WPSD History - 1869-1987

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Expanding Instructional Priorities For Deaf Children WILLIAM N. CRAIG AND JAMES M. SALEM Gradually education of deaf children has developed from a possibility for some to an expected right for many. As success for some deaf children became evident, the demand for educational opportunities for deaf young people throughout the country increased universally, and the re sources of local, state, and federal educational institutions were called upon to meet this demand. Not only were opportunities needed for academically talented deaf students, but increasingly the schools’ responsibilities were extended to include an ever expanding segment of the hearing-impaired population.

Consequently, educational practices of the schools were expanded to handle academic instruction, vocational training, personal-social development, techniques for integration with hearing students, and other areas. In each of these areas, measurable improvements were anticipated not only for very bright students, but for average young people, for retarded children, and for a number of other youngsters evidencing unusual language problems or social and developmental problems. Schools found that the early “miracles” of education for deaf children were no longer viewed as miracles and that expectations for and, in effect, demands for successes were the rule.

Faced with the problem of falling short of a newly developing set of instructional objectives, there has been some tendency to talk about educational failures instead of successes, to criticize instructional practices rather than to view technical gains, and to bemoan lost opportunities rather than to face the realities of increased instructional capabilities. Perhaps it is time to recognize that instructional goals have changed, that those seeking educational gains have become more diverse, and that the concepts of measurement or accountability in education have evolved with a sense of insistence. In other words, just as our concepts of educational responsibility have changed so must we consider the possibility that our concepts of failure may need to be reconstructed. The greatest danger in the absence of a new set of goals is to grasp for simple answers and quick cures for complexities of 4

Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. educating a diverse group of deaf young people.

Currently, we are interested in re-examining our in structional efforts in line with the following questions: 1. Can early speech and language be developed in preschool through an active, systematic program of auditory and physical activity? Specifically, this employs the Verbotonal system.

2. Can an after school language laboratory develop additional skills in a child-oriented discovery program ?

3. Can integration of selected deaf children be effected at both the grade school and high school levels?

4. Can “open classrooms” be utilized effectively for deaf children?

5. Can hearing aids be modified to be more effective for deaf students?

6. Does speech tutoring have any real significance after the primary school years?

7. Can the Upper School program be adapted to better meet the needs of our graduates engaged in post secondary education?

8. Can the extra-curricular program contribute to the overall education of deaf children?

These questions cover a lot of ground though certainly they do not encompass all of the activities of the school. The important consideration is that data has been and continues to be gathered for each of these questions.

As a result, we are increasingly able to sort out those items that seem to change children’s behavior from those that are not effective.

Having established these goals in question form, it would seem appropriate to see how each of these elements has developed.

Preschool From earlier studies of preschool instruction, serious questions arose as to whether these programs were really worth the cost and efforts involved.

Theoretically, these pre school efforts should have produced lasting gains in speech, language and social development. Even the absence of re search data 5

Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. supporting the advantages of preschool did not slow down the rate of initiation of these programs. Evidence of early gains “washing out” in later years did not halt interest in early education across the nation.

An examination of typical preschool programs, however, showed techniques in use that were dominated by a teacher who presented few opportunities for the child to use language to control his own environment.

Specifically, tutoring in language and speech combined with regular kindergarten activities tended to be restrictive and uninteresting to the children. Tutoring frequently lost its effective ness because the teachers’ planned activities could not hold the child’s attention long enough to be assimilated, and the kindergarten activities were not specific enough to reinforce language learning. The combination of a bored child and a nonsupporting environment undoubtedly led to frustrations. Perhaps the child was led to the conclusion that language was not worth learning if it didn’t serve his own purpose.

A little over three years ago, we started to evaluate the Verbotonal system — developed by Petar Guberina about 1952 in Yugoslavia. This system was devised as a result of Professor Guberina’s interest in foreign language instruction. In our program, while half of the preschool children continued to use the traditional system in use at the school, the other half were instructed in Verbotonal system. A group of Yugoslavian teachers taught the new techniques to our teachers.

Reports of this study have been published and only a sketch will be presented here. The essential components of the Verbotonal system are: 1. use of body movements to assist both in production and perception of speech; 2. emphasis on acoustic memory for language patterns (aided by body movements and by the articulatory movements from the production of speech); 3. providing speech and language work with active “play” - type situations, so that much longer periods of concentrated work on spoken language are possible; 4. emphasis on language in meaningful context or “situations”; 5. emphasis on low frequency response (below 500 Hz) and on vibratory clues in perception of spoken language patterns; 6. matching of amplification to the deaf person’s “optimum field of hearing”.

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When these components are placed in an instructional plan, by experienced teachers, the results continue to sup port earlier reported gains.

Although the purpose here is to describe the components of Verbotonal instruction for deaf children, a systematic and long term data collection pro gram continues. The encouraging results to date strongly suggest the usefulness of this auditory approach to early speech and language development. Of the original Verbotonal group, 7 are currently completing part of their second grade program in public school classrooms.

Basically, the Verbotonal system is an activity oriented, auditory approach to instruction of deaf children. Ideally, residual hearing, if carefully developed, can serve as a primary vehicle for speech and language development. In the normal child, language is frequently seen as developing around a game or activity rather than as a tutoring experience; therefore the Verbotonal system sets its auditory approach in a progressive set of play-type situations. Interestingly, these activities permit a group of preschool youngsters to interact orally and aurally for far longer periods of time than more traditional approaches. This factor of time of exposure to instruction could be a significant factor.

Consistent with such instructional situations as acting out nursery rhymes is an emphasis on acoustic memory for language patterns. The intonation or stress patterns of English frequently provide essential information for sentence meaning. The redundancy in the normal flow of language is such that the meaningful components of the sentence are keyed by the speech pattern.

As you will note, this auditory approach does not use manual communication. Though we haven’t attempted manual communication at this age level as a supplement to the instructional system, there may be some possible application. As a speech and auditory system of instruction, the application of this Verbotonal approach appears to be effective.

LANGUAGE LABORATORY Moving to the second question—that of the usefulness of an after-school language laboratory—a number of observations can be made. Essentially, we were interested in using after-school activities to further develop deaf children’s language skills. At the same time, the out-of-school activities should not be just more of the regular school program extended to the late afternoon. The language instruction would have to follow a new set of priorities and be fun for 6 to 8 year old children.

Following concepts originally established by Prof. O. K. Moore at the University of Pittsburgh, a lab area was set up with four distinct components.

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Children involved in these four components were free to elect whether or not to attend the lab and to select the area in which they wished to participate.

The four components involved the following: 1. A “cognitive process” area for creative activities such as crafts, science experiments, and thought games.

2. A “creative drama” area for role-playing, acting out stories, and musical expression.

3. An “individual exploration” area for teaching machines, film strips, and audio-flash cards.

4. A “typing area” for typing creative language and short experience-based stories. Older students prepare a short newspaper.

Imagine, for a moment, a brightly decorated room divided into each of these areas. A theme built around a trip to the moon by some astronauts would involve a series of simple experiments in the cognitive area. Models of space ships would be constructed to travel across the room on a wire. These models would be propelled by balloons and the concepts of action and reaction presented and demonstrated in this fashion.

In the creative drama area, a small space ship would be constructed that children could crawl into and pretend to operate. A space drama could then develop with children acquiring language as they needed it to guide their space craft. The third area would involve space games for play.

In this experience, a dark room could be used with points of light used as stars to demonstrate the problems of navigation.

Finally, an area is provided for typing up space stories. These children are taught to use a typewriter by color coding the keys and then painting the child’s fingernails a corresponding color. It is interesting to note that these very young children can learn to type, enjoy the activity, and like to develop new language to use with the typewriter.

Assessment of success in this after-school activity is difficult since the language learning occurs both in and out of classes. However, it is clear that the children do elect to participate, the language efforts are spontaneous, and that after-school activities can be used to develop language that enables a child to interact with and, to a large extent, to control his environment.

CLASSES WITH HEARING STUDENT

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Moving on after this brief look at preschool instruction and at after-school learning, we come to the topic of integration of deaf with hearing students.

We originally integrated deaf “academic” high school students in selected classes in a nearby high school, Churchill, for hearing students. Since quite a number of our young people elect to go to colleges with hearing students, we felt that this high school experience served as a good practice situation. From this experience, we were encouraged to establish a vocational option with a neighboring technical-vocational school, McKeesport Area Technical High School. Both of these efforts have proven to be successful.

More recently, we have integrated a number of deaf students for part of their day in second grade classes in Shaffer Elementary School. These students were products of our first Verbotonal preschool program and their speech and language skills are good. A report of this effort will be ready in the spring, but initial observations tend to support this approach. Certainly natural language expression has increased markedly. Social skills needed to develop class integration appear to develop more readily at this age, in fact, than they do at the high school level. A teacher from our staff goes with the group and moves from class to class to check on the deaf children.

As a reverse effort at integration, we now have a good number of hearing students attending the preschool program at the school for the deaf. We are not yet able to evaluate this effort, though a report will be ready shortly.

However, much to our surprise, we had no difficulty developing interest anticipate among parents of preschool hearing students in sending their hearing children to our nursery school program. The children participate in the group activities together and a number of friendships have developed among the hearing and deaf students.

It remains to be seen if the deaf children develop any measurable increases in language skill.

OPEN CLASSROOMS A number of public school instructional techniques show promise for teaching deaf students. Among these, the “open classroom” concept appears to offer a number of advantages for deaf students—particularly those who are ages 8 through 13. At this age, children are especially interested in life around them and how to operate factors in their expanding worlds. Basically, the open classroom provides for students to use individual interests as the organizing point for their studies. Deaf students in these classes have two or more teachers who serve as resource teachers. Students move from learning centers in math to science, or social studies to reading as their individual plans indicate. Each child picks up a learning packet at his own level of understanding and initiates the tasks. When problems occur, the resource teacher is available to help the child through the problem.

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Typically children meet with the teacher for a group lesson in the morning and then work out their individual plans for the day. If a general theme (maple syrup, or inventions) is being employed, one of the teachers will set up an experiment, show a film, work on an illustration in addition to working with students. Other teachers tend to make their base for the day in one or more of the learning areas to stimulate activities there. At the end of the day, each students checks his accomplishments with the contract he made for himself that morning. The description may be overly simplified, however, the point is that a child learns responsibility for directing his own learning. The open classroom provides him with opportunities for realizing his goals while the teacher is always available both as a motivator of learning and as a resource.

For the teacher, this technique may well have its own frustrations. The urge to be directive with children and to teach formally may be difficult to resist. However, our data on classroom interaction analysis indicates a significant increase in student-initiated activity. Despite the fears of some teachers, no adverse effect on tested learning skills has been observed, and in fact, gains have been observed in a number of subjects, especially written language. The main point is that deaf children, properly motivated, can begin to take responsibility for their own academic development. The classrooms are active situations, children are seeking answers to questions they consider important; evidence of enthusiasm for learning is apparent. Basically, most students in this setting begin to understand that learning can be fun and that difficult skills can be mastered when the reasons for gaining them are observable.

HEARING AID USE Hearing aids, until quite recently were restricted in frequency response— generally amplifying from 300 to 3000 Hz. The low tones were eliminated intentionally because of the noises around us that the manufacturers sought to eliminate; higher frequencies were felt to contribute little to the understanding of speech. Tactile vibrators to use with the aid were not available; these vibrators turn sound waves into a vibration felt by a sense of touch on the skin.

Recently, we have been experimenting with two modifications to hearing aid use—the expansion of low frequency responses to 20 Hz and lower and the addition of a small tactile vibrator. At this point, we are encouraged with the results obtained using wide frequency responses, particularly as it has affected the use of residual hearing and improvement in speech. Our results to date on the tactile vibrators are limited. However, we positive gains for selected students—those with profound hearing losses.

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As part of this interest in equipment, we have also been interested in the possible advantages of specific speech tutoring as the children move through school. That is, can classroom teachers be held responsible for speech tutoring or do speech specialists provide greater speech gains? After one year of data collection, we found significant gains for the tutored students for both auditory discrimination and connected speech skills. At this point, we do not have a way of selecting students who will profit most from tutoring, although this may be possible in the future.

POST-SECONDARY PROGRAMS As part of a continuing inquiry into the welfare, employment status and whereabouts of our graduates, an alumni survey has been made each summer for the past three years. Results of this survey have been beneficial in adapting the school’s curriculum to meet the needs, both current and future, of its students.

Post-secondary educational opportunities for our graduates fall into five major categories: (1) four year colleges for the deaf; (2) four year colleges for the hearing; (3) junior colleges with special programs for the deaf; (4) technical-vocational institutes with special programs for the deaf; and (5) trade or technical school for the hearing. An analysis of the whereabouts of the graduating class of 1972 illustrates this point.

Graduating Class of 1972* Number of Students in Class - 40 Employed 13 Unemployed 2 Married and out of the labor market 2 Four year colleges for the deaf 4 Four year colleges for the hearing 5 Two year colleges with special programs 3 Technical-vocational institutes for the deaf 4 Trade or technical schools for the hearing 7 * Chart compiled 10/72 Twenty-three of the forty graduates chose to attend some sort of postsecondary educational facility. Of those twenty-three, twelve, or more than half, chose to attend facilities that had no special programs for the deaf. Each student in the class, and most of their parents, had been counseled as to the advantages and disadvantages of attending each type of program; yet more 11

Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. than half chose the facilities with no special programs for the deaf.

An analysis such as the one described above has led us to consider increased exposure for our students to inte grated educational settings. Since many of our graduates are electing to attend integrated post-secondary educational facilities, we feel we can better prepare them by exposing them to such settings at an earlier age; thus, integrated pro grams have been developed at the nursery school, primary, and high school levels.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR PROGRAMS We firmly believe that time spent outside the classroom can contribute to the education of the deaf child, but this time cannot be an extension of the classroom. Learning in the extra-curricular program is informal, unstructured and above all, fun. It is directed to the interests of the students, and, on the whole, it is student oriented and student directed.

An extensive extracurricular program is offered at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf. Student organ izations include Boys’ and Girls’ Monitors; Senior, Junior, and Sophomore class organizations; the Varsity Letter Club; the Girls’ Athletic Association; the Girl Scouts and Brownie Scouts; and the Student Council. In addition to these organizations, a wide variety of avocational clubs are available to the students. These include six woodworking groups, an animation club, five photo clubs, a home repair group, a journalism club, three art clubs, a weaving club, five leathercraft clubs, nine ceramics clubs, two metalcraft groups, a knitting club, a modern dance club, a mime group, an auto repair club, two tie dyeing group, two gardening clubs, a gourmet cooking club, and two macrame clubs.

