Central School - Deeds and Misdeeds Yearbook (Decatur, IN)

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DEEDS AND MISDEEDS 21 THE TEACHER By Dr. Henry Van Dyke “And what of teaching? Ah, there you have the worst paid, and the best rewarded, of all the vocations. Dare not to enter it unless you love it. For the vast majority of men and women it has no promise of wealth or fame but they to whom it is dear for its own sake are among the nobility of mankind. I sing the praise of the un¬ known teacher. Great generals win campaigns but it is the unknown soldier that wins the war. “Famous educators plan new sys¬ tems of pedagogy, but it is the un¬ known teacher who delivers and guides the young. He lives in ob¬ scurity and contends with hardship. For him no trumpets blare, no char¬ iots wait, no golden decorations are decreed. He keeps the watch along the borders of darkness and makes the attack on the trenches of ignor¬ ance and folly. Patient in his daily duty, he strives to conquer the evil powers which are the enemies of youth. He awakens sleeping spirits. He quickens the indolent, encourages the eager, and steadies the unstable. He communicates his own joy in learning and shares with boys and girls the best treasures of his mind. He lights many candles which, in later years, will shine back to cheer him. This is his reward. “Knowledge may be gained from books, but the love of knowledge is transmitted only by personal contact. No one has deserved better of the republic than the unknown teacher. No one is more worthy to be enrolled in the democratic aristocracy, ‘king of himself and servant of mankind’.” -o- Miss C.—So you wear your gloves in bed to keep your hands soft? D. Y.—Sure. M. C.—And do you wear your hat? SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS Three people in each of the A sec¬ tions in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades were awarded the gold scholarship pin at the end of the first semester: The fates seemed to be against a few, however, and they missed reach¬ ing the coveted goal by such a nar¬ row margin that we feel impeded to give them honorable mention. 8A James Engeler Bernadine Shraluka Russell Jaberg Honorable Mention Isabelle Baumgartner Martha Moser Mary Acker Dorothy Summers Daniel Schafer. Gerald Smitley Ruth Winnes Harold Hoffman Edward Martz 6A Rolland Reppert Mary Elizabeth Frisinger Laura Alice Christen Honorable Mention Virginia Smith Waveland Fisher 5A Mary Maxine Brown Glenyns Tyndall Virginia Miller Honorable Mention Forest Baker. -o- Honoring the Leaders and Diggers for their excellent attainments in scholarship, two parties were held during the year. This recognition of superiority in intellectual achieve¬ ments has been greatly appreciated by both teachers and pupils.

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20 DEEDS AND MISDEEDS MISS IVA SPANGLER The following greeting was received from Miss Iva Spangler, a former teacher in this building. Miss Spangler has been teaching in the Fort Wayne schools this year: 2908 Holton Ave., Fort Wayne, Indiana, May 7, 1927. Dear Teachers and Pupils at Central: This being Mother’s Day season, my thoughts naturally turn back to my intellectual posterity at Decatur, though my practical mother interest has been transformed to that of an indulgent grandmother. Of course I hope you don’t think of me as old and decrepit and having retired to the city to spend my days in peace and com¬ fort for I am the same old globe¬ trotter I used to be, always starting out with new interest in the fall and returning foot-sore and weary in the spring. You might be glad to know where my last travels have been. In com¬ pany with about a hundred enthus¬ iastic youngsters I have spent several months in Asia, traveling via water, rail, camel, jinrikisha, and even dog sledge. The curious customs of the Chinese, the beauty in Japan, and the adventures of the Northland were so time-consuming that when we at last reached Mt. Everest little time re¬ mained for the thrills of mountain climbing. We are now in Africa and expect to be back in Fort Wayne by June 10. I have tried to decide which of sev¬ eral reasons leads to your vacation being longer than ours will be. Is it that with your Brown faculty, includ¬ ing Coffee, a Brandyberry, and all else desirable and good for boys and girls, that you “drink in” a sufficient amount to last over summer in less time? Perhaps it is the unusual intelligence of you students. That is the probable cause, isn’t it? Or is it because you are delicate little people and need much time to relax from the tension brought on by Julius Caesar, conjuga¬ tion of verbs, and living through the Civil War. When you go a-summering, I wish for you all a vacation of refreshment, of pleasure and inspiration and may you be glad to be back at Central next fall for another year of friendly re¬ lationships. Sincerely yours, Iva Spangler. •-Oi-—— During the school year the eighth grade class lost two of their class¬ mates. Richard Tricker moved to Fort Wayne where he is doing good work. Helen Frances Chrisman mov¬ ed to Memphis, Tenn. Helen is gett¬ ing along fine in the Lenox school school which she attends. Miss Helen has been on the honor roll and has received many compliments for her superior work. -o—- Gladys T.—“I think every kiss a girl gels makes her an hour younger.” M. Engle—“Goodness, if that were so I wouldn’t be born yet.”

