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

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What Art Means To Me By GORDON G1sBoNs A During my early years, 1 didn't draw because no one explained to me how to draw, consequently I only colored in the comic books with some colored crayons and chalks. In primary school, I went to school to learn speech, lip-reading, and language, but I drew with colored chalk much of the time. Though the teachers gave me fair grades, I drew nothing good because my colors were too dark or too light, of course I didn't follow di- rections. At that time I didn't enjoy drawing. In 1939, the principal moved me to the Main School. For a few years, my parents sent me to the art shop every day from September to May, but I learned very little because I was stubborn and drew too many airplanesg I would not draw other things. My former teacher, Mrs. Huddle, tried to force me to draw flowers with shades and tones, etc., but I refused, so she left me alone and let me draw what I wanted to draw. She taught me how to letter. At that time, I didn't like things which were hard for me to draw, but I traced them. Sometimes she saw me and told me to stop that. I could not copy perfectly large pictures from little pictures of things in the magazines. Most of the time what I drew was not good and I threw my papers into the basket. I loved to draw pictures with water colors, but I often complained about having no good brushes as my classmates had al- ready used them. During the war, there was no teacher in the art shop: so I stopped drawing and moved to the woodwork shop, yet I liked it a little. At that time somebody told me that it is too hard for deaf people to get art jobs, but I was still determined to pursue art. Last summer a man came to see me at my home. He told me things about art and the correspondence lessons from Art Instructions, Inc., in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He told me when I had- drawn some things I should send them in for criticism. Some artists would use red lines and explain to me what mistakes I made. They told me that I would be helped lots through the correspondence course. I decided to accept his proposi- tion to study in that way. I began to study first about blocking in and drawing with pencil and crayon in Division One. This division told me that I must draw every day, thus it would become a habit. The teachers in Minnesota advised that I read thoroughly each division before attempting to do any drawing pertaining to it so as to have an understanding of the contents. There were a number of musts. I must think where I wish the drawing placed on the paper, for what effect I am to strive, and many other things. Also I must draw through seeing and feeling. Moreover, I must learn to observe people more closely 3 carry a sketch pad and pencil with me everywhere I go. I have drawn illustrations for criticism since early fall. I have learned about pencil and crayon sketching, pen and ink sketching, wash and opaque colors, composition and perspective, and layouts. The artists gave me four B's and two A's on my work. They wrote letters to me several times after they checked the illustrations which I had drawn. I have eight divisions left to do. I will study about lettering, adver- tising, illustration, design and decoration, animal drawing, commercial design, booklet and catalogue, construction, cover designing, and repro- duction of illustration. These lessons are surely hard, consequently I must study hard at home. I think I will finish these divisions next year. My art teacher told me that I had made a good start at drawing. He believes that I will be a successful artist in the not too distant future if I work hard. I hope this may come true for I should like to make art my career.

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My wn School By ARNOLD voor The seniors are thankful that we have been able to get an education at T.S.D. We have studied many subjects and taken many different trades. We are grateful to God, for He has made it possible for us to be educated in a good school instead of living in ignorance. A pleasant and successful life, in which we enjoy the good things, is possible if we are educated even if we are deaf. For a number of years, we have come to this school that has given us an opportunity to learn many valuable lessons. We are very happy that the state established a school for the education of deaf boys and girls. , The Texas School for the Deaf was founded in Austin on the south- side of the Colorado River in January, 1857. Three students came here to get an educationg they went to the school in a smokehouse with only one deaf teacher to teach them. During the year of 1857, our school had not enough equipment, and it endured great hardships because of the Civil War for several years. Most of the present buildings were built between 1895 and 1923 under the Board of Trustees which controlled the school. At present, the school together with a number of other state institutions is under a three-man board known as the Board of Control, whose mem- bers are appointed by the Governor. There are eleven buildings used for the housing and training of the student body. The Mechanics Building, established in 1932, the Auto Shop in 1932, and the Gymnasium in 1928, are newer than the other buildings on the campus. We are proud of these buildings and of our campus, dotted with many beautiful oak trees. The school uses the oral, manual, and acoustic methods of teaching. Some of the students are improving under the oral method, as some stu- dents have learned to talk very quickly and to read lips, but the students who are born deaf usually advance more rapidly under the manual. Other students who have some hearing use hearing aids and are taught acous- tically. There are many shops. They are art, baking, automobile mechanics, barbering, cosmetology, foods and cooking, sewing, shoe repairing, clean- ing and pressing, tailoring, printing, vocational agriculture, woodwork, and painting. We must learn many different trades so we will easily get a job to earn money for our living expenses after we leave school. Physical education is an important part of the daily life in the school. All the boys and girls are encouraged to take part in some sport. Our teams usually play very well. In 1947, our Texas Silents were undefeated in nine games, and the number of points scored were 516 while the op- position was held down to two touchdowns. The team won the champion- ship in football of the deaf schools in the United States that year. In 1948, a new superintendent, Mr. Roy Moore Stelle, was appointed. He is the seventeenth superintendent that the Texas School has had. Mr. Stelle has inspected our campus and the buildings thoroughly and is sur- prised at the condition of some of the old buildings. He wants a number of new buildings which will cost 81,100,000 and has presented a request for them to the Legislature which met last January. We hope that the Legislature will pass the appropriation for this school as he has drawn it, and that the Governor will sign it. It is necessary to build the new buildings if the Texas School for the Deaf is to have a plant that every- one interested in the education of the deaf can be proud of.

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Class Song WE'LL MISS YOU I Tune to Auld Lang Synej School is ,closing now and we are glad, That our work is done. School is closing now and we are sad- 'Cause we'll miss you everyone. We'1l miss our teachers who have tried To help us on our way. We'll miss the friends with whom we've been- At work and at play. The time has come when we must go- To work and earn our own. The time has come for us to show- Appreciation for all we've known. We thank you for your kindness, Amd your patience the years through. We love you for your friendship- And we'll all be missing you. A Tribute OUR ACCLAIM By BILLY MELTON Senior of '48 Hail to thee, Seniors of '49- Thy praises now we sing. May much happiness ever be thine. May you succeed in everything. We Seniors of '48 have gone, And left the School so fair. Our records are for you to see, And to beat-if you dare. So hail to thee, proud Seniors, Go on to victory. Do your life's work well, and 'We- Will ever be proud of thee.