Words in Hand

Maureen: You've often described to me and to other deaf people, stories about your school days. Can you tell me something about these interesting things on the table?

George: I was educated in Donaldsons' from 1911 to 1919. I was there during the First World War. But really I'd like to tell you about the history, how Donaldsons' started and was opened. I can't give you the full details, but if you read the book, it's by Mr T Skinner Skinner. Skinner! Why did we call him that? Because he was always calling us 'Bad!' So we used to call him, as children, 'Mr Skinner'. But when I read it I was absolutely fascinated and if you'd like to read it I'll show it to you so you can read it. it's got the full details from the 16/17th century until now. It was built, I think it took about seven years to build somewhere around there, and it was opened and they took in the first deaf student. No, there were hearing children first, but later on they took in deaf children. and it started in 1850 until 1928. And until that time 1254 children went into the school from 1850 until 1928; 1254 deaf children. Where are they now? Some of them are dead.

There were hearing children with us as well and there were 1578 hearing children altogether and how many are there now? 40 or 50. And before there were thousands just going into the school and there were deaf children from all over Scotland: Stornoway, Aberdeen, Dundee, they all came from all over Scotland. Now there's just one or two; it's become a day school Donaldsons' and I'm really heartbroken. But Donaldsons' could become a college for deaf for deaf children.

Oh, I was there for nine years. I used to go back and forward home, maybe once or twice for two weeks, but then I'd be back to school. But I liked it at school. Oh I used to play, I was so playful and had great times. Now I was reading this, I was surprised there was a man called Mr McKay of Glasgow and he went into the school. He was educated in 1850 and finished, he left in 1863 and later he died. And he gave Donaldsons' £40. 40. 40 at that time, maybe today, that was in the 18th century, maybe 40 pounds then, but today it could be worth 10,000, so that was nice to give that to the school.