A total of 377 students participate in the above men tioned extracurricular clubs and activities. Some partici pate in more than one activity, but all participation is on a strictly volunteer basis. No child is forced to participate, although all children are encouraged to pursue their in terests.

By allowing students to explore their interests in fields not normally found in the formal curriculum of the school, we hope to increase our students’ options for future train ing and give them the tools by which they might make enjoyable use of leisure time later on in life.

In summary, a school program is not a single effort but a combination of quite a number of instructional efforts which hopefully form a consistent pattern. The two issues of emphasis in this paper have been that oversimplification of instructional problems leads to hasty mistakes and that careful organization of these programs combined with reasonable data

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. collection can begin to show consistent instruc tional gains. The eight areas selected—preschool, language lab, integration, open classrooms, hearing aids, speech tutor ing, post-secondary education, and extracurricular pro grams are just some of the possibilities for development.

The issue is not whether these areas are of most critical importance, but rather that, for any school, it is essential that educational priorities be selected, developed, imple mented, and evaluated.

Foreword Since its founding, WPSD has had individuals on its staff who could view events from a historical perspective and record those happenings accurately and clearly for future generations. As the school has grown older and more complex, it has become even more important to have an accurate and objective account of past events.

WPSD has been fortunate to have a somewhat complete history at its disposal. The first section, written by Dr. William N. Burt, covers the time period from 1869 to 1911; the second section, written by Dr. A .C . Manning, includes the years 1911 to 1946; and the third and fourth sections, written by Dr. Harold Mowl, Jr., span the years from 1946 to 1986.

The writing style of each author has been preserved and appropriate pictures or drawings from each era have been included. Where possible, the original text and photographs have been reproduced.

Many changes have occurred since W. R. Drum accepted the responsibility to be first student Henry Bell’s teacher. This history covers those changes, chronicals the many individuals who contributed to the school’s growth, and outlines the evolutionary process through which it has been accomplished.

James M. Salem, Editor December 18,1987

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HISTORY of the

Western Pennsylvania Institution for the

Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb, from its

Origin in the Year 1869.

EDGEWOOD PARK. PRINTED AT THE INSTITUTION.

1911

PREFACE.

A history of the Western Pennsylvania Institution for the Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb was written by Rev. John G. Brown, D. D., in the year 1893. It was his intention to write additional chapters from time to time and

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. leave in manuscript a complete history of the Institution from its origin in 1869 to the close of his life, but other literary work claimed his attention until he had passed beyond the age that he felt able to undertake new tasks. In talking of the subject only a few months before his death he asked me to continue the work for him. In compliance with that request the history has been brought down to the year 1911.

I have felt free to quote from my biennial Reports to the Board of Trustees whenever the material found there answered the purpose, but for the most part I have had to rely on memory and the Institution records for my facts.

Doubtless the many friends of Dr. Brown will be glad of the opportunity to read his most interesting history of the Institution which lay so near to his heart.

There are few copies of the original publication extant, almost the entire edition having been burned in the fire that destroyed our building.

WM. N. BURT

HISTORY. In the summer of the year 1868 a little deaf and dumb colored boy was brought to a Mission Sabbath School connected with the Third United Presbyterian church, Pittsburg, PA. As the child seemed bright and active, the Superintendent, Mr. Joel Kerr, took a deep interest in his welfare. Mr. W. R. Drum, a graduate of the Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb in Philadelphia, was induced to become his teacher.

Attention being thus directed to this class of unfortunates, eight of these afflicted children were within a short time gathered into the school through Mr. Kerr’s efforts, and Mr. Archy Woodside, also educated in the Pennsylvania Institution was secured to assist in their instruction. A number of educated deaf-mutes came in and a Sabbath School for the deaf and dumb was organized as an adjunct to the mission which then met in the public school building on Franklin street. The children were taught the manual alphabet, the meaning of a few simple words and sentences and the proper use of signs. The educated mutes who were not employed as teachers were formed into a Bible class under a capable instructor. The attendance was from twelve to fifteen children and about the same number of adults.

Mr. Kerr’s pastor, Rev. John G. Brown, D. D., be came interested in the school and its work. It occurred to him that much better results might be secured if the children could have the advantage of daily instruction. At the suggestion of a -prominent member of his pastoral charge, Mr. John Wilson, who was the chair man of the Central Board of Education of the city, the matter was laid before that body and a grant of eight hundred dollars obtained that the experiment might be made. The local Board of the first ward gave the use of a room in the public school building on Short street. Mr. Archy Woodside and his sister, Miss Sarah Wood side, a hearing person well versed in the use of signs, were appointed teachers. The means required for procuring books and other requisites were furnished by a few benevolent friends. Everything being in readiness the first day-school for the instruction of the deaf and dumb in the United States was opened on the first Mon day in September, 1869, with fourteen pupils. The attendance soon reached twenty-five or thirty. These children were gathered from all parts of Pittsburgh and the adjoining city of Allegheny, the School Boards of which contributed to the support of the effort.

It became evident in a short time that regular at tendance could not be secured unless provision was made in the vicinity of the school for boarding those pupils whose homes were at a considerable distance.

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An appeal was made to interested friends and the necessary means were immediately provided. A house .vas rented and furnished and ten or twelve of the children were placed in it under the care of a suitable person. As the majority were the children of poverty it was necessary to provide them with clothing as well as food and shelter.

That the school might be more accessible to a greater number of the pupils residing in their own homes it was subsequently removed to the school building on Grant street, in the third ward. The home was also transferred to a larger house on Wylie avenue, above Washington street, Pittsburgh. As the existence of the school and home became known beyond the limits of the two cities applications began to come from the rural districts of Allegheny county and from a number of the adjoining counties for the admission of pupils. The home- was soon taxed to its utmost capacity having about twenty-five inmates while the attendance at the school ranged from forty to forty-five. Dr. Worthington, Secretary of the Board of State Charities visited both the school and the home a number of times and was so favorably impressed that unsolicited he obtained from the legislature an appropriation of two thousand dollars in support of the work. ‘They were also visited by the Hon. Geo. W. Sharswood, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the State, who was for many years President of the Board of Trustees of the institution in Philadelphia, who ex pressed himself as highly gratified with what was being done.

Not long after the commencement of the enterprise it became apparent to those engaged in its management that the school and home were by no means sufficient to meet the necessities of the deaf mute children of Allegheny county, much less those of the western part of the state. And further, valuable as they might be, they were not and could not be made adequate to meet the requirements involved in the proper instruction of the deaf and dumb. It was evident that this could only be secured be a regularly organized institution with an efficient corps of instructors, properly graded classes and provision for industrial as well as intellectual training. The demand for such an institution in western Pennsylvania was manifest not only from the numerous applications for admission to the day school and home from the surrounding counties, but also from the fact that the institution in Philadelphia was full, while a number who were seeking the benefit of its advantages could not be received.

In 1870 James Kelly, Esq., a prominent citizen of Wilkins township, Allegheny county, proposed to give a piece of land for the purpose of founding an Institution for the Deaf and Dumb of Western Pennsylvania provided twenty thousand dollars should be subscribed to aid in the erection on buildings thereon. A few liberal citizens of Pittsburgh soon pledged more than the required amount. In 1871, a charter was obtained and a Board of Trustees organized. Subsequently ten acres of valuable land in the vicinity of Edgewood station on the Pennsylvania railroad was deeded to the corporation. This was indeed a princely gift, for such was the appreciation of the property at the time Mr. Kelly made the deed that he refused an actual tender of sixty thousand dollars for the land which he gave to the institution. This act at the incipiency of the move mnt gave permanency to the effort, while it characterized James Kelly as indeed a friend of the unfortunate.

Owing to the fact that the property given by Mr. Kelly was invaded by a railroad company the Trustees became involved in a protracted lawsuit with a powerful corporation. Although the struggle terminated favorably, the organization of the institution was necessarily delayed several years.

In the meantime the day school and the home continued their humble but useful career. In 1875 Prof.

James H. Logan, an honored graduate of the National Deaf-Mute College, Washington, D. C., for a number of years a teacher in the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb at Jacksonville, Ill., succeeded Mr. Woodside.

After several unsuccessful efforts an appropriation of sixteen thousand dollars was obtained from the legislature of the state in the winter of 1876, through the exertions of Rev. Dr. Brown. Though not prepared to proceed with the erection of a building the Trustees determined to organize an institution and thus extend the benefits of education to all the deaf-mutes in the western section of the commonwealth. In the summer of that year the day school was finally closed. Thus ended the experiment which had gained considerable celebrity and had been imitated in a number of the cities of our country. While it was undoubtedly the best that could be done at the time to meet a pressing necessity, yet its most ardent friends and advocates were thoroughly convinced after a protracted trial under the most favorable conditions, that a day school was not sufficient even for the best intellectual development of its pupils, while no provision was possible therewith for industrial training, an essential part of deaf-mute education. It was therefore wisely abandoned when it became possible to establish a regularly organized institution. The Trustees therefore authorized Rev. Dr. Brown and Mr. John B. Jackson in conjunction with Prof. Logan to take such measures as might be necessary to carry out their purpose. These gentlemen spent sometime in the endeavor to find a suitable building. A large brick structure formerly used as a hotel, with a frame dwelling adjoining, at Turtle Creek

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. on the Pennsylvania railroad, twelve miles east of Pittsburgh, was found to be the best that could be obtained for the purpose. To these premises thirty-seven acres of land were attached. The location was easy of access, and salubrious, while it possessed great natural Deputy. The property was rented and measures were taken immediately to have the brick building put in order and properly fitted up for the school.

Prof. James H. Logan was elected acting Principal and his mother, Mrs. Eliza P. Logan, matron. Three teachers were appointed, Mr. G. M. Teegarden, a graduate of the National Deaf-Mute College, Washington, D. C., Miss Anna B. Boyer and Miss Jennie Jenkins, graduates of the normal department of the Pittsburgh High school. With these officers the institution was opened without any special services on the 25th of October, 1876. A few ladies and gentlemen were present. Rev. Dr. Brown invoked the Divine blessing upon the enterprise. Thus after years of effort beset with difficulties and discouragements which again and again almost occasioned its abandonment, the Western Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb came into existence, affording an impressive illustration of the beneficent results which often flow from humble and obscure efforts to do good. On the first day there were twenty-nine pupils present, the number was speedily increased to fifty-one representing twelve counties of the western section of the state.

Although the first year was to a considerable extent necessarily one of preparation the school did good work, giving cheering promise of greater usefulness in the future. The second year the attendance was seventy-seven, the children coming from thirteen different counties. During this year such of the pupils as could be benefited thereby were instructed in articulation and lip reading. And while the results were not such as had been expected, they justified the adoption of this method as a means of instruction for a number of the Pupils. In 1879 the attendance was eighty-nine, representing fifteen counties. The following year the number was increased to ninety-eight representing seventeen counties. As the field of its usefulness was enlarged and the number of pupils increased the required additions were made to the corps of instructors, six being employed during this and the preceding year.

Prof. James H. Logan having resigned the position which for four years he had filled so honorably to himself and so usefully for the institution was succeeded on the first of January, 1881, by Prof. John A. McWhorter. This gentleman was qualified in an eminent degree for the duties of the station to which he was called. He was possessed of good natural abilities which had been improved by a thorough education.

He had in addition to an ardent devotion for the work a large and varied experience. For thirteen years he was a teacher in the Wisconsin institution and had been for seven years the principal of the Louisiana institution.

The resignation of Prof. Logan as acting principal involved that of Mrs. Eliza P. Logan as matron. She was succeeded by Mrs. E. A. McWhorter. The withdrawal of Prof. Logan and his mother occasioned sincere regret on the part of all the friends of the school. They had proved themselves most efficient and faithful in the duties of their respective positions. They success fully encountered more than the usual number of difficulties which are found in the pathway of all new enterprises. To their zealous and selfdenying toil the school is largely indebted for the prosperity of succeeding years. In parting with Mr. Logan the Board of Trustees felt that they were losing the services of “thoroughly educated gentleman, a competent teacher and an earnest worker for the amelioration of the condition of the deaf and dumb” and expressed the conviction “that the marked progress of the pupils of the institution, during the period he presided over it, is to be largely attributed to his skill as teacher and his diligent attention to the various duties devolving upon him.” The Board also expressed their high appreciation of Mrs. Logan “who as matron at the head of the domestic department had so ably and energetically seconded the efforts of her son. She most efficiently and conscientiously discharged her duties with kindness and affection toward the pupils who loved her as a mother, and there can be no doubt but their exceptional good health and their warm attachment to the institution was largely due to her unremitting attention.”

Prof. McWhorter entered upon his duties with enthusiasm and the school soon felt the quickening influence of his work. Under his guiding hand the super structure gave early promise of being every way worthy of the foundation so faithfully laid by his predecessor. The attendance reached one hundred and two the first and one hundred and four the second year of his administration. The buildings, which were poorly adapted to the purposes of such a school as well as exceedingly inconvenient, were now crowded to their utmost capacity, while numbers were seeking admission who could not be received. This state of things together with the fact learned from the United States census report for the decade ending with the year 1880, that there were in the counties of Western Pennsylvania two hundred and thirty-nine deaf-mute children of school age who were growing up without any proper means of instruction, induced the Trustees to take action looking to the erection of a building upon the property given by Mr. Kelly at Edgewood, of sufficient capacity to meet the wants of the deaf and dumb children in the western section of the

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. commonwealth and provided with all the appliances for their intellectual and industrial training.

Accordingly an appropriation of sixty thousand dollars was obtained from the legislature of the state in the winter of 1881. A condition was attached to this grant requiring the Trustees to provide a similar amount for the same purpose before they could avail themselves of the bounty of the state. This required nineteen thousand dollars in addition to the property and subscriptions already obtained. A generous public responded to their appeal and within a short time the necessary sum was obtained. They were however confronted with a difficulty which threatened a protracted delay if not the entire frustration of their purpose.

The Edgewood Railroad Company, to which the right of way through the property had been leased at the conclusion of the lawsuit with that corporation, previously mentioned, refused to vacate the premises in accordance with the agreement made at the time of the lease. Another prolonged legal controversy seemed imminent. While the trustees were assured that it would ultimately have for them a favorable termination they did not feel willing to postpone the erection of buildings which the interests of such a large number of unfortunate children so imperiously demanded. Accordingly a compromise was affected. The railroad company purchased the property and with the proceeds of the sale sixteen and one-third acres of land in the immediate vicinity was secured. This transaction took place in September. 1882. The Trustees immediately adopted measures to obtain suitable plans for a building to be erected on the property acquired. This important work was somewhat delayed by the death of the principal. This sad event occurred on the 14th of January, 1883. Prof. John A. McWhorter was an earnest Christian, an efficient and conscientious officer, an enthusiastic as well as a highly accomplished instructor of the deaf and dumb. During the two years he presided over the institution he endeared him self alike to teachers and pupils and won the respect and confidence of the Trustees and of the community.

