Alea, Jose Miguel

Hearing. Born at Asturias, Spain; ordained a member of the clergy. After serving as a librarian and a translator, chanced to meet Gregorio Santa Fe (q.v.), a deaf youth who had been educated by Diego Vidal (q.v.). Alea became interested in deaf education, becoming an advocate of public education for the deaf. Eventually, around 1801, he taught 4 deaf children at his home for 15 months as an experiment in how language is acquired and abstract ideas formed. He published several essays on deaf education, including the use of sign language. Translated and adapted the abbe Sicard's book on deaf education to Spanish use, the "French" method becoming standard in the Spanish Royal School for Deaf-Mutes; Alea eventually became headmaster of the school. During the French occupation of Spain, he was a collaborator with the French, and followed them when France withdrew from Spain. He ended his days teaching language and literature to hearing people in Marseilles; died at Bordeaux.