Francis Maginn
Encyclopedia
Francis Maginn was a Church of Ireland missionary who worked to improve living standards for the deaf community by promoting sign language
and was one of the co-founders of British Deaf Association
.
, Ireland in 1861. His father was a Church of Ireland vicar, and his mother was well-connected to the wealthy families in Ireland. At 5, Maginn went to He was meant to be sent to Christ's Hospital
, a famous boarding school in England
however he became deaf that year due to scarlet fever
and his father have sent him to the famous Royal London Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb on Old Kent Road.
Maginn excelled at school and was offered a junior teachership at 17 in the Royal London Asylum's Margate Branch. He kept this position for the five years, returned to Ireland for a year, and then went to the National Deaf Mutes College at Gallaudet University
in Washington, D.C.
. The move from Ireland to America had a profound effect on Maginn, who felt he now had the ability to achieve a higher level of attainment. He spent three years at Gallaudet and did not graduate because he had to leave to be at his father's bedside, but left highly regarded and with letters of support (he would receive an honorary degree from Gallaudet in later life). Leaving Gallaudet, Maginn felt that the British approach to deafness was one of injustice, and that his life's work would be to enhance the quality of life of the deaf in the United Kingdom.
A new association for deaf people was created in Paris
in 1889, marking 100 years after educator and "Father of the Deaf" Charles-Michel de l'Épée
died. The Royal Commission on Deaf Education was published by Alexander Graham Bell
this same year, ensuring official education for the deaf but dismissing their right to marry. Maginn had met Bell while studying in America, and wrote that "The deaf mutes of the US recognise the fact that he is acting in all sincerity and with the best of intentions and that their esteem for him is not lessened by the contempt in which they hold his theories.”
"The contention of Messrs. Owen and Sleight is that the Oral System breaks down in after life, and that its pupils not infrequently resort to writing and the manual alphabet. They, therefore, advocate the "Combined Method" -i.e., the main instruction being carried on by means of the finger alphabet and signs, articulation and lip-reading being taught as accomplishments to those who show aptitude for receiving such instruction." (October 24, 1889)
In January 1890, a national conference for the deaf was held in St Saviour's Church
for the deaf in London
. Here, Maginn presented his views for improving the deaf education system in Britain. He proposed forming a National Association for the Deaf, and said that the American "Combined Methods" education system, which incorporated fingerspelling, Signed English, lipreading and Manualism approaches that facilitated oral communication in the deaf such as Total Communication
combined with sign language, works and should be brought to the UK.
At the conference, it was agreed that there should a representative association representing the deaf community in the British Empire. The constitution was adopted, except for two changes. First, instead of the "National Association for the Deaf," they named it the "British Deaf And Dumb Association." Though it was pointed out that the word "dumb" was no longer in use in America, the representative association would not remove it from their title until 1970. Secondly, though Maginn wanted only deaf people to become members, the steering group said they would allow hearing members who took an active interest in the welfare of the deaf, provided they were proposed by five deaf people. Maginn hotly disagreed with this decision, objecting to the idea of the “benevolent paternalism” of the hearing friends of the deaf. The Association championed for the use of sign language in deaf schools rather than just Pure Oral Systems, despite movements such as those of the Milan Congress in 1880 to use only oralist methods without sign language.
The Association was formed in Leeds
. William Sleight, a hearing man, was elected as the chairman of the association, and Maginn was given the role of regional vice-president; an honorary position with no real power which was a blow to Maginn's confidence. Maginn himself gradually withdrew from the Association and concentrated his energy on Ulster Institute for the Deaf.
Maginn confined his later years to work in Belfast
. The British Deaf Association didn't have deaf chairs until the appointment of Jock Young as their first Deaf chair in the 1980s and their first deaf Chief Executive Jeff McWhinney
was appointed in the 1990s. He died in Belfast in 1918.
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 was one of the co-founders of British Deaf Association
British Deaf Association
British Deaf Association is a deaf-led British charity that campaigns and advocates for deaf people who use British Sign Language.It was originally formed in 1890 by Francis Maginn, who was deaf himself...
.
Early life and education
Maginn was born in Mallow, County CorkMallow, County Cork
Mallow is the "Crossroads of Munster" and the administrative capital of north County Cork, in Ireland. The Northern Divisional Offices of Cork County Council are located in the town....
, Ireland in 1861. His father was a Church of Ireland vicar, and his mother was well-connected to the wealthy families in Ireland. At 5, Maginn went to He was meant to be sent to Christ's Hospital
Christ's Hospital
Christ's Hospital is an English coeducational independent day and boarding school with Royal Charter located in the Sussex countryside just south of Horsham in Horsham District, West Sussex, England...
, a famous boarding school in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
however he became deaf that year due to scarlet fever
Scarlet fever
Scarlet fever is a disease caused by exotoxin released by Streptococcus pyogenes. Once a major cause of death, it is now effectively treated with antibiotics...
and his father have sent him to the famous Royal London Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb on Old Kent Road.
