Texas School for the Deaf - Towers Yearbook (Austin, TX)

Page 18 text:

Salutatory By 'ron Wrrnnow After a number of years we, the Senior Class of 1949, have finally realized one of our ambitions, that of graduating from the Texas School for the Deaf. The obligation of welcoming all of you-our superintendent, teachers, parents, and friends-to our commencement program has fallen to me. Speaking for myself and my classmates, I should like to say that it gives us sincere pleasure to' have each of you with us,this joyful Com- mencement Day. . We find it difficult to express our feelings about graduation. For many years, we have been diligent about doing the work assigned us at the the Texas School for the Deaf, but although we are not happy to leave our Alma Mater, we are now eager to seek our fortunes elsewhere. We are stepping out into a strange world to meet new experiences, some easy and others difiicult. The things we have learned in school will be of great help to us in overcoming any difficulties which lie ahead. We remember clearly our experiences of the pastg hence we really are grateful to the teachers and the supervisors who have been patient in instructing us and guiding us in the right ways. We really have acquired much information which has been taught us by the teachers throughout our school days. We must re- member their advice when we go out into unfamiliar places to undertake new tasks. We will need courage to meet strange faces and to overcome obstacles. Whenever we have trouble, we shall remember their adviceg thus we shall be able to solve oun problems if we use good judgment. We warn the students here that it is better for you to accept your teachers' and ofIicer's suggestions and words of instruction. This is important ad- vice for you who are looking forward to being the graduating class at some future date. It is my hope that the following words may have some influence on you boys and girls: If you want to get a good education, you must work hard yourself. Hard work is necessary if you are to succeed. Furthermore, if you can't hear, it is most important for you to read books, magazines, or newspapers when you have leisure in school. Reading will help you to git much information, to improve your language, and to entertain your- se ves. Now, we wish to say once more that we are happy to have all of you who are present tonight. Welcome to our Commencement Exercise! Valedictory By JOYCE EASTHAM - As we, the seniors of 1949, leave our beloved T.S.D. to follow our chosen paths, we wish to express our appreciation to all of you friends for your help, your encouragement, and your lasting faith in our abilities which have helped us thus far along the way. To the Board of Control: We extend you our thanks for your interest in the affairs of our school. To our superintendent, Mr. Stelle: Though we have not known you long, we have grown to like and respect you in many ways. We express our thanks to you for your assistance during our last year here in T.S.D., and for your hard work which has improved our school so much in the past year. We offer you our best wishes for your continuous success. To our principal and teachers: You will always have a cherished spot in our heart, for you have done so. much for us. We give you our deepest thanks for leading us from the darkness of ignorance to the light of knowledge and for striving always to teach and to train us to be useful citizens. To our supervisors: We express our real gratitude for the under- standing and help which you have given in aiding us to become good Americans. A

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Page 19 text:

To the students and friends: You have been with us through many of our years and have shared with us many experiences. We value your friendships highly and shall never forget you. Although we look to the past years with pleasure, we' look to the fu- ture with the expectation of a bigger and better school for the deaf. In the years to come we hope that the plans which are being so care- fully laid for the improvement of this school will be carried out. We hope the Legislature will appropriate enough money so that several new build- ings may be erected. We expect the children in the primary department and those who will follow them to have every advantage that can possibly be given them in order that they may not feel so insecure as some others before them have felt. Our sincerest wish is that the teachers in every department will be experienced teachers and as understanding as ours have been, not expecting the impossible of the students, but on the other hand spuring them on to their greatest efforts. All skies cannot be sunny, so may the pupils be taught to take the bad with the good. All cannot be geniuses, but may their talents be socultivated that they will succeed and thus enable the deaf to work in fields which have so far never been ex- plored. May the pupils be taught, as soon as possible after entering school, to read and to love books and other reading materials. No deaf person can really hope to have his mind opened to the fullest understanding of life without reading much. Since part of the children who enter here, when they are young, can hear to some degree, we wish that they might be equipped with hearing-aids then, not later. By doing this, their language, speech, and their ability to -understand their teachers will be greatly im- proved. Furthermore, we hope that lip-reading may be taught to all that show they have been benefited from such instruction. This and acoustic training should be very important departments of the school. May the students also be trained in body as well as in mind so that they may be physically, as well as mentally, equipped to cope with the difficult prob- lems which may confront them in their lives. The members of this graduating class are most eager to enter new fields, but we shall often look back with pleasant memories to the years spent in T.S.D.. and feel deep gratitude toward you who have helped us so much during our school days. So, to our school, superintendent, prin- cipals, teachers, supervisors, friends and fellow-students, we now bid you a fond farewell. Our History By JAMES WATSON We know our school life will be ended soon. In fact, we shall wonder whether we have really been a part of this school for so many years after we have left it. In the coming days, itwill be a pleasure to recall some in terestlng facts about the members of the class of '49, JACK AUTRY was born in Borger, Texas. At the age of five, he first entered the school for the deaf in Sulphur, Oklahoma, where he remained for thirteen years. Then he entered the school for the deaf at Austin and was put in the junior class two years ago. He has been a good student at this school. His hobbies are all the sports except baseballg he does not like that. This year he starred in football and basketball. He is a' member of the Longhorn Club, the Christian Endeavor, and the Lewis Literary So clety. He expects to work at drawing blueprints in Houston next sum mer after, his graduation.