Itard, Jean-Marc-Gaspard

(1774-1838)

   physician

   Born in oraison, Basse-Alps, Jean itard is considered one of the pioneers in the field of endocrinology (1799-1800) and is known for his work in the teaching and training of deaf-mute children. At first a military surgeon, then a specialist in hearing disorders, itard, from about 1800, became progressively more interested in the education of deaf-mutes and experimented also with the instruction of mentally retarded children. in 1801, itard was given the charge of training a feral child, victor, as he was known, the so-called wild boy of Aveyron, a youth who had been found in the forest and seemed never to have experienced human socialization. The system itard developed in attempting to socialize and educate victor led him further to develop methods that would later be used for the instruction of the deaf and mentally challenged. in turn, itard's methodology influenced many later educators, most notably Maria Montessori.