University of Wisconsin Superior - Gitche Gumee Yearbook (Superior, WI)

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GITCHE GUMEE a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, and has had considerable experience in his profession. He taught for two years in the Eau Claire High School, then taught in the St. Paul Central High School, a very large institution of fifteen hundred students, and then occupied the chair of science in Carroll College, Waukesha, for five years. He has also done graduate work at the Wisconsin University. Mr. Ehlman has given us great pleasure by his playing of the violin. The selections which he gave in assembly one day, in lieu of a speech, were heartily enjoyed by all. Letters from Former Faculty Members From Mr. E. W. Walker Since leaving the Superior Normal School in the summer of 1902, I have been continuously in the superintendence of the Wisconsin School for the Deaf at Dclavan. This work has been one of the most fascinating I have ever undertaken. In no schools must the teaching be so sound as in schools for any kind 'of defectives. The normal minded child will learn in spite of the teacher. The child of defective mind forms wrong judgments about many of the commonplace things of life, and his teacher must correct all these mistaken judgments as well as give him his academic education. She is, therefore, more necessary to her pupils than is the teacher to the public school child. Then, too, if she follows a non-psychological course in her teaching she is very soon against a stone wall and is forced to anchor herself to fundamentals. Because of this there is a certain attractiveness in this line of work. I do not understand that you mean to give space to any extended article of mine, and. therefore, say as briefly as I may regarding my work that we have constantly in mind three great principles which we hope to see fulfilled in each of the children here. First, we aim to establish right habits and moral ideals. This we can do better than can the teacher in the public school, for the reason that we control the entire time of the student. Second, we aim to give each child an academic education that shall be fairly commensurate with what hearing children acquire in the public school. For this purpose we have an elementary course of ten years. 'Flu’s course includes all of the common school branches below the high school and includes in addition such subjects as civics, bookkeeping, botany, and physics. In addition to this we have just added two years’ additional high school work. This course is for entrance in college. Four of our last year's graduates arc now in attendance at Gallaudct College, Washington, I). C. This is the only college for the deaf in the world. In connection with this academic course our pupils learn speech and lip reading. Many of them become very expert and can carry on a conversation with a hearing person so readily as to render their defect unnoticcablc. 'I hird. we give greater prominence to industrial training than docs the public school to hearing children, for the reason that deaf men and women can not readily secure positions unless they have been taught some trade. We, therefore, have a very complete manual training equipment with which we give training in all forms PAGE SIXTEEN

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School. Both in the kindergarten, and in the primary, where she has helped Miss Rowland, Miss Robbins has shown exceptional ability in teaching small children. Her stories are fascinating, and win the little folks immediately. MISS HENDERSON Miss Henderson came to us last fall, well equipped for her work as intermediate critic. She is a graduate of the Stevens Point Normal, of the class of ’02. For two years she taught in the Green Bay city schools, and taught for the same length of time in the Marinette schools. She has also taught in the Madison Boarding School in New ork. Miss Henderson is a graduate of the Teachers’ College of Columbia, having attended that institution for two years. She has been a helpful and inspiring critic, and wins children and practice teachers alike. 'Flic two plays which the intermediate children gave in the assembly room under her direction were exceptionally good, and were heartily enjoyed by every one. Such work cannot help but be very valuable to the children themselves. GITC HE GUMEE MISS ST. CLAIR Miss Varian has been spending the past year in Atlantic City, caring for a little sick niece. Miss St. Clair, who takes her place as instructor in gymnastics, is a graduate of the Sargeant School at Cambridge, the same school from which Miss Varian graduated. Miss St. Clair has proven herself very well able to take care of the physical side of our education. The children of the training department look forward to their gymnastic period with great pleasure, and the work is enjoyed by the Normal students as well. MISS GUNN When Miss Prin , gave up her work as teacher of domestic science to put her teachings into practice for the benefit of one person, we were fortunate in securing Miss Gunn to take up her work. Miss Gunn is a graduate of the Michigan Agricultural College with a B. S. degree. She was matron of the Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis for one year, and spent three years in starting a department of domestic science in Iron Mountain, Mich. She organized a department of home economics at the Illinois Woman’s College, at Jacksonville, and spent there the two years previous to her coming here. For the first time, our domestic science classes have been conducted in a way similar to the manner in which regular classes are conducted. Recitations in home economics arc heard once a week, examinations are given, to the sorrow of the pupils, and ten weeks’ credit is given for twenty weeks’ work. In this way, every student in the department means business, and, in a systematic way, learns the principles underlying the domestic arts. Students of the Normal school have a better chance than ever to equip themselves for any emergency which may call them away from the teaching profession. Extension classes for the benefit of teachers and residents of the city have also been organized, and have been thoroughly appreciated by the members. MR. EHLMAN Mr. Ehlman came to us last fall to teach physics ami chemistry, while Mr. Whealdon studies science, domestic, natural, or both, in Germany. Mr. Ehlman is PACE FIFTEEN

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of woodwork, blacksniithing, and mechanical and architectural drawing. This work is still further amplified by our trades departments. Wc teach cabinet and carpenter work, shoe making, and printing. 'ITic periodicals which accompany this letter arc both printed at this school, and the work is done by the pupils. In the shoemaking department our boys learn all forms of shoe repairing and also how to make new shoes. In the cabinet department they arc taught to make various pieces of furniture, so that at the present time a large part of the furniture about the school has been made by our own boys. For the girls we have a complete domestic science course which includes sewing, including dress-making, and cooking. Some of our girls also become expert typesetters. Each girl takes a course in millinery. Of the nine girls who graduated last June, each one designed, cut, and made her own graduating gown and also her graduation hat. They were all entirely creditable, and 1 was a proud man as I took them to the gallery to be photographed. At the present time wc have in this school two young women and two boys who are both deaf and blind. All of them arc perfectly deaf. Some of them sec well enough to make their way around reasonably well, but not well enough to read; hence they must be taught by methods used for the blind. What these students can accomplish, although lacking in the two principal senses that convey impressions to the mind, is truly remarkable. In the way of better facilities for instruction and care for the deaf children, wc have just completed a large industrial building, well equipped for its purpose, and shall have completed and ready for occupancy next September a large building for our girls. This building includes commodious sleeping rooms, study rooms, play rooms, tub, shower, and pool baths, and a gymnasium 100 feet by 52 feet. I have often said and really believe that wc have here the two hundred happiest children in the state of Wisconsin. I thank you for the opportunity your invitation gives me to greet my former friends in the Superior Normal School, to all of whom, as well as to the many new members within the student body and faculty, I extend a hearty wish for the highest success and greatest happiness. May I close with a little sentiment which I penned as a Christmas greeting to the teachers and other employes here? It is one of the blessed provisions of God that joy and gladness and peace neither from ease nor station nor wealth arise. In all walks of life arc found the buoyant mind and the gladsome heart. They arc born of a conscience that says ever “I)o right. a heart that ever feels for others and a mind and a body that go to their work with that clastic energy that promises success in all undertakings. April 8. IQUQ. 13 f3 13 From Mr. G. L. Bowman To have a vocation that gives you a living because it is necessary to human interests, that gives you pleasure because you like to follow it, that gives you a stimulation to do it better from day to day because you can sec that you do it a little better than most people, is to have a permanent source of happiness and an GI TCI IE GUM EE PACE SEVENTEEN