Mr. McWhorter was succeeded by Dr. Thomas Mac lntire, who assumed the duties of principal on the first day of March, 1883. Dr. MacIntire was without doubt one of the most accomplished educators of the deaf and dumb in the United States. His whole life had been devoted to this special work. He had been a teacher in the Ohio institution, was the founder of the Tennessee institution, the principal of the Indiana institution for twenty-six years and for a time the principal of the Michigan institution. Consequently he brought to his work a large and varied experience which was especially valuable in the circumstances of this young and growing school. It was fortunate that at this juncture the Trustees obtained the services of a gentle man who had proved himself to be an eminent in structor and a highly successful principal in the various positions he had previously occupied.

Every possible effort was made to procure suitable plans. A number of the more prominent institutions of the country were visited by the President of the Board of Trustees, many of the leading educators of the deaf and dumb were consulted and much valuable in formation was thus obtained. Dr. Gilbert O. Fay, occupying an important positlon in connection with the American Asylum at Hartford, Connecticut, and for many years principal of the Ohio institution, furnished not only many valuable suggestions but also drawings embodying the results of his observation and experience. A number ot plans based largely upon Dr. Fay’s draw ings modified and improved by the information and suggestions obtained were prepared by competing architects. Those furnished by Mr. James T. Steen, of Pittsburgh, were finally adopted and the work placed under his care as superintending architect, subject to the direction of a building committee composed of John G. Brown, John B. Jackson, P. H. Miller, James P. Hanna, John R. McCune, Wm. Thaw and Henry A. Laughlin. These plans contemplated a building of sufficient capacity to accommodate from two hundred and fifty to three hundred pupils, with detached building for kitchen, laundry and boiler house.

Specifications were prepared and proposals invited from a number of responsible contractors. When the proposals were examined it was found that the sum required to carry out the plans adopted, largely exceeded the means at the command of the Trustees.

In view of the pressing necessities of the institution and especially the demand for more ample accommodation it was resolved to proceed with the erection of the building modifying the plans so as to bring the cost within the means at command. Accordingly it was determined to dispense with almost one entire wing of the proposed structure, also with the boiler house, kitchen and laundry, providing for these in the base ment of the main building. This arrangement, in volving the abandonment of some of the valuable fea tures of the original plans, it was hoped would only be temporary. The entire plans and specifications were then carefully examined and every item of expenditure that could be avoided was cut off, the aim being to reduce the cost without impairing the strength or adapt ability of the building to its special purpose. This in volved considerable delay. The plans thus revised were submitted to the contractors early in June. The contract was awarded and the work commenced early in July, 1883, the first stone of the foundation was laid on the 19th of that month. So rapidly and energetically was the work prosecuted that

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. the entire building with the exception of the chapel was under roof early in December. The following spring and summer were diligently employed by the contractors and the building was rapidly pushed to completion.

An arrangement was made with the authorities of the city of Pittsburg by which an ample supply of water was obtained. The Trustees however were required to lay the pipes necessary to make a connection with those of the city which were more than a mile from the institution. This involved a considerable out lay. But the advantages more than compensated for the expenditure. A frame building which had been erected for a laundry and bath house was brought from Turtle Creek and fitted up for a carpenter and cabinet shop, while provision was made for a shoe shop in the basement of the main building. About four acres of ground were enclosed for a garden. Arrange ments were thus made for industrial training, which the Trustees had ever regarded as an essential part of the education of the children committed to their care.

Though not entirely finished the building was occupied and the school was opened at Edgewood on the first of October, 1884. A public formal dedication of the edifice took place on the 17th of December, participat ed in by several prominent educators of the deaf and dumb and a number of leading citizens in the presence of a large and interested audience. During the first year of Dr. MacIntire’s administration, which was the last year of the school at Turtle Creek, the attendance was one hundred and five. In his report for this year Dr. MacIntire says “The institution is still in a formative state. The classification of pupils and course of study has not been fully settled and as in all new institutions of the kind, must in the nature of the case be incomplete. To organize and fully equip such an institution requires besides the pecuniary means much time and patient persevering labor. Considering the shortness of the time since the effort was commenced the friends of the cause have every reason to rejoice that so much has been accomplished; and in the prospect of having in the near future an institution for the deaf and dumb which—in buildings, accommodations, appliances and conveniences—will compare favorably with any other of the kind in the country.”

The uncertainty as to the time when it should take place and the delay of opening the school at Edgewood prevented quite a number of pupils who otherwise would have been present, from enterine.

There were however one hundred and twenty in attendance.

Dr. MacIntire came to his work as principal of the institution under difficult and trying circumstances.

As it had been without an executive head for several weeks the organization of the school was somewhat impaired. At the same time the Trustees had about completed arrangements for the erection of the new building at Edgewood, some five miles distant from the location at Turtle Creek then occupied. He was there fore called upon to organize and develop a young and growing school and also to be frequently present at the new buildings for consultation and advice.

With deep interest he watched the development of the one and progress of the other. His heart was in the work which may be regarded as the crowning labor of his long and useful life. In his anxiety to push forward the work and secure the best possible results, he exerted himself beyond his strength and in a few months after the realization of that to which he looked forward with so much satisfaction his health gave way and early in January he broke down completely. For several weeks his life was despaired of. He however recovered sufficiently to visit his old home at Indianapolis. Although permitted to return to his work in April his restoration was but temporary. His growing weakness gave him a realizing sense that his work was nearly done. He, however, performed the usual duties, conducted the closing exercises of the term, lectured the last time, choosing as his text “Mispah,” bade the teach ers and children a final farewell and then sent in his resignation. He remained two weeks longer to close his accounts and leave everything in order. On the twentieth of July he returned to Indianapolis where he died on the twenty-fifth of September, 1885.

His relations with the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee were always pleasant and agreeable. The teachers and pupils were warmly attached to him and it was with sincere regret that they saw his failing strength. Though compelled to relinquish the work he so much loved he had the satisfaction of seeing the young institution, in the progress of which he had taken a deep interest from its inception, comfortably established under his personal supervision in a building of its own and prepared for a career of great usefulness. Dr. McIntire’s life was long and useful. The value of his work on behalf of the unfortunate for whose elevation and enlightenment he so faithfully and perseveringly ]abored cannot be easily over estimat ed. By his death the deaf and dumb lost a wise and warm hearted friend and benefactor and the profession an able counsellor and an honored member.

Although the names of several gentlemen of prominence and ability were before the Board, the Trustees, on the fourteenth of July unanimously resolved to tender the office of principal made vacant by

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. the resignation of Dr. McIntire, to Rev. Dr. John G. Brown who had been president of the Board since its organization, to whose efforts mainly the institution was indebted for its existence and whose long experience and large acquaintance with deaf-mute education they believed fitted him for the position.

Some two weeks sub sequently Dr. Brown signified his acceptance of the position and on the first of August entered upon his duties.

The wisdom of their choice soon appeared. Owing to the protracted illness of Dr. Maclntire, discipline had become relaxed both in the school and in the domes tic department; dissensions among officers and employ ees had crept in and it required a man of determination and sagacity and above all one in whom the Board of Trustees and the friends of the school had the fullest confidence to take charge ot affairs and to restore harmor,y to the partially disorganized corps of officers and teachers. Dr. Brown set himself diligently to the task and soon brought order out of confusion.

Notwithstanding the fact that the building was completed according to contract, much work remained to be done. The dormitories were not properly furnished, fences necessary for the protection of the grounds were yet unbuilt; grading and under-draining were necessary to secure dry play grounds for the pupils; these, together with innumerable minor improvements incidental to the occupancy of a new building of the magnitude of the institution required immediate attention.

The new principal devoted himself assiduously to this work and soon a beautiful lawn took the place of the unsightly and barren expanse of clay and rubbish that had surrounded the building, and interior decorations and conveniences appropriate to the different de partments gave a comfortable and home-like appear ance to the new home. These improvements were scarcely made when it became apparent that the wing designed originally for the use of the girls, but which had been dropped from the plans for lack of funds, could not longer be dispensed with. The dormitory was crowded, the study-room too small to accommodate the pupils already in attendance and the piay-room in which the girls took their exercise in cold and inclement weather was insufficient in size and unsuitable for the purpose. The state generously made the appropriation necessary to do the work and the wing omitted in the interest of economy was restored to the plans and the structure completed in accord ance with the original designs. Not only did it then present a beautiful appearance in its architectural pro portions but afforded ample room for years to come for the constantly increasing attendance of girls. No sooner was their comfort secured than attention was directed to a pressing want on the part of the boys for better facilities for industrial training. As has been well said: “The object of establishments of this character is to benefit the deaf-mute. It is to relieve him of his two fold misfortune of ignorance and dependence. He can and he ought to be freed from both.

The philanthropy which would teach him to labor and leave his mind in darkness is easily seen to be short sighted and imperfect. Equally mistaken is the philanthropy that would enlighten his mind, restore to him the instincts and feelings of a cultivated being and then turn him loose upon society without the means of self-support, to beg, or steal, or starve, as fortune may favor him, or at least to become a pensioner upon the charity of others.“The one certainly should be done and the other should not be left undone. Far be it from us to exalt the industrial training above the intellectual development of our pupils; but we must remember that when they leave school, with rare exceptions, they are confronted with the problem of a livelihood, and we must prepare them for its successful solution or wc will fail in one great end for which such institutions exist. Again, there is a considerable number of these children who cannot, or at least do not, acquire more than a very limited knowledge of language, who have considerable mechanical ability. But, though they cannot acquire much knowledge they can be made very fair shoemakers, carpenters, cabinet makers, tailors, dressmakers and seamstresses.

For want of shop room and the means required for industrial training little could be done in this direction until a new building could be erected and equipped for the purpose. Having obtained authority from the egislature to use the unexpended balance of appro priation for education and maintenance, a two story structure was erected the basement of which was fitted up as a laundry, the first floor as a carpenter and cabinet shop and the second as a shoe shop. As soon as the boys were moved into their new quarters they entered upon their work with renewed zeal. As many of them lived in the country and in small villages where they would be called upon to do much of the work of their trade without machinery it was thought best to teach them to do all branches of carpenter work by hand and foot power machinery. Another advantage arising from this method of instruction was that while it kept the boys engaged as profitably as they would be in the use of power machinery, they were not able to do more work than was necessary for the needs of the institution and its employes, consequently their work did not come into competition with the labor of others.

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While the matenal welfare of those committed to the care of the school received such careful and thought ful attention the intellectual and moral improvement was a matter of still greater solicitude. The location of the institution lent aid to the efforts of the principal to maintain a high standard of discipline and moral excellence. Situated in the suburbs of the city, far from the corrupting influences inseparable from city life and in the midst of a law abiding and God fearing population the surroundings tended to elevate and stimulate the better nature of the growing boys and girls.

It is natural for all communities to lay claim to distinction in some particulars, but it may be said without fear of contradiction that there are few cities in the land in which so large a percentage of the inhabitants are habitual church-going people as in Pittsburgh and vicinity. This habit, and the respect for the Sabbath which it engenders, was reflected on the minds of the children and manifested itself in a respect for all those things that make for sobriety, morality and right living and made them more amenable than is usual, to rules and good government. This we think is the crowning excellence of our institution to this day.

The advancement made in school was as might have been expected under such favorable conditions rapid and satisfactory. As the number of pupils increased it was possible to make a better classification and it was not long till the course of study was as extensive and the work done as thorough, as in the, older institutions of the land.

The classes in the shoe shop and the carpenter shop having been filled, it was thought desirable to introduce another trade and printing was selected because it seems for many reasons to be especially adapted to the deaf. It gives the workman continual exercise in the correct use of the English language and may be pur sued almost without communication during working hours. Then, too, the loss of the sense of hearing usually quickens the sense of sight, and the use of the signs and the manual alphabet, gives the deaf a rapid movement of the fingers. Thus with the eyes and the hands already trained, and shut out from the noises that usually distract, the deaf child finds congenial employment in acquiring the art of printing.

To carry out the design which the Executive Committee had long entertained, a small press of approved pattern was bought and placed in the hands of Mr. Teegarden, who had some knowledge of printing. He selected five boys and taught them two hours a day serving without pay or the hope of any reward what ever. The result exceeded our most sanguine expec tations, and fully justified the determination of the Executive Committee to make it one of the permanent trades of the industrial department.

As the business of the office increased, Mr. Teegarden found the two-fold duties of foreman and teacher too burdensome and retired from the office at the close of the school term of 1891. He was succeeded by Mr. F. H. Callahan who twelve months later gave place to Mr. H. L. Branson, the present incumbent. Mr. Teegarden began the publication of a small news paper for circulation in the school. This was at first issued on national holidays under the title of “The Holiday Gazette” but as the boys became more adept in type-setting it was changed to a monthly paper. In January 1893 the office was enlarged, a cylinder power press added, new type and other furniture bought, and the paper changed to a four column folio. This is published semi-monthly bearing the name of “The Western Pennsylvanian,” and in point of press work and editorial ability is a credit to the foreman and his pupils.

In the spring of 1889, Dr. Brown, feeling physically unable to longer continue at the bead of the institution as principal, tendered his resignation, to take effect as soon as a successor could be elected. In accepting the resignation the members of the Board took occasion to express their appreciation of his faithful services. One of them well says. “The spirit that prompted Dr. Brown to undertake the management of the school on the retirement of Dr. MacIntire, is the spirit that prompts missionaries to leave the comforts of the home and go into strange lands and among strange people. He left his own home, around which so many pleasant memories had clustered, to undertake a work which was practically new to him, and this at an age when most men give up active duties and retire to the quiet of their homes.” His administration of the school was eminently successful and his influence will be felt for many years to come in moulding the character and conduct of the pupils of the school. Mr. Alexander Bradley, who had been president of the Board of Trustees during the four years that Dr. Brown served as principal, declined a reelection and the latter was unanimously elected to the office.

When Dr. Brown announced his intention of retiring from the work he, as well as the Board, was sorely exercised in the choice of a principal, for the school had assumed in these years large proportions.

Careful inquiry was made of principals, and others connected with the work among the deaf and dumb, for one to take the place. The Board finally elected Mr. W. N. Burt, who had been for many years connected with the institution at Indianapolis, Indiana. The election of a principal was necessarily largely experimental, and in this case the expectations of the Board have been fully realized. Mr. Burt, besides

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. being fully com petent by his previous training to undertake the minor details of a large institution, has proved himself in the capacity of principal, fully competent to meet all the varied requirements of the office. The Trustees are abundantly satisfied with their choice and hope that nothing will occur to disturb the now pleasant relations.