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22 - DEEDS AND MISDEEDS OUR SUNSET CLASS Our sunset class convenes at 3:45 daily. The size of this class varies in numbers as it is made up of those who have not yet learned the wisdom of applying themselves to their stud¬ ies. You can imagine our feelings when Mr. Brown steps into the room with a number of familiar looking slips of paper and in a tone that would indicate that one was being asked to step forward and receive some signal honor he reads the names and tells us the number of the “cell” for that particular evening. Who our “jailer” will be is also learned by the number of the room. The “term” fif¬ teen minutes for each offense is fre- quenly lengthened by being multi¬ plied by the number of times our names have been taken. Five regular teachers and three special teachers make it possible for us to serve eight times fifteen minutes. Sentence is irrevocable, not even the death of your grandmother being sufficient cause for excuse. We know because we’ve tried. Those of us who have been almost regular members of the class hereby petition Mr. Worthman to compel Miss Coffee to learn to tell time for a fifteen minute sentence in¬ variably meant 4:15 or even later. “Work while you work” is the motto in Central so we agreed to abide by that principle; but alas! how frail we poor children are and many and sad are the tales we could tell. -o- A litlte girl was at the circus. She was viewing the animals when all of a sudden she said, “Gee that elephant is dumb.” Her mother said, “Why.” “Because,” she said, “its head is so full of ivory that it even sticks out..” (Stranger)—“Do you run a car?” (Randolph B.)—“No, I let the en¬ gine do that.” A GALA DAY Boys are boys. They are affected and influenced by little adult atten¬ tions that bespeak a real sincerity of interest in them. Consequently the boys of Deca ur hold a most kindly feeling toward the Rotary Club for having provided a delightful day’s outing for them as the culmination of the Boys’ Week program. The weath¬ er was ideal for out-door festivities. Athletic contests, bicycle races, and most important all that every boy could eat, were included in the pro¬ gram. We feel certain that the men who sponsored this entertainment for the boys regained a little of their own youth. Such contact is the nearest known substitute for the fabled foun¬ tain. The experiences are sure to be mutually pleasant and mutually help¬ ful. Since it was evident that our girls had been somewhat neglected, Mr. Worthman took the initiative, as usual, and under the capable direc¬ tion of Miss Stephenson they, too, spent a very happy day at the park. Their diversion was similar to the events in which the boys participated and ribbons were awarded the win¬ ners. Mr. Worthman had very gen¬ erously provided a number of gifts which were hidden in the park, and, guided by signs posted at various points, the girls enjoyed their “treas¬ ure hunt” for almost an hour. A picnic luncheon at the noon hour was of course the feature of the day. —-o- (Miss C.)—Thurman, use the word “vermin” in a sentence. (T. Irelan)—“I always go vermin before I go fishing.” Once there was a teacher as well known as a football coach.? Some of our 8-B boys are long on sleep but short on study.