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

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 Forifct your UM len« KrirvitiK For the chances thrown away-See the guide poat to achieving,— It' for you to take to-day Five years ago I entered this school a very much spoiled child. I had been allowed to attend movies several nights of the week with friends; and in a drug store, not far from where I stayed, my sister was employed. She frequently treated me to sodas and sundaes free. It was very difficult for me to give all this up and instead have certain tasks almost every hour of the day to perform. Hut obey I must! Obedience then, I believe, was my guide post ' to a better way. 1 have learned here that by obeying one gains happiness, a better disposition. improvement in school work, efficiency in other work, and greater independence. The summer I was at home after I had been attending W. S. L). for two years, mother made this remark to me. Helen. 1 wouldn’t know you were the same girl. Now I have time to rest; you help me so much. This made me feel that it paid to follow this guide post. Obedience. —Helen Hockert And what directed me to a better way? It all happened quite unexpectedly. At an Ariadna Literary Society meeting one Thursday evening I found myself in the midst of a group of girls, thanking them for electing me secretary of the society. For the first time since I enrolled here, I felt that I was one of them. The days that followed, because of my office. I realized that I was mingling with the girls more and more, entering into their conversations and taking part in what they were doing. The enjoyment of their companionship is increasing. As a result 1 have acquired the ability to understand the sign language, also to make myself understood, although I am not proficient in sign making. But bust of all, 1 am learning that one should be happy where he is, and not feel that in order to have a good time, he must he somewhere else. He can and should seek the friendship and companionship of those around him. Thanks to the Ariadna Literary Society for pointing to this better way. —Marcene Schmit Before entering this school I did not know that there were so many deaf and hard of hearing people in the world. In fact, I had always been of the impression that I was the only one that had happened to meet with such misfortune. I entertained a sense of bitterness; I felt that I had been cheated. When I saw what the deaf boys and girls here could do. something happened inside of me. I can’t explain it. My attitude toward life was changed. Gradually I became interested in the work required of me. This was new to me. 1 had never enjoyed work. Many of the alumni of this school have proved that the deaf can fill certain positions us well as the hearing. This has given me more confidence in myself and others. —Florence Mojack ■ — •------ . Physical Education has made me over, therefore. I’m going to call it my guide post. For over a year I was in a Madison hospital being treated for a serious illness and was just recovering when I was placed in this school. My nerves were shot to pieces. 1 didn’t care to join the girls in their play; and. if I had

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In behalf of the class of 1010. I welcome you to the seventieth commencement exercises of this school. We are happy to have you here with us tonight. We shall probably never have a chance to share so great a moment with you again. For many years we have looked forward to this occasion. Tomorrow at this time we will no longer be pupils of this school. This thought brings a feeling of regret. It makes us feel sad to think of leaving the school which has been our home for so long. We shall treasure many happy memories of the years spent here, and friends we have made. At times the daily routine seemed irksome to us. but now we are beginning to realize how pleasant our school days have been. Tomorrow begins a new life for us. There will be many responsibilities and problems for us to face. In Edward Bok’s book. “A Dutch Boy Fifty Years After.” he tells us that an obstacle is not something to be afraid of. but only a difficulty to be overcome.” 1 hope we may remember these words after we have left school. We are thankful for this school which offers so many deaf boys and girls an education, and prepares them to take their places in life. We are glad that our parents and relatives urged us to continue here, believing “that a thing begun must be carried to a finish. And last of all. we are glad that we are living in America, where we have as good a chance as anyone else to be successful. Whether we achieve success or not depends upon ourselves. Give to the world the best that you have. And the best will come back to you.” Again we thank you for coming here tonight to enjoy these exercises with us. RUTH A. CATARACT Class President Interpreter

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dared. I nhould have cut every physical education class. Through the splendid training given here. I grew interested; and before long I found myself looking forward to these classes, which were always held following the academic school work. The swimming I loved: in fact, there wasn't one thing in the whole course which I disliked. It took away that unpleasant nervous feeling. While some may still call me fidgety, which I am at times, I know that my work in physical education has been a great help. If. in choosing his life work, one should take into consideration what interests him most; I should certainly choose to be a teacher of Physical Education. So this guide post has led me to a positive choice of work for my livelihood. —Ruth Cataract The school has provided so many guide posts that lead to better ways that it is difficult. yes, quite impossible to choose just one. There wasn’t a Loy here in school with whom I could get along when 1 first landed. It was usually my fault, of course, but then I thought it was the other fellow's. The cooperation that a boy learns here certainly leads him out of this “trouble making business. And. too. etiquette and 1 never had much to do with each other until I came here. There is still room for improvement along this line, in my case; but we are much better friends. The studies offered in the curriculum here aroused my interest in many fields. They have instilled in me a love for reading. 1 even like to study. So. certainly, they have pointed out a way worthwhile. The printing department has been an inspiration to me and stimulated ambition, which 1 seemed to lack. Where once on the only sign post I saw was: “You can’t ever earn your living. I now see on another: “Be a good printer and you can earn a living. Our instructor in printing points this out to us daily. If we take some shorl cut and fail, it will not be his fault. —Hubert Seidel In the ironin;: room I soon found out that 1 couldn’t get by with careless work. Every wrinkle must be pressed out of the white uni-fern's. They must look just right. If took patience both on my part and on the part of my instructor. This training led me to be more accurate in all my work. This has brought my ti.arks up in home economics, in art. and in academic studies. “A thing that is worth doing is worth doing well. —Ruth Schmidt ■ ” • —.... The activities of the Boy Scouts here have, I believe, had the greatest influence over me of all these that are provided for our benefit. When my cousin, Frederick Foker. was attending school, he was very active in Scouting here, as well as at his home. 1 his aroused my interest in that movement at an early age. As a mere youngster my greatest desire was to be a leader of that organization, and I determined to work for this end. From the Boy Scouts I have not only learned to do many things that have been of benefit to me. but also how to respect and help others, how to keep healthy and how to be always prepared to meet any emergency. When I have faithfully followed the Scout rules. I have been shown the difference between right and wrong. Last year when I received the American Legion School Award. I realized more fully Ilian over before what my training had done for me. The Boy Scout movement. I am confident, is one of the best societies in the world for it develops manliness and willingness to serve, it enuoles boys to overcome traits that would in time harm their character. May W. S. I), niways have Boy Scouts! And may the members follow its rulesi —Raymond A. Rasmus I have learned to like sewing, and I have learned it in the Home Economics department here. Sewing was always a bore to me when 1 took it before coming here. The patience that was shown by my instructor. when I was taking the first steps, encouraged rr.e and has led me to be fond of sewing. Most of my leisure time 1 spend sewing and it makes me more contented. —Gladys Davies