Maginn excelled at school and was offered a junior teachership at 17 in the Royal London Asylum's Margate Branch. He kept this position for the five years, returned to Ireland for a year, and then went to the National Deaf Mutes College at Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University is a federally-chartered university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing, located in the District of Columbia, U.S...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. The move from Ireland to America had a profound effect on Maginn, who felt he now had the ability to achieve a higher level of attainment. He spent three years at Gallaudet and did not graduate because he had to leave to be at his father's bedside, but left highly regarded and with letters of support (he would receive an honorary degree from Gallaudet in later life). Leaving Gallaudet, Maginn felt that the British approach to deafness was one of injustice, and that his life's work would be to enhance the quality of life of the deaf in the United Kingdom.
Return to Ireland
Maginn returned to the Ireland in 1882, and became president of the first British association to further the cause of the deaf and dumb. While it recruited 239 members, it failed in 1889.A new association for deaf people was created in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1889, marking 100 years after educator and "Father of the Deaf" Charles-Michel de l'Épée
Charles-Michel de l'Épée
Abbé Charles-Michel de l'Épée was a philanthropic educator of 18th-century France who has become known as the "Father of the Deaf".-Overview:...
died. The Royal Commission on Deaf Education was published by 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....
this same year, ensuring official education for the deaf but dismissing their right to marry. Maginn had met Bell while studying in America, and wrote that "The deaf mutes of the US recognise the fact that he is acting in all sincerity and with the best of intentions and that their esteem for him is not lessened by the contempt in which they hold his theories.”
Royal Commission on the Education of the Deaf and Dumb
The Deaf community was under pressure from the Royal Commission on the Blind and Deaf & Dumb (1887–1889) as the Commissioned have proposed one of the series of legislation at the time to standardise the education of 'handicapped' people. This legislation supported the use of the 'pure oral method' of education and discouraged deaf people from marrying for fear of producing a 'deaf race' (as advised by Alexander Graham Bell). Rev. William B. Sleight, the chair of the British Deaf & Dumb Association sat on the commission and signed it in 1889 with reservations, which were printed in The Times:"The contention of Messrs. Owen and Sleight is that the Oral System breaks down in after life, and that its pupils not infrequently resort to writing and the manual alphabet. They, therefore, advocate the "Combined Method" -i.e., the main instruction being carried on by means of the finger alphabet and signs, articulation and lip-reading being taught as accomplishments to those who show aptitude for receiving such instruction." (October 24, 1889)
Founding of the British Deaf Association
The national representative association, promoting the interest of the British Deaf community, was originally formed in 1890 by Francis Maginn who tried to set up something similar a decade before. It was in response to the infamous 1880 Milan Congress declaring that sign language was banned from deaf shcools, excluding hundreds of deaf teachers, teaching assistants and care staff from the many deaf schools in Europe and North America. The Royal Commission Report, published in 1889, supported the establishment of the Pure Oral System to be used in schools for deaf children.In January 1890, a national conference for the deaf was held in St Saviour's Church
St Saviour's Church
St. Saviour's Church, St. Savior's Church, Church of St. Saviour, or variants, thereof, may refer to the following churches, former churches or other places:-Albania:*St. Saviour's Church, Herebel*St. Saviour's Church, Kërçisht...
for the deaf in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Here, Maginn presented his views for improving the deaf education system in Britain. He proposed forming a National Association for the Deaf, and said that the American "Combined Methods" education system, which incorporated fingerspelling, Signed English, lipreading and Manualism approaches that facilitated oral communication in the deaf such as Total Communication
Total Communication
Total Communication is an approach to deaf education that aims to make use of a number of modes of communication such as signed, oral, auditory, written and visual aids, depending on the particular needs and abilities of the child.-History:...
combined with sign language, works and should be brought to the UK.
At the conference, it was agreed that there should a representative association representing the deaf community in the British Empire. The constitution was adopted, except for two changes. First, instead of the "National Association for the Deaf," they named it the "British Deaf And Dumb Association." Though it was pointed out that the word "dumb" was no longer in use in America, the representative association would not remove it from their title until 1970. Secondly, though Maginn wanted only deaf people to become members, the steering group said they would allow hearing members who took an active interest in the welfare of the deaf, provided they were proposed by five deaf people. Maginn hotly disagreed with this decision, objecting to the idea of the “benevolent paternalism” of the hearing friends of the deaf. The Association championed for the use of sign language in deaf schools rather than just Pure Oral Systems, despite movements such as those of the Milan Congress in 1880 to use only oralist methods without sign language.
The Association was formed in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
. William Sleight, a hearing man, was elected as the chairman of the association, and Maginn was given the role of regional vice-president; an honorary position with no real power which was a blow to Maginn's confidence. Maginn himself gradually withdrew from the Association and concentrated his energy on Ulster Institute for the Deaf.
Maginn confined his later years to work in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. The British Deaf Association didn't have deaf chairs until the appointment of Jock Young as their first Deaf chair in the 1980s and their first deaf Chief Executive Jeff McWhinney
Jeff McWhinney
Jeff McWhinney is a leader in the UK deaf community.He was born in 1960, into a Deaf family in Belfast, both his brother and sister are Deaf. His family did not escape the pain of The Troubles in Northern Ireland when loyalists killed his cousin because she married a Roman Catholic...
was appointed in the 1990s. He died in Belfast in 1918.