C.O. Malm and the Porvoo school

Carl Oscar (C.O.) Malm, a Finnish man deaf from childhood, was to play a key role in Alopaeus' work in deaf education. As a child, Malm had studied at the Manilla school for the deaf (Manillaskolan) in Stockholm, Sweden, becoming bilingual in sign language and written Swedish. In 1845, Malm went to Porvoo. There his passion for education led him to found a private school for the deaf in 1846, focusing mainly on sign language and written Swedish (see manualism), in contrast to the oralism commonly used in deaf education at the time.^[4] Alopaeus took an interest in the school, supporting it as editor of the newspaper Borgå Tidning [sv],^[5] as well as helping raise funds for its operation and teaching.

Turku school for the deaf

In 1858, the state established a school for the deaf in Turku; Malm, Alopaeus, and some students followed. Alopaeus had visited deaf schools abroad to learn more. His application for the position of director of the school was supported by fellow provost and educator of the deaf Henrik Heikel as well as educator Alexander Ferdinand Borenius [fi]. Alopaeus was chosen for director on 25 April 1860.^[5] As a priest, he could provide religious education at the school as well. Alopaeus also had "perfect speech and hearing", a requirement which disqualified Malm.^[6][7]

The Turku school for the deaf and Alopaeus' work were noted in an 1868 report by the United States Secretary of the Interior, who remarked on the focus on instruction in sign language and written text, unusual at the time. (These methods were to remain until the 1892 decree mandating oralism and lip reading.)^[8] It was also noted that education for the deaf existed in Finland for some time before such education was available in Washington, D.C.^[9]

Prior to the establishment of primary schooling in the late 1800s, Alopaeus' goal was to integrate deaf education with public education. Together with the founder of the Finnish public school system, Uno Cygnaeus, he wrote a report advocating for a unified school system.^[5] In the end, he was unsuccessful as Cygnaeus believed it would set back the plan for public schooling.^[3]

Jakobstad school for the deaf

In Turku, Anna Heikel (daughter of Henrik Heikel) followed her own interest in education. At 22 years old, she did an internship with Alopaeus. She took his methods back to her home in Jakobstad and founded the Jakobstad school for the deaf Swedish-speaking population together with her father at his own expense. Alopaeus and Heikel would later travel to the area of Lappmarken in the summer of 1866, where together they instructed the deaf.^[10]