Wisconsin School for the Deaf - Tattler Yearbook (Delavan, WI)

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CITIZENSHIP DAY IN WISCONSIN By J. KL.MORE HOPKINS A I)AY has been set aside in Wisconsin for the purpose of initiating into the ranks of citizens all persons who became twenty-one years of age during the current year terminating with the third Sunday in May. Citizenship Day, as it is known, was held this year on the twenty-first day of May in the hope of stimulating the interest of new citizens and educating them in their duties, responsibilities and obligations. For several years civic leaders, government officials, and citizens interested in government and citizenship have pondered over the question of what Could be done to lend the average citizen into more active participation in city, state, and national government. Each year some two and a half million young men and women in the United States celebrate their twenty-first birthdays. Many of them commence going to the polls to vote on election day. As often as not. on this first trip to cast their ballot, they have no deep sense of duty, responsibility, or obligation. They are twenty-one years old and. therefore, entitled to vote. True, they studied civics in their grammar and high school days, but that only gave them a general idea of what citizenship meant. Their minds were too immature to comprehend the details so these were not stressed. Furthermore. they cannot fully appreciate their duties, responsibilities, or obligations ns voters until they become of age and assume them. The best time, therefore, to give young Americans a complete picture of the part they play in the administration of public affairs is when they have reached their twenty-first birthdays. Wisconsin voters are very lax. Fifty-three percent of the eligible voters went to the polls in the general election Inst year, and only twenty-nine percent voted in the primaries. This shows the great indifference of the average voter. We should seek by all means to conserve and capitalize the interest and enthusiasm of the young voter. He should he impressed with the fact that his decisions are of importance: that they do affect the future of the state and nation although he may not at the moment be able to perceive the fact. A number of times during the past few years the suggestion has been made that we adopt Citizenship Day as a means of reawakening citizen interest and pnrticiimtion in governmental affairs. Everywhere the suggestion was hailed ns “an excellent idea. but nothing was ever done to carry it out. On October 13. 1038. Professor R. J. Colbert of the University of Wisconsin Extension Division offered the idea at a round-table conference of the municipal administration class at the Manitowoc School for Adult and Vocational Education. It was offered as a possible project for the class. At first no attempt was made to act upon the suggestion of Doctor Colbert. A week later he again brought the matter before the class, hut this time he stressed it more strongly by contending that a greater interest and wider participation of new voters in government would result. After the lapse of another week. Judge Albert Schmidt, attending the class, made a motion that they adopt the suggestion of Doctor Colbert. The class was unanimously in favor of it and asked Mr. A. L. Nimtz. director of the vocational school, to appoint a committee. composed of people from all parts of the county to study the idea and plan a well-rounded program. An executive committee was chosen to take charge of the proiect. Members of the com mittce included a local judge, the directors of the vocational school, other school principals and superintendents, the county superintendent, newspaper representatives, the county agricultural agent, representatives of organized labor, representatives from civic and sendee organizations. representatives from women's clubs and municipal representatives. The inspiration and satisfaction, which result from community action on an important idea, drives the interest and incentive of the young citizen toward a better understanding and more active participation in governmental affairs. Citizenship Day, therefore, must be regarded as essentially an educational movement and conducted as such. A series of six teachers' institutes were held and from three hundred to four hundred men and women attended. From among this large group, seventy-six men and women were selected, one man and one woman for each of

