Gladys Wenger, Ralph Glenn.
Top Row (L-R): Frank Stone, Kay (Kinner) Curtis, LaVern Burnett, Joseph Burnett, Carl Hertell, Rodney Walker, Wayne Stewart, Verl Thorup, Robert Welsh, Lorraine Welsh, Hart Wenger.
Special thanks to Keith E. Stewart, Utah School for the Deaf alumnus of 1958, for scanning and identifying the photos for this website. Much appreciation goes to his father, Wayne, a photographer and 1930 alumnus of Utah School for the Deaf, for taking pictures to keep memories alive.
Wayne Stewart, a Deaf photographer