,304 | 4,485 | 54.0 | 2,056 | 24.7 | 80 | 0.9
1895 | 9,252 | 5,084 | 54.9 | 2,570 | 27.7 | 149 | 1.6
1900 | 10,608 | 6,887 | 63.0 | 4,538 | 42.8 | 108 | 1.0
1905 | 11,344 | 7,700 | 67.8 | 5,733 | 50.5 | 149 | 1.3
1910 | 12,332 | 8,868 | 71.9 | 7,562 | 61.3 | 134 | 1.1
1913 | 13,459 | 10,138 | 75.3 | 8,791 | 65.3 | 135 | 1.1

It thus appears that in a little over a quarter of a century the
proportion of pupils in the schools taught speech has nearly trebled;
and that in a score of years the proportion taught chiefly or wholly by
the oral method has more than trebled. The proportion of the pupils
taught wholly or chiefly by the auricular method never rises above two
per cent.

It should be stated, however, that these figures are not to be taken as
meaning that all the pupils thus enumerated have become proficient in
the employment of speech, or have become able to speak clearly and
intelligibly, and well enough for general practical use. It would be
nearest the truth to say that they are "taught articulation," or that
they are instructed by the use of speech and speech-reading. Oftentimes
the greatest success lies in the preservation in fair shape of the
speech of those who have once had it. The speech acquired by the deaf is
of varying degrees, as we have seen; but in some it may be such as to be
of distinct service, as well as the lip-reading which may be said to go
with it.[556]

PRESENT METHODS OF INSTRUCTION

The methods of instruction at present employed in American schools for
the deaf are known as the manual, the manual alphabet, the oral, the
auricular and the combined. They are thus described in the
_Annals_:[557]

I. THE MANUAL METHOD.--Signs, the manual alphabet, and writing are
the chief means used in the instruction of the pupils, and the
principal objects aimed at are mental development and facility in
the comprehension and use of written language. The degree of
relative importance given to these three means varies in different
schools; but it is a difference only in degree, and the end aimed at
is the same in all.

II. THE MANUAL ALPHABET METHOD.--The manual alphabet and writing are
the chief means used in the instruction of the pupils, and the
principal objects aimed at are mental development and facility in
the comprehension and use of written language. Speech and
speech-readin