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BLOCK PRINTING By KARL SPRAGUR BLOCK PRINTING originated in the Orient, having been invented by the Chinese in the latter part of the seventh century. Early in the eighth century it had spread to Japan. The Japanese lost no time in developing this art. They continued to improve block printing until they had become far more skilled in the art than the Chinese originators. Today, most of the finest block printing is produced by the Japanese people. Not until the fourteenth century, did block printing find its way into Europe. It was first used for illustrating Bibles. Bibles were written by hand until Johann Gutenburg invented movable type. This invention, with the use of block prints for illustrations, made it possible to put out books on a larger and cheaper scale. Block prints, carved out of wood, have given way to linoleum blocks. Instead of being carved out. prints are now etched on linoleum. Although results from wood carving give finer lines, linoleum etching is much easier and quicker. Block printing today plays an important part in the world of art. It is done by different methods in various countries. Japan bus the most colorful method. Many people are taking up block printing as a worth while hobby. Block printing, from the drawing of the picture to the printing of the block, takes several steps. White drawing paper is used for the drawing and lettering which is done with a soft lead pencil. The drawing and the lettering is then traced on tissue paper and again on the back of the same piece of tissue paper by holding it against a window or placing it over a white sheet of paper so a pencil can be run over the lines which show through. This gives you the figure in reverse. Holding a mirror close to a printed page and looking at the reflected image in the glass will give you an idea %vhat the reverse figure is like. It is necessary to make the block in reverse because when a print is made from it. the figure is reversed back again to its original and desired form. The reversed copy of the drawing is placed on a linoleum block. It is kept in place by two or three thumb tacks while the impression is being made on the block. With different types of etching knives, the etcher then cuts out the picture. To do this requires a firm hand and greut care as one little sup ui me smie »s enough to spoil the work. All except that part of the linoleum which makes the impression when printed is etched out. Cuts of many lines require more skill than those with just a few lines. Straight lines are hurder to etch than those that are curved. After a proof has been taken, the cut is corrected to remove imperfections. More proofs are also taken, and corrected if necessary, until one feels that the block will give the print wanted. The block should be type-high for the press. If it is not, it can be built up from the bottom with bond paper or thin card-board. With the aid of wood furniture, quoins, a quoin key, and tin iron frame called a chase, the block is locked up and ready for the press. In making ready, weak impression spots are built up on the draw sheet with tissue paper or a heavier stock if the impression is very weak in spots. The guides used for holding the puper in correct alignment are then set. The work is then ready for printing. While printing, the ink should be watched so that it will lie uniform throughout. If one wanted to print the United Stales flag in colors, he would have to make three cuts, one for each color, red. white and blue. The blue field of the flag would first be printed from one block. Then the white stripes and white start on the blue field. I ist. the third block, with red stripes would be printed to complete the picture. The cuts must be so made that the blue field, stars, red and white stripes fit into their proper places. Very simple equipment is required for block printing in the home. An old wash-wringer can he used in the place of a press. Other items are a plate of glass for the inking, a rubber cushion or a rubber roller for inking the block, paper and etching knives. Very beautiful Christmas, tally, and greeting cards can be made by block printing as well as programs, posters, book illustrations, paper and magazine covers, place cards, menu cards, and the marking of detours on maps. Block printing is also used for making book plates. The textile industry uses block printing extensively for its designs. By making a hobby of block printing, a person can find great pleasure in printing his own cards, book plates and other similar articles.

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the thirty-eight governmental units in Manitowoc County, to take charge of the citizenship classes which were held prior to Citizenship Day. The three aims of the educational program were: 1. To acquaint new voters (and others) with the set-up of their local, state and national governments, with the greatest emphasis on the county unit. 2. To encourage and stimulate discussion and questions by new voters without partisan prejudice or efforts to restrain expressions and view-points. 8. To inspire ana create a more dynamic enthusiasm in governmental affairs All meetings were held in a non-political, non-sectarian, non-partisan manner. The program was put on a county-wide basis and. from the outset, emphasis was placed on the county unit of government—the towns, villages, city wards, and county as a whole. The voter has his closest contacts with municipal management in local government. He casts his votes in the county unit and his chief interests lie in the county. Intelligent participation in state and national affairs is assured if the voter takes an active interest in the county unit. As u climax to all this preparation and training. Citizenship Day was held on May twenty-first at Manitowoc and was a major holiday. Streets and buildings were decorated. A mammoth parade featuring floats from each of the thirty-eight county units, was an out- standing event of the day. A dozen hands and drum corps took part. The national guard “color guard was present. A state-wide Citizenship Day will be held on the third Sunday of May. 1010. The third Sunday in May was chosen because schools are still in session, so few persons are away on vacations, teachers are available to assist, and the school buildings may be used. Sunday gives laborers and farmers an opportunity to be present. The clergy can prepare suitable sermons. It will create a greater interest in Memorial Day and last, but not least, there is no danger of political tampering. A $258 appropriation was approved by the Board of Regents of the University for the purpose of printing a new hand-hook for Citizen ship Day. It was prepared as a V. P. A. Project. It is called Citizenship Day for the Instruction of New Voters. a pattern for a permanent national Citizenship Day. It contains the citizenship oath and certificate, an explanation of the plan, its purpose, committees and duties, and general suggestions ns well as detailed information. Any community desiring to organize a Citizenship Day of its own will find this hand-book indispensible. Judge Marvin B. Rosen berry of our supreme court, who had been actively interested in the project since its inception. President Dykstra of the University of Wisconsin, and Prof. Colbert were present. President Dykstra gave the opening address and Chief Justice Rosen-berry administered the oath to the new citizens. It was a day long to he remembered and a forerunner, we hope, of many such days.