This book is fascinating!!! (Ok, admittedly probably more fascinating for teachers and those interested in language development rather than just your average Joe.) On January 9, 1800 an eleven or twelve year old boy wandered out of the woods where he'd been living isolated under mysterious circumstances probably since the age of five. He had a human form but the mind and movements of a wild animal. He could not speak, but made sounds like an animal.
The scientists and psychologists of the day were bamboozled. Was he a missing link between humans and animals, a human in our most primitive state, an idiot, a deaf mute suffering from severe emotional trauma? Was he able to be educated and enter into society? This book follows the work of the men and women who tried to civilize "The Savage" as he was often called. (You know, before political correctness! #1800's) Twenty-five year old scientist Jean-Marc Gaspard Itard spent the most time working to educate the boy, whom he called Victor. He made amazing progress with Victor, and his educational efforts and methodologies were inspirational to Edouard Seguin, who founded some of the first schools for the mentally challenged in France and America (who were previously thought to be un-teachable) and Maria Montessori. I'm sure you've heard of the Montessori preschool movement. This is where it gets its roots. Also Helen Keller's famous teacher, Anne Sullivan, followed in Itard's revolutionary footsteps. The task of educating a "wild man" turning beast into a man was the Forbidden Experiment of human nature.
This book is technically heavy and wordy at times, but Roger Shattuck does a very good job of breaking everything down and explaining it to a modern audience. Excerpts of Itard's study notes from the 1800's are included, and I geeked out the whole time I was reading it. From an educational standpoint, it really is a fasinating book! (And a psychological... and a sociological... and a theological standpoint too!)
(So if it's so good, why didn't I finish it the first time I started reading it? Good question... I lost it in a move. As I was digging through my books looking for things to read for this challenge, there it was! I was so excited. I've been wondering for almost three years what happened to Victor!)
Amidst the technical jargon and teacher geekery, there are also some beautiful glimpses into the humanity of both Victor and Itard. I've taken a picture excerpt of one I found especially touching. Madame Guerin was Victor's caretaker for almost all of his "found" life. She took care of him until he died in 1828. (She is a largely unsung hero in this boy's life.)
Stats:
Angie: 4 books
Clare: 3 books
Total: 7 books
#26BOOKSwithBringingUpBurns