In the spring of 1892 the Board of Trustees authorized the erection of a two story brick building for the industrial training of the girls. In general appearance and- internal arrangement it resembles an ordinary dwelling house and is equipped with furniture necessary to carry on the usual operations of housekeeping.

It contains a kitchen, dining room, laundry and sitting room on the first floor and five bed rooms or the second.

The latter are so arranged that they may be used for hospital purposes, in case of an outbreak of contagious diseases. The purposes of the industrial school is to instruct the girls in all kinds of house work, such as cooking, sweeping, dusting, washing and ironing, the care of bed rooms, beds and nursing the sick, as nearly as possible under the same conditions that they will find in their own homes when they leave school. The fact is recognized that many of our girls will be called in time to preside over households Of their own and that too, under conditions that will call for the exercise of the most rigid economy. This may be taught to the greatest advantage by intelligent officers in the institution where right views of life may be inculcated and the dignity of labor impressed. This school has no connection whatever with the domestic department of the institution and must be maintained at considerable expense but it is just as important that the girls should have opportunity to prepare themselves for the duties that will devolve upon them in after life as that the boys should be provided with shops in which to learn the various trades and surely the money spent for this purpose could not be put to better use.

For many years the institution enjoyed one of Natures greatest household conveniences an abundant supply of natural gas; but in a few years the price of this fuel was greatly increased and frequent shortages of supply often annoyed us. It became apparent in the winter of 1892 that we could no longer rely upon such precarious fuel; but before we could resort to the use of coal it was necessary to erect a new boiler house and procure new boilers. This building was placed about three hundred feet distant from the main building in order to afford greater security against fire and to avoid annoyance from the smoke and soot. It was thought best to provide a room in the new boiler house for a dynamo with which to light the institution.

We now depend upon the neighboring city for the electric current to supply our light and power but should the quality deteriorate or the price increase w e could easily introduce our own plant and generate our own light.

In order to explain a change that took place in the methods of teaching the deaf, not only in our own institution but in many other institutions as well, it will be necessary to refer briefly to the history of deaf mute education in this country.

In the year 1815 some friends of a little deaf girl in Hartford, Connecticut., wanted to find a teacher who could throw some light into her darkened mind. She was the daughter of intelligent and cultured parents but was growing up in the densest ignorance for the reason that the ordinary means of instructing normal children utterly failed to make any impression on her. Diligent inquiry disclosed the fact that a relative of the Braidwood family, who bad established the only schools for the deaf that were then in existence in Great Britain, had attempted to establish a school in this country but owing to a lack of stability of character had failed and soon afterwards returned to his country, leaving no successors in the United States. Unwilling to abandon this little girl to a life of mental darkness her friends persuaded Mr. Thomas H. Gallaudet, an educated young minister of Hartford, Connecticut, to go to Great Britain to learn the methods of instruction used there.

It is often asserted that excessive commercialism is a marked peculiarity of our country, but this spirit has seldom invaded the field of education. Our free schools have always been the pride of the people and all the methods employed open to inspection or criticism. But this was not always the case in our Mother Country.

When Mr. Gallaudet reached England he found not only that the schools for the deaf were in the hands of one family but that the methods used were kept a profound secret, not to be revealed except under most onerous and expensive terms.

Fortunately the head of the Royal Institution for the Deaf at Paris heard of Mr. Gallaudet’s repulse and invited him to France and granted him every facility to familiarize himself with the methods there pursued.

Here he remained for several months studying with intense interest the theory of instruction and acquiring a knowledge of the language of signs. On his return to this country he gathered together all the deaf children he could find and in the year 1817 organized at Hartford, Connecticut, the first school for the deaf in

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America, using of course the methods pursued in France. Soon afterwards schools sprang up in New York, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and other states, all drawing on Hartford, and other schools following Hart ford methods, for their teachers, thus perpetuating the sign method of education.

In this method gestures are used to represent ideas that in normal children are conveyed by vocal sounds. Contemporaneously with the development of the sign system in France a system was developed in Germany also based on signs as the representative of sounds, but in the German system the motion of the vocal organs in producing speech were the signs that were relied on to convey language and this was known as the oral method. This method soon prevailed over Germany and was adopted by other countries in Europe.

Almost fifty years passed after the establishment of the Hartford Institution before any voice was raised in favor of the oral method in this country. True, the advantage of speech, no matter how imperfect, over gestures as a means of communication sometimes appealed to the friends of deaf children. They readily saw that the sign language was of little use outside of an institution, and that imperfect articulation was much better than none at all. Yet it was not until the year 1876 that any effort worthy of the name was made to teach speech to the deaf. In that year the first oral school in the United States was opened at North Hampton, Massachusetts. The merits of the system there in pursued were seriously questioned by the teachers and superintendents of other schools but they all eagerly awaited the results that would soon be manifested from the undertaking.

The writer well remembers the report made by a superintendent who had visited this school and critically examined the results there attained. He admitted that he was very much surprised to see that the children had made some progress in learning, and he was particularly struck by the facility with which some semimutes could understand from the motion of the lips what was spoken to them, and expressed his determination to employ a teacher for them in his own school.

In the year 1887 our school, following the example of other progessive institutions, employed a teacher of articulation. It was her duty to gather from the regular classes the children who had lost their hearing after they had learned to talk and give them lessons in speech and lip-reading for short periods every day.

The purpose of this special instruction was to preserve to these children the remnant of speech they retained after they became deaf, to correct the errors of pronunciation that inevitably accompany loss of hearing and above all to teach them to understand by observing the motion of the lips what was said to them by others.

The plan did not work well. The results were meager and unsatisfactory, though no fault could be found with the method. The teacher simply had not time to make much impression on her class. More over it interrupted the other classes to have these pupils taken out every day.

Our Executive Committee sought to remedy the matter by gathering the semimutes and the adept congenital mutes into classes and employing teachers trained in oral methods to instruct them exclusively. By this means the children were not only taught to talk but their recitations in geography, arithmetic, etc., were conducted orally. This plan worked well. These classes grew in number, at least one being added every year. While we were advancing along these lines somewhat conservatively the State Legislature took action on this subject by incorporating in the appropriation bill a stip ulation that all children hereafter received in the in stitution should be instructed by the oral method, thus making imperative the course we were already pursuing from choice. One may seriously question the wisdom of a state Legislature prescribing methods of in struction when its members knew absolutely nothing of the subject, but in this case there was no harm done. In fact the state voluntarily assumed an obligation which the institution was preparing to press upon it. The classes in the sign or manual schools number from eighteen to twenty children while those in oral schools contain from eight to ten, so in passing from a manual to an oral school it was necessary for our Board of Trustees to add to the number of instructors and to do this they had to ask for a larger state appropriation. The Commonwealth recognized her obligation in this respect and readily granted the sums asked for.

One of the important duties that devolves on the officers of an institution is the oversight of the health of the children. The constitution of the average congenital deaf child is as robust as that of hearing children but there is a large class of deaf who lose their hearing through sickness which leaves them with enfeebled constitutions and consequently with little reserve strength to resist exposure. These children are the source of constant anxiety, from the time cold weather sets in until the coming of spring and it is only by the utmost vigilance on the part of the attendants that they pass through the winter without serious sickness.

Then too, there is always the liability of the appearance of contagious diseases which finds in any large gathering of children a fruitful field for their devastations.

In order to meet the emergencies which may at any time arise it is necessary that the institutions be furnished with modern conveniences for caring for the sick and these can best be secured in a well

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. equipped hospital. As our school grew in numbers the rooms set apart in the main building for hospital purposes be came inadequate and the need for a special building to be devoted exclusively to the care of the sick grew imperative. It was thought by the members of the Executive Committee that no more appropriate use could be made of a part of the money left to the institution by the late William and Jane Holmes than to build with it a commodious hospital that would be tangible evidence of the wise philanthropy of these two benevolent friends of the unfortunate.

The site chosen for the edifice was far enough away from the other buildings to insure complete isolation of contagious diseases, yet near enough to be convenient of access. The plans were drawn by Mr. Ernest Flagg of New York City, who had made a study of hospital architecture. The building was completed in 1897 and was formally dedicated on the 17th of June, though it had been occupied since the middle of March. Mr. John B. Jackson, a life long friend of Mr. and Miss Holmes, was very appropriately chosen to deliver the address and to unveil the tablet erected in the building to their memory. It is not necessary to describe the hospital in detail. It is sufficient to say that it contains all the conveniences that modern sanitary knowledge could recommend. Three months had not elapsed after it was finished before an epidemic of measles prevailed that clearly demonstrated its usefulness.

The change from a sign to an oral school was not a simple matter. It entailed numerous obligations that could not be ignored. Not the least important of these was that of receiving children in school at an earlier age than heretofore and keeping them longer. They should be received younger because the vocal organs are flexible in early childhood and better pronunciation of words can be acquired, and they should be kept longer because so much of their time is consumed in learning to pronounce words, which is largely a mechanical process, that they do not progress rapidly in acquiring a knowl edge of language. Here a difficulty confronted the management of the school. Little children should not mingle with older ones. They need special supervision and this can best be secured by placing them in a home by themselves where they can be looked after with almost a mother’s care. Our buildings were not planned with this in view, so they did not meet the new requirements.

It was apparent that the only way to discharge the obligation in full was to erect a new building for the little ones. The matter was brought to the attention of the Board of Trustees and they promptly authorized the executive committee to proceed with the erection of a kindergarten large enough to accommodate sixty children, and to provide in it sleeping rooms, school rooms, play rooms, sitting rooms, in fine every detail for a complete institution except a dining room and kitchen. It was thought by placing the new building near the old and connecting them bv a corridor that the one dining room and kitchen would answer for both.

This was eventually done but not until a great event in the history of the institution occurred, which interrupted the work of the school and threatened its very existence. In writing of this catastrophy and subse quent events the author has quoted very liberally from the report to the Board of Trustees made in the year 1900.

In the afternoon of December 14th, 1899, a fire broke out in the boys wing of the institution. Its origin is unknown. Many theories have been advanced to account for it, but none are satisfactory. When first seen it was burning briskly in the elevator shaft and dust chute, between the third floor and the attic. It was plain at a glance that the building was doomed to destruction but every effort was made to extinguish the flames. The Wilkinsburg Fire Department responded to our call for help, and was soon afterward joined by two engines from the Pittsburgh Department. In the meantime the efforts of the officers of the institution were directed to the care of the pupils. Those in school were marched out of the building, the boys to the carpenter shop, and the girls to their industrial building. The older boys who were working in the shop, lent valuable aid in saving furniture and protecting it from the ruin, which unfortunately was falling at the time.

The pupils lost the greater part of their clothing, the boy being the heavier losers, for the fire broke out in their wing. The officers who had their residence in the building also lost heavily, yet few complaints were heard, for all feeling of personal loss gave way to a feeling of thankfulness that there had been no loss of life. The magnitude of the fire attracted the attention of hundreds of people, and soon the yard was filled with neighbors eager to help and full of sympathy for the pupils now rendered homeless. Many threw open their houses to receive them, and had our number been 500 instead of 200, all would have found comfortable homes and hearty welcome. One of the compensations to be placed over against our loss was the wide sympathy which it aroused. Citizens who had lived within a square of the school and had never been within its walls, now expressed regret at their indifference, and the disappearance of our beautiful buildings brought them to a realizing sense of the part the institution had borne in the community. Steps were immediately taken to send the children to their homes. Those who lived in the city and vicinity were

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. soon taken away, but longer time was required to get word to the friends of those who lived at a distance and it was near the middle of January before the last was disposed of.

Before the smoke of the smoldering ruins had ceased to rise, the Executive Committee met and took action on two important subjects. One was to advise the Board of Trustees to rebuild the institution, and the other was to erect temporary buildings to accommodate at least a part of the school, till the permanent structure could be finished. Accordingly a plan for a frame house to contain a kitchen, dining room, store rooms and also living rooms for the employes, was adopted and the superintendent directed to employ workmen enough to push the building to an early completion. It was finished in a month and was at once furnished with a range, tea and coffee urns, boilers, steamers, tables and all the other appliances of a modern kitchen and dining room. We were not now in condition to despise the day of small things, so the old frame house that had been brought from Turtle Creek to be used as a carpenter shop while the brick building was in process of erection, and which we had long since come to regard as a blot on our otherwise fair premises, was wrested from the dissolution that threatened it, covered with a roof of tar paper and brought back to a state of respectability, to be used again in our days of adversity as a carpenter shop. The brick shop was then divided by board partitions into school rooms. Sleeping rooms for the boys were obtained by removing the shoe shop to the boiler house, where comfortable quarters were found in a room designed originally to contain our electric light plant, and installing the printing office in the engineer’s work shop. The girls were provided with sitting rooms and bed rooms in the girls’ industrial building.

Everything being in readiness school was reopened March 12, 1900. The attendance soon reached 117, this being the maximum number we could accommodate during the remainder of the term. The lack of accustomed facilities with which to work was felt, but there was commendable disposition shown by all to accept the inconveniences and discomforts and to make the most of the opportunities that were available.

Indeed no little ingenuity was called out both in the classroom and the household in adapting the means at hand to attain results. School was closed in June without the usual exercises, but with the conviction that the experiment of keeping school with the means at our command had been successful and that with the help of the primary building, we could comfortably care for the greater part of our pupils in the following year. During the summer the primary building, already spoken of, was adapted to dormitory purposes by placing in it temporary partitions and fitting up bath and wash rooms where required. By close economy of space in all departments we provided accommodations for most of the old pupils though we were not able to admit many new ones. It was fortunate that we could make ourselves comfortable in our new quarters for we were destined to occupy them for two years. Our country was just entering on an era of great prosperity. Cities were growing everywhere; mechanics were receiving high wages and the prices of building material were at the highest point they had reached in years. Iron products of all kinds were especially expensive, and as it was desired to make the new Institution fire proof, large quantities of this metal would necessarily be used in its construction. In order to ascertain definitely whether we would be justified in entering into a contract for the work at once, the architects employed, Messrs. Alden & Harlow, submitted plans and specifications they had prepared to a few contractors selected for their reputation as competent builders, the Board reserving the right to reject any or all proposals. The bids when opened were found to far exceed the money at our command so it was deemed wise to postpone further efforts until materials declined in value, more money could be raised in the community, and our needs brought to the attention of the legislature.

