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

Page 29 text:

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.

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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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28- DEEDS AND MISDEEDS MR. DANIELSON Mr. Danielson is the new assistant Scout Executive of the Anthony Wayne Area Council. He has taken the place of Glen McCaughey who is now Field Executive for the Area Council at Detroit, Michigan. Mr. Danielson was formerly a teacher in the schools of Quincey, Ill. -o-— SCOUTING Scouting in Decatur has progressed by leaps and bounds during the past year. There are now three active Boy Scout troops in Decatur, Rotary Troop No. 61, American Legion Troop No. 63 and St. Joe Troop No. 64, be¬ sides the honorary organization, Beta Sigma Alpha, registered as Troop No. 62. The girls at Central school have a’so caught the Scout fever and have organized Tri Kappa Girl Scout Troop No. 1 under the leadership of Mrs. Bryce Thomas. Rotary Troop No. 61 is now under the leadership of Clarence Beavers, with Frank Devor as his assistant, Russell Owens is scoutmaster of American Legion Troop No. 63, with John D. Aber as assistant, and Har¬ old Daniels has organized a troop at the St. Joe school with the help of Cornelius Durkin. All troops are pro¬ gressing rapidly in their scout work under the capable leadership of their scoutmasters. Meetings of the troops are held every week; the Legion troop meeting at the Legion hall, the Rotary troop in the Christian church basement and the St. Joe troop at the Catholic school. Each troop has also been taking several hikes each week. The Decatur Scouts now form a part of the Anthony Wayne Area Council, made up of Adams, Wells and Whit¬ ley counties, and the city of Fort Wayne. Mr. E. W. Lankenau is chairman of the Adams county or¬ ganization; Dr. Burt Mangold, vice- chairman; John Nelson, secretary- treasurer, and Bryce Thomas, scout commissioner. The Decatur Scouts attended the annual birthday celebra¬ tion of the council held in the North Side High School auditorium at Fort Wayne, February 8th. At that time several scouts received awards for advancement in scouting. Plans for the big Achievement Round-Up, which