«Fatti per arte parlanti». Don Giulio Tarra e l’educazione dei sordomuti nella seconda metà dell’Ottocento

The book retraces the life and work of the priest Giulio Tarra (1832-1889), the first director of the Pious Institute for poor country deaf-mutes of Milan. Educator, teacher and intellectual, he dedicated his life to the deaf children, heading the Pious Institute from his priestly ordination (1855) until his death. Tarra’s efforts aimed to promote the personal, cultural and social development of students. He was also one of the protagonists of the international scientific discussion about the teaching and educational methods for deaf-mutes. Tarra strongly defended the oral system: he was firmly convinced that teaching “words with words” could stimulate the social inclusion of the deaf. The book summarizes the results of an archival and bibliographical research.