It was a great disappointment to the teachers, officers and pupils that the erection of the building had to be deferred, but they accepted the decision with the best grace possible and with the determination to make good use of the facilities at hand and to overcome the handicap the delay imposed by hard work. In the meantime Dr. Brown canvassed the City of Pittsburgh to raise funds for the erection of the building and did not cease from his labors until he had secured pledges to the amount of $50,000.00. As evidence of the wide spread interest in our misfortune it may be of interest to state that the Public Schools and Sabbath Schools of Pittsburgh and suburbs contributed more than a thou sand dollars to the building fund. Nor did the pupils and past-pupils of our school show less sympathy and zeal. They gave a benefit entertainment in the Old City Hall for the fund, from which they realized more than $700.00. The Executive Committee showed their appreciation of this kindly act by devoting the money to the purchase of art glass windows for the chapel, on one of which they inscribed suitable acknowledgement of the gitt. The building and furniture were insured at the time of the fire for $92,000.00, and the insurance was promptly paid. This and the $50,000.00 collected by Dr. Brown enabled the trustees to enter into a con tract with George A. Cochrane Co. to erect one wing and the administration building in accordance with the plans of Messrs.

Alden & Harlow, which had been adopted the preceding year. It was a matter of keen regret that one wing

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. had to be omitted for lack of funds, though our Board of Trustees were not without hope that money would be provided at an early day which would enable them to proceed with the work as a whole.

The excavation for the building was begun on the 7th day of March l901, and the work went rapidly for ward until the 16th of the following May when the cor nerstone was laid with appropriate ceremonies in the presence of a large audience composed of the trustees, contributors and friends of the institution. A pleasing feature of the exercises was the parade of the pupils, each class carrying a banner suitably inscribed. As they approached the building thev were met by the trustees and visitors who joined the procession and all marched to the scene of the day’s exercises.

Just previous to this time the Board of State Charities, after investigating the extent of the calamity that had befallen the institution, recommended the Legislature to grant an appropriation of $150,000.00 to aid in rebuilding it and application was made to the appro priation committee for that amount. Here a discouraging prospect was encountered, for it happened that at this particular session of the Legislature there were numerous demands made for money, not only to build and support hospitals, homes and educational institutions but for every conceivable enterprise that human sympathy and sentiment could imagine. The Legislature had to refuse many of these requests and to scale others down to amounts within the income of the state.

The friends of the institution in the Legislature, realizing the importance of securing at least a part of the money asked for, redoubled their efforts. It would be invidious to make a distinction where all worked hard in our behalf, but one man of marked influence in the councils of the law makers appealed to his fellow members of the Upper House, not only on the grounds of the duty of the state to the institution, but on account of friendship to him, to vote part of the money asked for, and through this appeal $50,000.00 was granted. Our Trustees then felt justi fied in letting the contract for the erection of the part of the building that had been omitted from the original contract, knowing that they could make good any deficiency out of the private funds of the institution. Work was begun on the 7th day of August 1901 and was pushed with diligence till it was brought to the same stage of progress as the rest of the building and thereafter all parts grew as a whole. The progress of the work was interrupted at times by strikes but the troubles were usually adjusted in a few days without causing serious delays. The pupils soon became used to the presence of the workmen in the yard and paid very little attention to them At no time did the men disturb the school nor the pupils interfere with the men. School opened in the fall of 1902 a little later than usual in order to give the carpenters time to complete their work but on the 29th of September the building was in readiness and when the pupils returned they were received in the new house. A few workmen re mained to put on the finishing touches here and there where needed, but by the 20th of November all were gone and the school was in full possession of its home although the formal dedication did not take place till May 14,1903. Much remained to be done to put the yard in order and remove the scars the fire had left but with the school fully organized and in the enjoyment of its comfortable quarters this could be done without un due haste.

The first step in the process was to get rid of our temporary buildings and by a favorable coincidence we were able to do this and to confer a benefit on the bor ough in which we live, at the same time. The Edgewood council was anxious to secure ]and for a hose reel house, and a town hall, and the only available tract was a strip off the southern border of our yard. It has always been the policy of our Trustees to do all they reasonably can to promote the interests of the borough and they readily consented to lease enough land for the purpose and to sell them the frame building that we no longer needed, on terms advantageous to them and to the institution.

The next step was to regrade the front yard and to employ a landscape gardener to draw a plan for the ornamentation of our grounds that might be followed from year to year as money for the purpose was avail able. Mr. William Falconer, who was at that time superintendent of the City Parks, kindly consented to give his service for this purpose and drew a comprehensive plan that has since been followed very closely. As a result, each succeeding year adds to the beauty of our grounds.

Experience is a useful teacher and a little experience in handling sick children in our hospital showed that we had failed to make proper provision for the care of convalescent patients, and those undergoing quarantine after recovery from contagious diseases. We needed a solarium or glass-enclosed porch. Plans were drawn for this and the work done in our carpenter shop by the foreman and the boys. It is moderately heated and may be used in the most inclement weather. It over looks the boys’ play ground and commands a view of the street both of which afford entertainment to the children. Unfortunately it was for a long time in frequent use, for in addition to colds, stomach disorders and the diseases incident to childhood, our pupils were sub ject to typhoid fever. Scarcely a year passed that we did not have two or three cases of this

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. disease and sometimes more. The children who came from a distance were usually the victims, for those who lived in Allegheny County were measurably immune. The only way to secure protection was to get a supply of drinking water from a source not contaminated by typhoid germs. In order to do this a well was drilled to the depth of two hundred and thirty feet which yielded a plentiful supply of water which analysis showed to be free from disease breeding germs of any kind. It was piped to several convenient places in the building and the children were urged to make use of it. As an additional precaution an electric sterilizer was installed and connected with the same set of pipes in order that it might be used in case the pump broke down. These precautions were effective, and typhoid cases declined in numbers until the scourge almost disappeared. Since then the Pittsburgh filtration plant has been finished and there has been a marked improvement in the quality of water furnished.

The growth of the city has been for many years toward the east. This growth was accelerated when the Westinghouse Company built its electrical and manufacturing plants in East Pittsburgh, giving employ ment to thousands of workmen. This necessitated increased transportation facilities and a company known as the Monongahela Street Railway Company wash organized and given the right-of-way through Edgewood and adjoining boroughs. Two of the conditions on which this right was granted were that the company would pave with brick, the street along which it ran, and slacken the speed of the cars as they pass the institution entrance gates. By the one stipulation the institution was saved an expense for street improvement of about $3000.00, and by the other the safety of our children was guaranteed. This line and other street car lines that reached points within walking distance of the insti- tution drew visitors in such numbers that it was necessary to employ attendants to care for them.

After our buildings were completed and occupied, the laundry which was in the basement of the carpenter shop was clearly inadequate to do the work that the growth of the school demanded of it. Nor was this a matter of surprise for no money had been spent on it for almost twenty years, except to buy a laundry tub and make some minor repairs. New ironing machines had been invented to do the work formerly done by hand, but they could not be used for lack of room. It was plain that a new building must be erected and the question was whether it should be a laundry or a manual training shop. The old laundry was very conveni ently located in relation to the other buildings, and as it had all the steam, water and sewer connections needed, it was thought best to devote the whole building to laundry purposes and provide for the manual training classes elsewhere. As the state had not dealt as liberally as the needs of the school demanded in its preceding session it was thought best to approach the Legislature again and secure if possible the sum of $15,000.00 with which to build and equip new shops. The amount asked for seemed so reasonable and the need so urgent that the appropriation was promptly granted. By the addition of a little money from the private funds of the institution electric motors were bought for the carpentry machinery.

The institution suffered a serious loss in the death of Reverend John G. Brown, D. D., which occurred on the 4th of March, 1904. To him more than to any other man, the institution owes its existence. From the time the mission Sabbath School was organized in the church under his pastoral care, to the close of his life, he was the steadfast friend of the deaf. Men of prominence were enlisted as friends of the school through his efforts, and the standing which it enjoys in the community is largely due to his far-sighted policy and the confidence the people had in him. Born and raised in Pittsburgh he knew her people and could arouse their sympathy and win their liberal support for any benevolent enter prise, but the cause that lay nearest his heart was the education of the deaf, and so well could he present their cause that he never appealed in vain for money in their behalf. He loved the children and they loved him and his death at the advanced age of eighty years was felt as a personal loss.

It is appropriate in this connection to mention another loss the institution sustained when four and a half years later death removed Mr. John B. Jackson from the scenes of his earthly labors. He had been intimately associated with Dr. Brown as a member of the Executive Committee for thirty years and they formed what was familiarly known as the “Old Guard�. He was deeply interested in the school and attended the meetings of the Executive Committee with great regularity. Early trained in the management of large business affairs he readily grasped and held the details of the management of the institution. He visited the classrooms at frequent intervals, was familiar with the methods of instruction and was acquainted with the pupils, teachers and officers. As his business interests grew he found it necessary to give up his official connections with many benevolent enterprises but this only gave him more time to devote to the interests of this institution. On the death of Dr. Brown he became President of the Board of Trustees and held the office until the close of his life, October 31, 1908.

An event of unusual interest took place in the summer of 1906. This was the meeting of the American Association to Promote the Teaching of Speech to the Deaf which was held at our institution from August

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25th to 31st inclusive. The convention had been called to meet in June but owing to an outbreak of the measles just previous to that time it was postponed. The change in date doubtless interfered with the attendance but almost all of the institutions of the country were represented by superintendent or teachers and in many cases by superintendents and teachers. The purposes of this Association are to encourage the schools of the deaf to substitute the oral method of instruction for the sign and manual methods so generally in use and by every means within the reach of the teacher to advance deaf children to approximately the condition of those endowed with normal hearing. The program had been prepared with great care and covered almost every phase of oral instruction. Able papers were read on subjects peculiar to the work of teaching the deaf and helpful lectures were given by teachers of acknowledged authority.

These were interspersed with lectures on popular subjects and papers by well known specialists on the eye, the ear, nose and throat, and school hygiene. The convention was in all respects pleasant and profitable and our visitors carried away with them pleasant memories of Pittsburgh and its environs. Our own institution derived great profit from the meeting.

There is a growing feeling among educators that too little attention has been paid to the physical development of children in the past. All of the prominent colleges of the land are provided with gymnasiums and ample gymnasium apparatus but it has become apparent that physical education should be begun early in life to accomplish the best results. To this end many of the modern public school buildings are equipped with commodious gymnasiums and physical instruction is given its due prominence in the course. All the reasons that make gymnasium instruction an important factor in modern public school training, apply with equal force to schools for the deaf and there are added reasons, due to loss of hearing, that make the appeal for opportunity of physical development for the deaf even stronger.

Congenitally deaf children are as a class as strong and vigorous as other children but those who lose their hearing from sickness may suffer diminished physical vitality. This is particularly true of the victims of spinal meningitis. In the hands of a skillful physical instructor many of the defects due to this and other diseases may be measurably corrected. Of no less importance is his influence over timid and backward children. Under his instruction their senses are quick ened, self-confidence is aroused and often their timidity disappears. Incidentally there results ease of move ment, grace of bearing, erect carriage and self possession.

It had long been the desire of the officers of this in stitution to have a gymnasium but there were so many other improvements needed that there seemed little prospect of the wish being gratified, till a way very un expectedly opened in the summer of 1908. The late John Porterfield left a large part of his estate to char ities of various kinds and our institution was one of the beneficiaries of his generosity. No sooner did our trustees find themselves in possession of the money than they decided to devote it to the erection of a gym nasium. Mr. T. E. Billquist was selected as architect and presented plans in the fall of 1908. The usual policy of having the wood work done by the foreman and the boys in the carpenter shop was adopted and the entire school term was spent in making the window frames, sashes, door frames, mouldings, etc. The brick walls were built and ready for the roof by the time the pupils returned in the following fall and the boys had plenty of work to do from that time on till the completion of the building in the summer of 1910.

It is one hundred and ten feet long from end to end with a twelve foot basement containing a swimming pool, shower baths, toilets, dressing rooms and bowling alleys. The gymnasium proper is eighty feet long, fifty feet wide and twenty-one feet high, with an incline running track ten feet above the main floor. It is liberally equipped with gymnasium apparatus of the latest pattern. The building stands on a conspicuous site near the center of our grounds and in architectural appearance is a worthy companion of the other buildings on the premises.

One of our valued assets is a growing library of thirty-six hundred volumes, selected with care, a large proportion oÂŁ which are especially adapted to the wants of the pupils. For this we are indebted to the generos ity of Mr. Andrew Carnegie, who gave $5,000, as an endowment, the income of which is year by year spent in the purchase of books. Diligent effort is put forth to render the library useful. To this end reading clubs, under the direction of the teachers, were formed to en courage the pupils to make liberal use of the books and to foster a taste for literature. A literary society with periods for debates, recitations and discussions conduct ed under parliamentary rules also tends to stimulate the reading habit.

Our educational plant now consists of an administration building with lateral wings for school rooms and dormitories, kindergarten, hospital, boys’ industrial school, gymnasium, girls’ industrial school, laundry, boiler house, tool and storehouse, stable and summer playhouse.

From this it will be seen that the institution is in possession of all the buildings and ground necessary for its peculiar work, the value of which is not less than $600,000. These buildings have been planned with

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. the utmost care and substantially erected. They are pre eminently fitted for the purposes of their existence.

They have been furnished with all the appointments of a comfortable home and all the appliances necessary to the intellectual development and industrial training of those enjoying its advantages. Its situation and arrangements are such as are eminently calculated to secure their moral and physical well being and enable them ultimately to stand side by side with their more fortunate fellows in the battle of life.

This history would be incomplete without mention of the officers and teachers who have labored long and faithfully in its service. The first to receive mention should be Mr. George M. Teegarden who was appointed teacher at the opening of the school at Turtle Creek and has served continuously until the present time.

Mr. B. R. Allabough was appointed supervisor of boys in 1886. He occupied the position for five years and resumed it while we were in temporary quarters after the fire. He was elected teacher in the year 1891 and is still in the employ of the institution, though he has taken orders in the Episcopal Church and will soon receive an appointment as missionary to the deaf in the middle west.

Mr. Linnaeus Roberts was elected teacher in January 1888 and two years later Mr. A. U. Downing was added to our corps of instructors. Both of these gentlemen are not only valued teachers but are well known and public spirited citizens.

Miss Jennie L. Cobb was elected teacher in 1890. She taught in the Ohio School for the Deaf before coming to Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of Oberlin College.

Mr. Henry Bardes has been master of our shoe shop since the organization of the manual training department in 1885.

Mr. John J. Baugh was foreman of our carpenter shop from 1890 until his death which occurred in the summer of 1910.

Mr. Branson, of whom mention has already been made, is still in charge of the printing department.

Miss Martha A. Clemens who was matron under Dr. Brown's administration has been connected with the school ever since, with the exception of a short time spent in the Western Pennsylvania Hospital as matron. The excellent management of the household affairs is due to her vigilant oversight and untiring industry.

Miss Margaret C. Brown has been in charge of our hospital since the building was erected. She has shown peculiar fitness for her responsible duties as many parents cheerfully testify who have seen her faithful and efficient ministrations at the bedside of their loved ones.

