# III: Education explained — The Story of My Life

> Chapter companion for The Story of My Life by Helen Keller.

## What happens

This chapter details the educational journey of Helen Keller, focusing on the methods and principles developed by her teacher, Anne Sullivan. It includes extracts from Sullivan's letters and reports, highlighting her innovative approach to teaching language to a deaf-blind child. The chapter also discusses the controversy surrounding the 'Frost King' incident and emphasizes the collaborative genius between Sullivan and Keller, arguing that both natural ability and excellent teaching are essential for such remarkable achievements.

## Themes in this chapter

### Education and Knowledge

The chapter is a detailed exploration of the educational methods used to teach Helen Keller, emphasizing the importance of innovative teaching and the acquisition of language.

### Language and Communication

Central to the chapter is the development of language skills in a deaf-blind child, with Miss Sullivan's method focusing on natural language acquisition and the power of words.

### Overcoming Adversity

Both Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan overcame significant personal challenges—Helen's deaf-blindness and Anne's near-blindness and difficult early life—to achieve remarkable educational success.

### Love and Friendship

The deep bond between teacher and pupil is highlighted as a crucial element in Helen's development, with Miss Sullivan's affection and inspiration playing a key role.

## Character check-ins

### Helen Keller

The pupil whose education is the central focus of the chapter, showing rapid progress in language acquisition and deep emotional engagement with literature.

### Anne Sullivan

The teacher who developed the method of teaching language to the deaf-blind, documented through her letters and reports, and whose own background and talents are highlighted.

### Sophia C. Hopkins

The matron at Perkins Institution to whom Miss Sullivan wrote detailed letters about her teaching methods.

### Michael Anagnos

Director of Perkins Institution who recommended Miss Sullivan and published reports on Helen Keller's progress.

### Captain Keller

Helen's father who applied to the director for a teacher, leading to Miss Sullivan's hiring.

### Laura Bridgman

A deaf-blind woman whose education by Dr. Howe provided a foundation for Miss Sullivan's work, and with whom Miss Sullivan lived during her school years.

### Alexander Graham Bell

Dr. Bell requested Miss Sullivan to prepare a paper for a meeting on teaching speech to the deaf.

### John D. Wright

One of Helen's teachers at the Wright-Humason School, who observed her self-directed study of French.

## Key lines

> I asked her what she was doing, she replied, "I am a very funny camel."

When asked about her activity, she said she was pretending to be a comical camel.

_Illustrates Helen's playful use of imagination and language during her early education._

> Truth crushed to earth shall rise again; The eternal years of God are hers; But Error, wounded, writhes with pain, And dies among his worshipers.

Truth may be suppressed but will ultimately prevail, while falsehood suffers and perishes despite its followers.

_Helen selected this verse as the most beautiful from Bryant's poem, showing her appreciation for moral and philosophical themes._

> I think it is right for men to fight against wrongs and tyrants.

Helen believes it is justifiable to resist injustice and oppression through struggle.

_Demonstrates Helen's strong sense of justice and moral conviction even at a young age._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/iii-education
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters