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

Page 28 text:

26- DEEDS AND MISDEEDS In the death of Mr. A. N. Palmer, author of The Palmer Method of Writing, hundreds of boys and girls of Decatur feel that they have suffer¬ ed the loss of a real friend for his personal talks and instructions to students in his writing courses make you feel that you have actually met the author. Miss Coffee, who has taught The Palmer Method for a number of years, has from time to time received let¬ ters from Mr. Palmer commending the work done by the pupils. A prominent Eastern educator says that Mr. Palmer has left his impress on mor e students than any other educator during the past century. The American Penman of which he was editor, dedicated the January issue to his memory and the follow¬ ing account of his life is gleaned from the magazine: Austin Norman Palmer, originator of the Palmer Method of Writing, died Nov. 16, 1927, at his home, 666 West End Ave., Nek York City, after a brief illness. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Sadie W. Palmer, who was his constant companion, his chum and sweetheart since their early marriage. Mr. Palmer was born at Fort Jack- son, N. Y. He lived on a farm dur¬ ing his early youth. When he was thirteen the family moved to Man¬ chester, N. H. Here he attended the public schools. Later he took a course in bookkeeping and penman¬ ship at Gaskill’s Business College. Here he made the acquaintance of some of the great penman of the time. He gave considerable attention to penmanship for which he conceived a great passion. Today the Palmer system is in use in a large number of the cities throughout the country. Millions of school children are practicing daily the Palmer Method drills and becom¬ ing adepts in muscular movement penmanship. Funeral services were held from the Grace Episcopal Church of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

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DEEDS AND MISDEEDS —25 MISS WILLA DICK Dick Schug who had the happy privilege of spending several months in the south during the last semester gave a most interesting account of his experiences at one of our chapel per¬ iods. Dick possesses not only the power to observe carefully but also the ability to express himself clearly and entertainingly, and he held the atten¬ tion of his audience during the entire period allotted him. His talk was interspersed with so much wit that we think there must be a “Mick” somewhere in the rela¬ tionship. -o- Earl Smith who finished his seventh and eighth grade work in Decatur, graduated from the Lenox high school this year. He remembered his school days at Central and sent Mr. Brown an invitation to the commencement exercises. He is planning to attend college and hopes some day to be a county agent. We extend to Earl our heartiest congratulations and sincere¬ ly hope that he may realize his am¬ bition. OUR TEACHERS Mr. Brown has a name that has won great fame, Not only in numbers but also high aim. In Shakesperian drama, square root and pi, He’s never found wanting, he travels “on high.” There’s another school teacher who’s rollicked to fame, We’ll tell you a secret—Grace Coffee’s her name, The mantle of Grammar fell on her so tight, That we all do believe that she al¬ ways is right. Basketball, baseball and scouting, Hiking and planning an outing, With every season’s approaching, Mr. Thomas is found to be coaching. She is tiny, she is neat With piercing eyes and little feet. She’ll see you if you try to cheat, Miss Magley’s surely hard to beat. A question that sets me a tingle Is not, is she married or single, But how to persuade Miss Sellemeyer’s aid In rhyming her name with a jingle. Here’s to dear Miss Neva No one that I know is so sweet-a, If I her ever see, Now say, believe me I’ll have to do more than just greet-a. Last but not least is Miss Clark Who’s always as gay as a lark, If her Chrysler you see, now just be¬ lieve me You’d better dodge back of a tree. —Mary Bartlett. -o—- “Mamma,” little Susie called, in shocked tones to her mother in the next room. “Come here quick and spank Buddy. He teasing God; he’s saying his prayers with one eye open.”

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DEEDS AND MISDEEDS —27 PENMANSHIP Handwriting is used almost as uni¬ versally for expressing thoughts as is speech. The usefulness of hand¬ writing to every man, woman and child in the home, in school and in business, ranks it first in importance among subjects taught. The demand for people who write a plain, legible hand is increasing, and the ap plicant who writes a bet¬ ter hand usually secures the better position. It is evident that it is not a lack of talent that is responsible for poor handwriting. The individual who be¬ comes a penman is usually the stu¬ dent who studies and practices more, works harder, and keeps forging ahead until he attains a high degree of excellence ' . Poor writing gives the impression of slovenliness, carelessness, lack of thoroughness, lack of taste and pride. On the other hand, good writing carries with it such worthwhile im¬ pressions as thoroughness, care, neat¬ ness, cleanliness, artistic taste and pride. Realizing that the skill in writing is quite worth the effort necessary to acquire it, the following boys and girls of the 7A, 8B and 8A grades, taught by Miss Coffee, have merited the following awards issued by the A. N. Palmer Co., Sept. 1927- May, 1928: High School Certificates-.. 6 Finals Certificates. 19 Improvement Certificates.. 21 Progress Pins. 6 Minor Awards. 40 Eighty-five students have submitted specimens too late to receive a report for publication. —-o- The latest report from the office of The A. N. Palmer Co., raises our pen¬ manship awards twenty-four Finals, ten Improvement Certificates, nine¬ teen Progress Pins, and twenty Merit Buttons. These, together with speci¬ mens prepared for four American Penman Certificates, give us an excel¬ lent showing for the year. SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS The Scholarship Award System was introduced at Central in the year 1926-’27 and has proved to be a suc¬ cess. It has been an inspiration and incentive to the pupils to prepare their lessons each day to the best of their ability. At the end of each six week’s period the Leaders and Digger pins have been awarded to those who have re¬ ceived at least 5 A’s or 5 B’s and no C’s on their cards. At the close of the semesters the pupils in the A sections who have received at least 16 A’s and no C’s on their cards for the two terms are awarded a final scholarship pin. The following were awarded final pins the first semester of this year: 8A Edward Martz 7 A Betty Frisinger Roland Reppert 6A Mary Maxine Brown Virginia Miller Forest Baker Glenice Tindall. 5A Maxine Humbarger Mary Kathryn Tyndall —-o-- As an incentive to greater effort and a reward for effort put forth, Mr. Brown offered five dollars in gold to be given to the 8A pupil who did the best work in penmanship. About fifteen students submitted specimens which were sent to the Chicago office of The A. N. Palmer Co. to be passed upon by their expert examiners. After reviewing the con¬ test papers carefully, considering uni¬ formity of slant and spacing and ease of execution, it was the concensus of opinion that Marcella Brandyberry’s work be placed first. We extend congratulations to the ,winner of the award, also to all who participated in the contest for they, too, acquired greater skill as their reward.