Deaf School - Holečkova
Prague Map Tour for the Deaf Community
Popis: HISTORY OF DEAF EDUCATION IN PRAGUE (HISTORIE ŠKOLY PRO NESLYŠÍCÍ) The Institute for the Deaf in Prague was founded on December 7, 1786, making it the first school for Deaf people in Bohemia. It was established by a Masonic lodge led by Count Kašpar Heřman Kunigl, in honour of Emperor Joseph II. The school originally had just six students, aged 6 to 36. From 1787, teacher Karel Berger used the manual alphabet and signs to teach reading, writing, and communication. In 1838, the school moved to the historic Faust House on Charles Square. One of its most influential teachers was Václav Frost, who developed the “Prague Method”, combining sign language with reading, writing, and speech training. His approach can be considered an early form of bilingual Deaf education. Another important educator, Václav Koťátko, created the first Czech textbooks specifically for Deaf students. As the number of students grew to 160, a larger building became necessary. In June 1901, Emperor Franz Joseph I personally attended the foundation stone ceremony for a new school building in Smíchov, tapping the stone three times. The new building on Holečkova Street officially opened on February 28, 1902. Interestingly, Deaf teachers began working at the school in the second half of the 19th century, establishing a tradition that continues today.