Dr. F. R. Stotler has been the physician of the school for twenty-two years. His familiarity with the peculiarities of the deaf acquired in his long practice, together with his skill as a physician, render his services especially valuable.

Mr. C. F. H. Hawkins was appointed bookkeeper soon after Dr. Brown was elected principal of the school and held the office till his death in 1898. He established the system of bookkeeping that has prevailed, with slight modification, to the present time. After an interval of two years Mr. John S. Ramsey succeeded to his place and had charge of our books during the con struction of our new buildings and down to the present writing.

These officers and teachers, together with others of no less merit though of shorter tenure, form a corps of capable and efficient workers who are conscientiously devoting their lives to promote the intellectual, moral, and spiritual welfare of the children under their care.

Our institution has been singularly fortunate in having for trustees men of prominence and business ability. They wisely commit the active management of the school to an Executive Committee who visit it at frequent intervals and keep themselves informed concerning the classes, work shops, household and other depart ments of the organization. The members of this com mittee are J. Charles Wilson, President; A. H. Childs, Vice President; Edward E. Duff, Secretary; and Colonel A. B. Shepherd. These gentlemen are well known citizens of Pittsburgh and the time they give to the institution is often at a sacrifice of their personal affairs. Our Treasurer is Mr. John R. McCune whose father was financial agent of the institution at its organization and did much to place it on a solid financial basis.

There are in our library excellent portraits of several of the persons who did much for the welfare of the in stitution when it stood most in need of influential friends. These include likenesses of Rev. John G. Brown, D. D. Mr. John B. Jackson, Mr. William Holmes, Miss Jane Holmes, Mr. John R. McCune, Mr. Joel Kerr concerning all of whom mention has already been made in these pages. The others are Mr. P. H. Miller who served on our Executive Board for twenty-three years and was a life-long friend of Dr. Brown, Mr. William Thaw and Mr. James Laughlin who were members of the Board of Trustees, Mr. James P. Hanna who was a member of the Executive Committee and Mr. James Morton who though not a member

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. of the Board of Trustees was a liberal supporter of the school. The pictures are valuable as reminders to the pupils of the obligations they owe to these friends and their lives are examples of the types of citizenship that are most worthy of respect and emulation. Mr. Robert M. Tindle, M. D., who was for a long time a member of the Executive Committee and Mr. R. S. Smith who was not only a member of the Board of Trustees but treasurer of the institution for seventeen years, were worthy compeers of the men already mentioned.

Such in brief is the history of the origin and establishment of the Western Pennsylvania Institution for the Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb, which came into existence in compliance with a demand imperiously made on behalf of the unfortunate class for whose benefit it exists, and each succeeding year has not only crowned its labors with gratifying results, but also afforded increasing evidence of the necessity for its existence and the wisdom and benevolence of those who liberally and intelligently have sought to further its interests. From small beginnings in which could be clearly discerned the hand of Divine Providence, it has developed into a thoroughly appointed institution and taken its place as an equal among the various similar institutions of the country. It has all the vigor and energy of youth guided and controlled by the experience of the past and rich in promise for the future.

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INTRODUCTION

The History of The Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf from its inception in 1869, a period of twenty-five years, was first printed in 1893.

This pamphlet was called THE HISTORY OF THE WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA INSTITUTION FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE DEAF AND DUMB FROM ITS ORIGIN TO THE YEAR 1893.

A revised and enlarged version of the story under the title THE HISTORY OF THE WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA INSTITUTION FOR THE INSTRUCTION OF THE DEAF AND DUMB FROM ITS ORIGIN TO THE YEAR 1893, prepared by Dr. W. N. Burt, the superintendent, appeared in 1911. Dr. Burt intended to continued the story but never found time to do so.

Succeeding Dr. Burt as superintendent, I was asked by the Board of Trustees to finish the narrative.

In preparing this part of the story it has been my desire to give a picture of the growth and development of the School as an organization, devoted to the ideal of transforming help less deaf children into self-respecting, selfsupporting, God fearing citizens. In spite of the fact that buildings and equipment do not make a school, and in spite of the fact that a school is a combination of the ideals of the men and women who constitute its staff, frequent mention of improvements and call features contribute much to the success of the undertaking. In some instances the inclusion of certain items may seem to the casual reader as irrelevant. However, to me these items have definite sentimental value and in some cases educational value and they merit mention.

Without making the story too long, it has been impossible to mention all the faithful employees of the School during the thirty-five years covered by this part of the story. Many of them deserve recognition,—some in humble positions; some in prominent positions; some, long since, gone; some, still with the School. Their services are appreciated. No doubt the next installment of the story will contain reports on many of those who are still members of the School family.

To Mr. Rees T. Scully, president of the Board since 1941 I am much indebted for his wise suggestions and his considerate assistance in editing the copy.

I wish to acknowledge with keen appreciation the invaluable assistance of Miss Eva A. Hench, secretary to Dr. W. N. Burt, my predecessor, continuing as secretary during my entire administration, and still the superintendent’s secretary, without whose hearty co-operation the compilation of the facts in 32

Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. the story would have been extremely difficult, if not entirely impossible.

A.C.Manning

1911 Reverend B. R. Allabough, who had been with the School for twenty-five years, first as boys’ counsellor, and later as a teacher, resigned in June to enter the active ministry as an Episcopal missionary to the adult deaf.

Due to the increase in the number of pupils, it was decided that a supervising teacher be provided for the classes in the Primary Department.

For this position Miss Ella J. Dimmick was elected. She entered upon her duties in September, performing them efficiently until June, 1922, when she resigned to be married.

1912 In the death of Mr. Robert S. Smith, a member of the Board of Trustees since 1888, and treasurer from 1888 to 1905, on December 12, the School suffered a serious loss. Mr. Smith was succeeded by his son, Mr. Lloyd W. Smith, who was soon elected secretary of the Board.

1914 The increase in attendance, now about 260 pupils, made necessary the enlargement of the Primary Building which had been erected in 1907. Plans were drawn up for four additional classrooms, two more dormitories, washrooms, toilets, bath rooms, a dining room, and a kitchen. Due to lack of funds, the kitchen and dining room were omitted. Two sun parlors were added.

Dr. James C. Burt, a prominent Pittsburgh physician and son of the superintendent, Dr. W. N. Burt, was elected a member of the Board to succeed Mr. Edward E. Duff who retired in l913.

During the school-year, 1913-1914, a Boy Scout troop was organized among the older boys with Mr. Elmer D. Read, one of the teachers, as Scoutmaster.

This year many improvements in equipment were made. A few were the installation of six drinking fountains,—two outside and four inside the buildings, and individual towels were substituted for roller towels. A Chandler and Price printing press was installed in the printing department.

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1915 The Alumni Association of the School was organized in 1915. Its purposes, as set forth in its constitution, are ‘to pro mote social intercourse among the former pupils of the School, to establish a high standard of conduct, to extend a helping hand to the unfortunate, to advance the interests of the deaf in every way and to bring the members into closer touch with the teachers and officers of the Institution’’. From time to time since that date reunions have been held, most happy and profitable meetings.

1919 The fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the School was celebrated in the auditorium by the Alumni Association on February 15. Dr. W. N. Burt, the superintendent, Mr. G M. Teegarden, Mr. J. M. Rolshouse, and Mrs. E. S. Havens participated in the program.

In February Mr. H. L. Branson, who entered the employ of the School in 1892 as teacher of printing, contracted a virulent case of influenza and went to his former home in Colum bus, Ohio, where he died within a few days.

During Mr. Bran son’s employment he, for several years, acted as editor of the School paper, The Western Pennsylvanian, which was first issued in February, 1893. He also did a great deal of book binding and proved himself a most valuable employee.

In September, Mr. A. C. Manning, formerly a supervising principal in The Pennsylvania School for the Deaf at Mount Airy; Philadelphia, after a year’s service in the United States Army as Chief of the Educational Service in United States Army Hospital Number 11, at Cape May, New Jersey, and later as Vocational Adviser and Assistant Morale Officer in United States Hospital Number 3 at Rahway, New Jersey, came to the School as assistant superintendent. In addition to his duties as assistant superintendent, he taught a class in the upper grades in the academic department until October 31, 1 921.

1920 In October a forward step was taken inmodernizing the industrial department. Are built Mergenthaler linotype was purchased for the printing classroom at a cost of $1 187.50.

1921 One day in April the Shriners of Syria Temple thrilled the hearts of the pupils by entertaining them at their annual circus at Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh. The Shriners came to the School in automobiles for the children and brought them back after the performance. This practice was kept up for several years. Beginning at Christmas, 1921, and forseveral years thereafter

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. the Shriners sent a Santa Claus to the School with a gift and a box of candy for every child not able to get home for Christmas.

On October 17 the School suffered an irreparable loss in the death of Dr. W. N. Burt, superintendent since August 1, 1889, the date Dr. John C. Brown, the founder’ of the School, resigned the superintendency on account of ill health.

During the thirty-two years of Dr. Burt’s administration the School grew greatly in attendance through his determined efforts to see that every deaf child in this territory was in school. The Main Building was burned on December 14, 1899, and a new building was erected in its place. Under Dr. Burt’s direction practically all the buildings on the campus were erected. The excellent quality of the buildings attests Dr. Burt’s skill as a builder. In describing Dr. Burt’s character no better term can be used than to say he was ‘‘a gentleman and a scholar’’.

Mr. A. C. Manning, assistant superintendent since September 1, 1919, was appointed superintendent October 24, 1921, and assumed the duties of the office on November 1, 1921.

1922 Electric lights were installed on the campus in May, giving the residential members of the School family a sense of security as they went out and came in at night. At the same time clectric lights took the place of gas in lighting the Boys’ Industrial Building and the Boiler House.

In June Dr. F. R. Stotler who had served the School faithfully and efficiently as attending physician for thirty-four years resigned because of advanced age.

When School opened in September, Dr. J. H. Whitcraft assumed the duties of attending physician with a full staff of consulting specialists. Dr. Whitcraft served until his death in 1926. Dr. E. S. Warner, consulting physician under Dr. Whitcraft, succeeded him and served until his death in January 1937. Dr. W. A. Heazlett served as attending physician during the spring term of 1937 and was followed by Dr. W. R. Ebe who still fills the position.

In every school there are pupils who, because of mental retardation, cannot do satisfactorily the work outlined in a conventional literary course of study. This year, 1922, a modified course was formed for a group of mentally slow girls who were given special instruction in chair caning, basket making, rag rug weaving, in addition to a limited amount of elemen tary academic

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. work. The experiment was fully justified by the excellent quality of work accomplished and by the happiness that came into the lives of the girls in the class. They were proud of their work. ln later years this type of instruction was extended and a class of slow boys was organized. They devoted a greater part of their time to hand work, a minimum amount of time being given to academic study. This policy has been continued through the years with outstanding success, proving that children profit more and are much happier doing well the things they can do rather than failing in trying to do the things they are not able to do well.

Under the direction of one of the teachers, a group of Camp Fire girls was organized in January, bringing into their lives much benefit not provided by the regular course of instruction. Two years later this organization was changed into a Personal Health group.

Mr. A. G. Kay, a member of the Board of Trustees, gave a motion picture machine to the School in June to be used for the entertainment of the pupils.

It was used on alternate Saturday evenings, providing much pleasure for the children.

As a means of helping the neighbors to become better acquainted with the operation and accomplishments of the School, a public demonstration was given in the buildings on the evening of June 1. The specially invited guests on this occasion were the members of the Men's Association of Edgewood.

From that year to the present, 1946, an ‘‘Open House" has been held every year, usually in June. Not once has the weather been unfavorable enough to prevent a large number of guests from attending the exercises. The programs consist of demonstrations of class work, both in the academic and in dustrial departments, as well as physical education classes. Tours of inspection of the buildings are included in the program.

In 1922 it was discovered that Dr. John G. Brown, the founder of the School, had left a fund for purchasing Bibles for the pupils as they graduated or left School. The fund, later called the Brown Bible Fund, had accumulated considerable interest because it had not been used. The Trustees decided to present each pupil with a Bible as early in his school life as he was able to read and appreciate the gift instead of waiting until he left. As a result of this policy the pupils were taught to study their Bibles, to appreciate them, and to form the habit of reading them regularly as children.

Miss Lillian R. Tait of Mercer County was employed in August as assistant matron in charge of the dining room and kitchen, a position she held until the retirement of Mrs. Christina Taylor, then matron. Miss Tait succeeded her and served as matron most efficiently until June 30, 1944,

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In August laundry equipment was installed in the girls’ basement of the Main Building for the convenience of the older girls.

1923 Until February 5, 1923, the School was officially called an Institution.

On that date the name was changed to The Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf by the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County.

Upon its incorporation in 1871 the School was placed under the supervision of the State Board of Charities. This Board was transformed into The State Department of Welfare under which the School operated until the 1923 session of the State Legislature which transferred it to The State Department of Public Instruction. The Bureau of Special Education has supervised the work of the School since that time.

A decided material advantage accrued to the employees of the School by the transfer to the Department of Public In struction. They automatically became members of the State School Employees Retirement System with the privilege of retirement on a pension at the age of sixty-two years, Retirement is compulsory at seventy years.

In February of this year the Schick test was administered to the pupils to determine which of them were suspectible to diphtheria. Those who were suspectible were immunized against the disease. Thereafter the same program was carried out each year with all pupils entering School for the first time.

In April the School purchased a Graphoscope thirty-five millimeter motion picture machine with funds generously contributed by the parents of the pupils; making possible a greater variety of programs than could be given with the machine donated by Mr. A. G. Kay the year before. At that time the School’s program of pupil organizations and recreational activities had not been systematically formulated and these motion picture programs were a great treat for the children.

The removal of troublesome tonsils began in April by the School’s specialists. First the operations were performed at Columbia Hospital in Wilkinsburg. Later at the suggestion of the specialists the work was done in the School Infirmary. Much physical benefit to the pupils resulted from this program.

Mr. Linnaeus Roberts, a faithful teacher in the School for thirty-three

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. years, retired in June. Mr. Roberts moved to Pasadena, California, where he died May 3, 1924.

During this year monthly report cards were sent to the parents of children above the Primary grade level, with re cords of the work done by the pupils.

This policy has continued to date, except that later it was decided to send reports only three times a year. At first the grades insubjects were reported in percentages,—75, 80, 85, etc. These ratings did not give the parents a correct picture of the pupils’ work, and the forms were changed from time to time in an effort to tell the story better. Finally in 1939 a form was evolved, stressing the im portance of learning to live with others, emphasizing the gualities that make an educated person,—one who has learned to live creditably as well as how to make a living. Parents were urged to consult the superintendent as often as they were inclined to do so about the progress of their children. As a result many confidential conferences were held on the subject. The pupils’ work was graded, beginning in 1935, as satisfactory, fair, or poor in the following subjects:—Scholarship and Workmanship, Writing, Work Habits, (promptness, use of time, following instructions, neatness, carefulness, interest, effort, safety), Deportment, (co-operation, courtesy, trust worthiness, sportsmanship, self control), Posture, and Personal Appearance.

Beginning in the fall of 1923 the pupils wrote letters to their parents twice a month in class. They wrote as often as they wished out of class. This practice has continued until the present time. In cases of the younger children, the superinten dent wrote to the parents once a week until the children learned a few words and were able to write them. Then the teachers had the little tots write lists of words they knew. On the same sheets the superintendent added a few lines, telling the parents how the children were faring. This plan gave the anxious parents much comfort and satisfaction during their children’s first experience away from home.

In October, 1923, the School opened savings accounts for the pupils in The Union Savings Bank of Pittsburgh, endeavoring to encourage the habit of thrift in the pupils, the savings to be drawn out as the pupils graduated or left school. The project worked well as many of the children accumulated hundreds of dollars while enrolled. The bank discontinued the activity during the Second World War. However, the Mu Iota Sigma fraternity, composed of teachers in the School and mentioned later, sponsored a program of having the pupils invest their money in War Saving Stamps and Bonds.

To encourage generosity in the character of the pupils, a plan was initiated in October to arouse their interest in making contributions in Sunday school, the money contributed to be used in the promotion of

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. charitable objects. The response was hearty. The Sunday school, out of its treasury, furnished and continued to maintain a room at The Home for the Aged and Infirm Deaf and Blind at Torresdale, Philadelphia. From their funds the pupils have also contributed to the relief of war orphans both in China and Europe.

The School suffered a keen loss in the death of Mr. John R. McCune, a member of the Board, on May 14 of this year. Mr. John R. McCune, Jr. was elected to take the place of his father and later became vice-president of the Board of Trustees.

A ninety-foot flag pole was given to the School by Mr. O. J. H. Hartsuff, superintendent of the Edgar Thompson Steel Works in Braddock. It was erected on the front lawn of the School and was dedicated with appropriate exercises on May 30.

This year the State Legislature passed a compulsory school attendance law applying to deaf children but it was not enforced.

During the summer vacation the staff of the wood work ing department built a two-room apartment on the third floor of the Main Building to accommodate extra members of the school family.

The State appropriation for the bi-ennium 1923-1925 was reduced from $420.00 to $339.28 per pupil per year. The reduction was justified by the governor as an economy measure. The School ran a deficit of $33,964.84 for this period. This reduction in State support crippled the work greatly because the School had always been run on a rigidly economical basis and it was impossible to keep within the current allot- ment without lowering the standard of work done. Later the State authorities granted the School the sum of $20,000.00 to be applied to the deficit. The School had to pay the balance out of the income from its limited endowment.

To help finance the School during these ‘‘lean years’’ the Trustees asked the parents of the pupils to make contributions for each pupil as an incidental fee. Some of the parents paid as much as $ 125.00 per year per pupil. In some instances the local school districts in which the pupils lived came to the rescue and paid all or part of the $125.00.

Miss Rachel E. Dawes, a teacher in The Pennsylvania School for the Deaf at Mount Airy, Philadelphia, came to the School in the fall of this year as principal of the Primary and Intermediate grades. In 1928 she assumed the principalship of the Grammar classes, succeeding Mr. Truman L. Ingle, who resigned that year after acting as principal of those classes Since 1924. The

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. resignation of Mrs. Ingle at the same time her husband resigned meant the loss of one of the School’s most prized teachers. Miss Dawes, later became Mrs. Everett H. Davies, her, husband being the School's director of physical education and coach of the athletic teams for several years. Mrs. Davies did most excellent work in helping to raise the scholastic standard of the School.

1924 In the spring of 1924 the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Red Cross gave a course in Home Nursing and Care of the Sick to a class of thirty-one of the older girls. The same course was given to another class of girls each year after that for several years. To the Red Cross the School owes a debt of gratitude for this labor of love which gave the girls a clearer vision of the beauty of life,—its origin and its purpose.

In the spring a Boy Scout troop was organized among the older boys, the movement which had been started several years ago before having been discontinued. Today, in l 946, in the School there are three flourishing troops. The Scouting program has been carried on without interruption with unusual enthusiasm and with great benefit to the boys since 1924.

In June the School lost by retirement two of its most valuable employees,—Miss Martha M. Clemens, matron for thirty seven years and nurse for many years, (Miss Clemens died August 23, 1929) and Mr. Ceorge M. Teegarden, a teacher in the School for forty-eight years. Mr. Teegarden was considered one of the best teachers in the profession. He was a poet of no mean ability as well as an outstanding leader of the deaf in America. For several years after his retirement Mr. Teegarden volunteered his services gratuitiously as assistant editor of the School paper,—THE WESTERN PENNSYLVANIAN, which he had started in February, 1893. This paper was successor to THE HOLIDAY GAZETTE which Mr. Teegarden had edited for the School for several years.

The installation of a coal conveyor at the Boiler House resulted in reducing the cost of coal greatly by facilitating the unloading of coal into bins.

Previous to this time the coal supply had been unloaded by hand.

During this year extensive improvements were made in the Laundry Building and additional equipment was installed to increase the efficiency of that department. Electric lights were put in to take the place of gas lights. An elevator and a stairway were installed connecting the basement with the main floor. An extractor and a flatwork ironer were added.

Shower baths were installed in the basement of the large boys’ dormitory during the summer making it possible for every boy to have a bath every day.

Beginning this year every pupil veras given a careful physical

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. examination by the attending physician and the resident nurse. A detailed record of each pupil's health was kept as long as he remained in School. Each pupil was weighed once a month from the time he entered until he withdrew from School. Diets, tonics, and a rest period each day were provided in the case of each pupil noticeably below par physically.

Because of the scarcity of teachers, it was decided by the School authorities to train teachers in the School. This pro gram was begun in 1924 and has continued to date except for a few years during the Second World War when acceptable candidates could not be found. When the class began, high school graduates were accepted. Later the standard of admission was raised and a college degree was required of students.

At the time of the formation of the first class few of the teachers in the School had a four year college education. Being encouraged to want more education and better preparation for their work, most of the teachers began to take courses in the local colleges during the winter or during their summer vacations. They were urged to take the courses which would better fit them for their duties as teachers rather than the courses which would merely lead to a degree. The writer believes college degrees are desirable but he believes strongly that many American educational systems of today are badly infected with the disease of ''degreeitis''. Some of the best teachers in the School do not have degrees.

During the school year 1924-1925, at the request of several schools for the deaf throughout the country, The National Research Council made surveys of these schools. This School was among the number, and in October, 1924, Professors Herbert E. Day and Irving S. Fusfeld of Gallaudet College made a careful inspection and investigation of the work being done. Because of lack of time on the part of the surveyors the survey was not completed, though it was productive of some good results in indicating desirable improvements in operation.

Regular fire drills were conducted systematically in each department once a month during the school year.

Mr. William Drum. a deaf man who taught in the Sunday school at the mission of the Third United Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh during the initial efforts to found a school for the deaf in the City in 1869, died December 2 at the home of his niece. Mrs. Marie Turrell in East Liberty.

1925 Generous friends and appreciative parents of pupils, having brought to their attention the need for playground equipment for the pupils, contributed

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. practically $1,000.00 for the purchase of equipment. Swings, see-saws, slides, a merry-go round and an ocean wave were bought for the Primary play ground. Later swings and other equipment were purchased for the pupils in the Main Building.

Until 1925 the resident officers ate their meals in the pupils' dining room,—at one end of the room at the same time the pupils ate their meals.

This year a separate dining room was provided for the officers. This arrangement gave the officers an opportunity to relax during their meals, free from responsibility for the pupils at that time. The officers took turns at supervising the pupils at their meals.

In an endeavor to raise the standard of work required for graduation, there was no graduating class in 1925. The pupils composing the highest class returned for an additional year during which they made much progress and were graduated in 1926, much better prepared for life than any previous graduating group. Their development was noted in both academic and industrial classes.

Auricular or acoustic work began in 1925 when a careful survey of the hearing of the pupils was made by audiometric tests. The tests revealed that a surprisingly large number of the pupils possessed latent hearing. The use the pupils made of their hearing up to this time had been negligible. Interest in the subject was aroused and an experiment was made by the use of an auditor, an electrical instrument which, by setting up air vibrations, massaged the muscles of the inner ear. There was temporary stimulation of the hearing apparatus, but the experi ment was discontinued because the benefits did not seem to be nermanent. However. this forced upon the School authorities the conviction that something should be done to preserve and to educate the latent hearing of all pupils who had usable hearing.

In September Mrs. E. H. Cary joined the staff as assistant matron in charge of older girls, a position she held until June 30,1944. She endeared herself to the girls by her motherly in terest in them and by her devotion to their welfare.

On October 27, Ruth Davis, one of the older girls, later to become Mrs. Enza Ludovico, took part in a Red Cross celebration at the William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh. Her remarks were broadcast over the radio, making a favorable impression of the oral work of the School.

A legislative measure of far-reaching importance was the enactment this year of an effective law making school attend ance of deaf children in Pennsylvania compulsory. Parents who had refused to send their deaf

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. children to school in former years because they "'loved the children too much and could not endure the separation from them'' are now compelled to send these children to school.

When the School was transferred from the Department of Welfare, formerly the Department of Public Charities, in 1923, to the Department of Public Instruction, it was placed under the Bureau of Special Education with Dr. Francis N. Maxfield as Director. In 1925 Dr. Maxfield resigned and was succeeded by Dr. Frank H. Reiter who was especially interested in the education of the deaf, having at one time been a class-room teacher of deaf children. He rendered valuable assistance by giving intelligence tests to pupils of doubtful intelligence. (Not until several years later did the School employ a psychologist.) After Dr. Reiter's resignation his successors gave the School much help by their frequent visits and encore aging counsel. During this period intelligence tests were made for the School by Dr. C. A. Whitmer of the University of Pitts burgh.

By action of the Board of Trustees parents of pupils were asked to pay an incidental fee of $30.00 a year for each pupil to help the School meet the expense of extra services rendered the children. During the years that followed many of the parents paid the full amount. Some paid less and some paid nothing at all as the payment was not required. The average amount paid was about $20.00 per year per pupil.

1926 In June of this year one of the School's most faithful teachers, Miss Jennie L. Cobb. retired after an acceptable service of thirty-seven years.

In September Miss Candace A. Yendes, a faithful and inspiring teacher in the School for twenty-five years, retired.

In the fall a multiple hearing aid, a RADIOEAR, the first instrument of its kind installed in a school for the deaf. was placed in one of the classrooms by the inventor, Mr. E. A. Myers of Pittsburgh, for use in the instruction of pupils possessing enough hearing to profit by its use. The children who used the instrument had their hearing quickened. They became more interested in speech, the quality of their voices was much improved, a desire to talk orally was noted, and a greater desire to use their hearing was evident. A more natural approach to English, which they will need sorely in their communication with the hearing world in which they are going to live, resulted naturally. Their general educating was much accelerated by the help of their hearing. From time to time other hearing a aids were added to the classroom equipment, several different makes being used. Many of the pupils were equipped by their parents with individual hearing aids.

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At this time application was made for the admission of a large number of hearing children with speech defects. They had been excluded from the public schools because of their inability to talk satisfactorily. There being a limited number of vacancies in the School at this time, a few of the most urgent cases were admitted as an experiment. In several instances the children made satisfactory progress in speech and later were returned to the public schools.

In the fall a group of Girl Reserves was organized and did effective work for several years,—until Girl Scouts, a more popular organization, took its place.

Until 1926 the School had not provided full-time systematic instruction in physical education. Not being able to provide a full time instructor in this subject, the School employed graduate students in the educational department of The Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company as part time instructors in physical education. These young men were of the finest type of manhood who had been outstanding in athletics in the colleges where they had done their undergrad uate work. They lived in the School and gave their evenings to the deaf boys in physical education. Special emphasis was placed on the worth of play as a means of moral and mental growth. The value of fairness and sportsmanship received special attention. Systematic exercises were given all pupils except those exempted by the attending physician. For a few years a part-time teacher was employed for this department, giving instruction to both the girls and boys.

1927 This year, in March, an additional Mergenthlar linotype was installed in the printing department. It was then possible for a large number of boys to get instruction in this type of printing.

In May the pupils were given thorough examinations by nose, throat, and ear specialists representing the National Research Council. This survey brought to light many cases which needed attention by our physician.

In the spring a special effort was made to improve the quality of the speech of the pupils. Experiments were made with the use of an Osiso, an oscilograph, an electrical instrument invented by Mr. J. W. Legg of Wilkinsburg and manufactured by The Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company. The Osiso portrayed speech by a vibrating line in a mirror in the instrument. The pupils tried to imitate the speech of the teacher as shown in the machine. The results were en couraging and significant progress was noted in the quality of the speech produced.

However, the School was not able to purchase the instrument which had been loaned by Westing house, and the program had to be abandoned in spite of its

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No pupils were graduated in 1927, the class expecting to graduate that year being held over until 1928 in order to give them the benefit of another year’s instruction.

The local post of the American Legion (Post 305 ) awarded a medal to the outstanding boy in the eighth grade. This boy was selected by secret ballot by his classmates on the basis of honor, courage, reliability, courtesy, leadership, and unselfishness. His record as a student, judged by the teachers, also entered into the selection. The American Legion Auxiliary beginning in 1933, annually awarded a medal to the out standing girl in the eighth grade. The policy had been con tinued without interruption with much inspiration to the pupils who, by these awards, are much impressed with the importance of high ideals.

The Teacher Training Alumni Association, composed of graduates of the teacher-training department of the School, was organized in February, 1927.

As stated in its constitution, the purpose of the organization was chiefly the promotion of the best interests of the School. During the twenty years of its existence, as the membership has grown, this group has been of inestimable service in promoting the welfare of the pupils by their collective and individual interest in the children and in advancing the interests of the School by their whole-hearted loyalty.

Heretofore the State had tried several plans for remuner ating schools for the deaf for educating its deaf children. This year a definite policy was adopted and has worked satisfactorily. The State pays seventy-five percent of the cost of board and tuition and the school district from which each pupil comes pays the other twenty-five percent.

This year the State enacted a law providing scholarships for the higher education of graduates of accredited schools for the deaf. For eligible students who were not financially able to meet their college expenses a sum not exceeding $500.00 per year was made available. This program has it made it possible for many deserving young people to continue their education.

