Final answer:
Historically, certain disabilities like deafness were misconstrued as signs of divine displeasure, but it's outdated and incorrect to hold such views today. Cotton Mather and other Puritan leaders emphasized educating all children, symbolically linking ignorance with divine punishment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The belief that being deaf was a sign of God's anger and a sin of the parents can be traced back to historical views and superstitions, rather than any specific individuals who might have propagated this belief.
In the context of Puritan beliefs, leading Puritan ministers like Cotton Mather and Richard Mather emphasized the importance of educating children and warned of the severe consequences for parents who failed in their duty.
While they did not specifically mention deafness as a sign of God's anger, the Puritanical belief system did generally view disabilities and misfortunes as possible signs of divine displeasure or punishment for sin.
It is crucial to understand that these views are outdated and incorrect. Today, we know that deafness is a condition related to auditory function and is not connected to moral or religious failings.
Modern society recognizes the importance of providing equal opportunities for education and societal participation for all individuals, regardless of hearing ability.