Mykkäkoulu

Mykkäkoulu, a Finnish term, translates to "mute school" or "silent school." It refers to a historical educational approach for deaf children that emphasized lip-reading and oralism, discouraging or prohibiting the use of sign language. This method was prevalent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, aiming to integrate deaf individuals into hearing society by enabling them to speak and understand spoken language.

In a mykkäkoulu setting, teachers would use visual cues, speech training, and rigorous practice to teach deaf students to articulate sounds and interpret lip movements. The belief was that sign language was a barrier to spoken language acquisition and social integration. Consequently, the use of sign language was often strictly forbidden within the school environment, leading to frustration and isolation for students who naturally gravitated towards visual communication.

The mykkäkoulu philosophy was part of a broader international movement known as oralism. While intended to be beneficial, its effectiveness was debated, and it often came at the cost of deaf children's natural language development and cultural identity. Over time, the limitations of strict oralism became apparent, and educational approaches for deaf children began to evolve, incorporating sign language and bilingual-bicultural models that recognized the value of both signed and spoken languages. Today, the mykkäkoulu approach is largely considered outdated, and modern deaf education emphasizes a more inclusive and linguistically diverse environment.