Mr. Thomas C. Shannahan who had served the School as chief engineer for thirty-six years, died September 16, after a lingering illness. Mr. Shannahan was succeeded by Mr. Howard S. McDonald, one of his assistants who is still, nineteen years later, filling the position most acceptably.

1928 Mr. J. Charles Wilson, president of the Board of Trustees in his ANNUAL REPORT, September 30, 1928, wrote as follows:—

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Many improvements have been made in the physical condition of the plant. A new refrigeration unit has been installed to take the place of wornout ice boxes in the kitchen.

Two additional ranges have been put in the kitchen to increase the facilities for cooking for the increased attendance.

A new local telephone system, the need for which was imperative, has been installed to replace a wornout system which was beyond repair.

A new wire fence has been erected on the rear and west sides of our property. It replaced a worn out wooden fence which could not longer be kept in condition.

We are at the present time completing the in stallation of new boilers to cost approximately $20,000.00. We are also completing necessary re newal of steam lines all of which will add greatly to the comfort of the School family and greatly increase the efficiency of the plant. The greater part of the money re-quired for these improvements was contributed by members of the Board of Trustees.

The School was the scene of a happy gathering of deaf people August 30 - September 3, 1928. It was a joint meeting of the Alumni of the School and The Pennsylvania Society for the Advancement of the Deaf, an organization composed of most of the School’s Alumni and the leading deaf people from other sections of the State. Almost five hundred guests were registered and an excellent program was carried out,—addresses, entertainments, excursions, informal social gatherings and athletic contests. The theme of greatest concern was The Home for the Aged and Infirm Deaf and Deaf-Blind at Torresdale, Philadelphia, originally located at Doylestown. The Home is owned by the deaf people of the State and is maintained by them and their friends for infirm deaf and deaf-blind people who are in need of care. It is a most worthy cause and deserves assistance.

1929 Much needed, two American Laundry Machinery washing machines and two presses were installed in the Laundry this year. The following year another washing machine was added. Eight bedrooms and three bathrooms were built in the third floor of the Main Building, center, to relieve the crowded living conditions of the official family. These rooms were occupied by the assistant matron and members of the teacher training class.

The School has always been fortunate in having on its Board of Trustees men of the finest type, ready at all times to lend a hand where needed, contributing generously of their time and money to advance the interests of the School. One illustration will serve to emphasize the spirit of generosity. Just before Thanksgiving, 1929, Mr. H. Lee Mason, Jr., a member of the Board since 1908, learned that the pupils would not have turkey for their Thanksgiving dinner. He sent 300 pounds of turkey and came to see the children enjoy their dinner on Thanksgiving Day. He also sent enough turkey for dinner at Christmas for those of the children who could not go home for the holidays. Mrs. Mason sent a check for the entertainment of the children remaining at the School. Every year since 1929 Mr. and Mrs. Mason have made these contributions to the School. They have also contributed largely when the purchase of equipment was necessary.

The School recognizes the fact that with their handicap of deafness the pupils must have a preparation superior to that of their hearing competitors or they will lose out in their efforts to secure a chance to make a living. Emphasis is placed on a safe and sane course of instruction in essential subjects avoiding frills and fads. The teachers have kept before them in season and out, the fact that they are teaching girls and boys and not subjects. In all

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. lesson assignments and developments they strive to teach their pupils to think clearly and to ‘’think things through.

One of the most glaring faults to be found in education today is the tendency to allow poor work to pass as ‘’good enough’’. What we need to emphasize most in education is thoroughness,—that ‘’only the best” is “good enough”.

On November 20 a committee, appointed by the governor of the State, met the Board of Trustees in the School library and proposed that the Trustees turn over to the State the ownership of the School. The committee assumed that the Trustees would relish relief from the responsibility of administering the affairs of the School. The proposition was rejected unanimously.

1930 A considerable number of the pupils live in the City of Pittsburgh, and for this reason the teachers have been eligible, since 1920, for scholarships offered by the Henry Clay Frick Educational Commission. These scholarships make it possible for the teachers in turn to attend colleges and universities during the summer vacations. The Commission pays about three fourths of the expense of the teachers. Each year two or more of the School's teachers receive these scholarships and the School profits much from the benefits the teachers derive from these advantages.

The women members of the School’s household staff are eligible for scholarships at the Pennsylvania College for Wo men Social Service Summer School. They are beneficiaries of the Frick Educational Commission, all their expenses being paid by the Commission.

In the industrial department it is impossible during the few years the pupils spend in the study of trades to develop craftsmen and craftswomen. However, there is a steady up ward trend in the quality of work done by the pupils in these classes. With a constant change going on in the industrial world,—machinery displacing many workers, definite readjustments need to be made in the training of deaf girls and boys in order to help them meet the demands of industry. In spite of the fact that it is impossible to give highly specialized training in any of the trades being followed in this section today, by training the pupils in habits of promptness, industry, carefulness and in the use and care of tools, much can be done to lay a good foundation for independence.

The founders of the School were deeply religious men, and the conviction has continued that the highest type of character can be developed only through religious instruction in a religious atmosphere. Every pupil is given careful non-denominational religious instruction.

Everything of a sectarian nature is cautiously avoided. Sectarian religious instruction is provided outside the School for the Catholic, Lutheran, and Jewish pupils by their religious leaders.

1931 In February, 1931, the School’s basketball team under the guidance of Mr. E. H. Davies, the teacher of physical education, entered the Eastern States Schools for the Deaf Annual Basketball Tournament. The tournament was participated in by ten teams at The Pennsylvania School for the Deaf at Mount Airy, Philadelphia. Though it was their first tournament Mr. Davies' team took third place and one member of the team won the prize for sportsmanship. Almost without interruption, until the Second World War, the team entered these contests, held in turn in the different schools. Twice this school acted as host to the tournament,—1933 and 1938. The team took its share of the honors, twice taking first place.

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At the end of the term in June, 1931, Mr. Henry Bardes, teacher of shoe repairing for forty-seven years, resigned, having reached the retirement age of seventy years. Mr. Bardes’ faithfulness and efficient service won for him the gratitude of the authorities of the School and the many young people who came under his influence. After his retirement, Mr. Bardes lived till June 28, 1943.

The installation of modern lighting fixtures was begun in 1931 and was continued for two years until all the buildings except the Laundry had adequate artificial light.

In the fall Mr. John P. Orr, one of the academic teachers, was placed in charge of the Boys’ Industrial Department, in addition to filling the position of assistant to the superintendent. In 1935 Mr. Orr was made principal of the entire Industrial Department.

Within a few years he, with the co-operation of his teachers, raised the standard of the work in that Depart ment to a high degree of efficiency. On November 3, 1941, Mr. Orr was given a year’s leave of absence, due to illness. A year later, because of continued ill health, Mr. Orr resigned, having given to the School a service equalled by very few of its employees during its entire history.

In October 1931, The University of Pittsburgh officially recognized the work of the School’s teacher-training course, granting undergraduate students in our teacher-training department eighteen credits toward a degree for a year’s work as a minor study in ‘’Education of the Deaf’’. This recognition greatly increased the School’s rating in the profession through out The United States.

A modern fire alarm system was installed and fire escapes were installed at the Primary Building this year.

The class in shoe repairing was discontinued in June because the boys who had been taught this work seemed unable to compete with the cheap labor that was being imported from Europe.

The classes in dressmaking were moved from the Main Building to the Girls’ Industrial Building. Another teacher was added to the dress making staff and the scope of the work in that department was much enlarged and improved.

When the buildings were erected, little thought was given to playground space for the older girls. In the summer of 1931 an outdoor basketball and volleyball court was concreted for the Main Building girls between their building and the pupils dining room.

In the same year a $6,200.00 automatic Kelly Press was installed in the printing department to replace the worn-out press used for many years. This improvement enabled the teacher of printing to give his students a vastly better preparation to make their living on graduation.

Four automatic Iron Fireman stokers were installed in the Boiler House, and because of the economy of operation they saved, in three years, the cost of their installation— $8,500.00.

In March of 1931 the teaching of art was introduced as a regular branch of instruction in the School. Art provides every deaf child with a deserved avenue for the expression of his thoughts. Even though artists may not be developed, the ability to draw has much value as a means of expression and it devel ops a keenness of observation and discrimination that can hardly be done by any other activity.

A chapter of a professional fraternity, Mu lota Sigma. was organized by a group of the teachers in May. The purpose of the fraternity was ‘‘to promote pedagogical research, critical thinking, and to elevate the profession of teaching the deaf,— and to promote a spirit of co-

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. operation and fellowship among the members”. Under the direction of its leaders much attention was given to the improvement of the teaching technique of its members. Due to the stress of conditions arising during the Second World War the chapter was abandoned. While the fraternity was alive, it did much to promote the welfare of the pupils of the School.

1932 This year, 1932, a fire escape was added to the large boys’ building, electric clocks were installed in the main office, the Girls’ and Boys’ Industrial Buildings, the Gymnasium, the Infirmary, and in conspicious places throughout the other buildings.

In October the Edgewood Borough officials vacated the dilapidated wooden building on the southwestern corner of the School grounds which they bad occupied since 1902. The Borough offices were moved into a handsome new stone build ing which had just been erected on Race Street at Swissvale Avenue.

The State Conference of Teachers of Exceptional Children was organized in Harrisburg this year. The School was well represented at the organization meeting. During the second year of the existence of the Conference, one of the School’s teachers, Miss Mary Farbaugh, served as its president. At its subsequent annual meetings the teachers attended in large numbers, acting often as chairmen of sectional meetings and taking a prominent part in the programs.

A Hi-Y group was organized among the older boys on October 16. The purpose of the organization is to develop clean minds, clean habits, clean sports, clean speech,—cleaniness of body, mind, and spirit. The group was led by two of the teachers and the program did much for its members during their adolescence.

In November the Boiler House chimney which had been struck by lightning was repaired by experts in that line of work at a cost of $1,000.00.

1933 The sixth Annual Basketball Tournament of the Eastern States Schools for the Deaf was conducted in the School gymnasium, February 24-25. Besides the local team, those participating represented The Pennsylvania School for the Deaf at Mount Airy, Philadelphia, The New Jersey School, The Saint Joseph School, The New York School, The Lexington School (all three in New York City), The Rhode Island School, The Maryland School, The Kendall School (Washington, D. C.), and The Virginia School. The occasion was a happy one in every respect. A fine spirit of sportsmanship prevailed through out the event. The championship went to The Pennsylvania School. The second place was won by the Virginia team, the local team taking third place.

During the latter part of the spring term of 1933 two important surveys which resulted in much benefit were made at the School. Two weeks in May were spent by E. A. Myers and Sons, radioear specialists, in testing the hearing of two hundred and nineteen of the older pupils. An elaborate test was made by both bone conduction and air conduction. A careful graph was made for each ear and an accurate record was made of the results. In so far as is known this was the first survey of its kind ever made with so large a group of children in a school for the deaf. These records provided a better basis than had been previously available for grading pupils and for deciding methods of procedure in their education.

At the Board’s invitation a thorough survey of the Industrial Department was made in May by Dr. E. A. Gruver superintendent of The Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, Mr. A. E. Pope, superintendent of The New Jersey School for the Deaf, and Mr. Fred Boland,

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. supervising director of the vocational schools of the City of Pittsburgh. Each of these men prepared for the Board a report, giving his opinion of improvements that should be made in the Department.

The New Jersey School for the Deaf at West Trentor, entertained an International Congress of Educators of the Deaf, June 17-22, 1933. This School was represented at the Congress by almost half of the teaching staff. An elaborate program of addresses, discussions, class demonstrations and exhibits was carried out. The attendance was unusually large and the program was agreed by those who were present to be most profitable.

After fifty years of service as a teacher of the deaf, Mr. A. U. Downing, one of the School’s academic teachers, retired from active service in June, l933. The first seven years of Mr. Downing’s teaching experience were spent in Ohio. He taught in Edgewood forty-three years and gave unstintedly and faith fully his best,—zealously striving to help his pupils prepare to meet life’s demands. Mr. Downing died January l9, 1941. A portrait of Mr. Downing was presented to the School by his son, Mr. Harold S. Downing.

Because of the importance of printing as a trade for the deaf and to provide instruction to a larger number of boys, an additional teacher of printing was employed this year. The authorities of the School believe girls should be admitted to the classes in printing but limited accommodations have made it necessary to postpone such a program until a future date.

Oxy-acetylene welding was added to the course of in struction offered to the boys in l 933.

Several boys became proficient at welding and later secured employment at this trade. A modern planer and two modern lathes were added to the equipment of the woodworking department.

In October the authorities of the Borough of Edgewood appropriated a strip of the School’s property, forty-five feet wide and two hundred forty-five feet long, adjoining the property of the Edgewood Presbyterian Church on the claim that the Borough needed the land. The School’s Trustees objected to the action. No agreement could be reached and the problem was taken to court. The court decided that the Borough should reimburse the School for the land, the indemnity being set at $5,600.00.

In order to facilitate the teaching of speech, a teacher of ‘‘rhythm’’ was added to the staff, giving to each class in speech special exercises in voice placement and inflection, and in rhythmic dances to piano accompaniment. The results in flexibility and intelligibility of speech were so marked the policy has been continued.

During the summer of l933 greater efficiency in the instruction in printing was made possible by the installation of much needed equipment,—three job presses, a proof press, an imposing table, a stitcher, and a trimmer. These installations put the printing department in the class of modern printing plant.

1934 During January and February the superintendent supervised a survey of the deaf and hard of hearing in the Pittsburgh area for the Federal Government. The survey was conducted under the United States Office of Education for the Civil Works Administration.

This program was a part of a nation-wide sur vey. Its purposes were (1) to locate unemployed deaf and hard of hearing persons, (2) to follow up unemployment records and to determine occupations in which this group could successfully engage, and (3) to discover types of

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. training needed for deaf and hard of hearing students. Certain facts of value in determining the future educational policy of the School were made available by the survey.

In March a 16mm Victor motion picture machine was purchased to take the place of the old 35mm Graphoscope Junior machine which had been used in the entertainment of the pupils for several years. Desirable 35mm films were no longer available.

On June 9 during a severe wind storm the campus lost a historic landmark,—a huge old sycamore tree that stood near Walnut Street just below the Girls’ Industrial Building. Due to the fact that the tree was hollow it was impossible to find out its age but for generations it had attracted the attention of admirers for its height and for the immense spread of its branches. Tree lovers often came for miles to admire its beauty and to photograph it. A spring once flowed from its base, watering its roots abundantly. A weeping willow twig was stuck in the hollow stump left by the tree and the willow has grown to great height.

At the closing exercises in June The Daughters of the American Revolution awarded prizes to the students having made the best records in American history during the year.

These awards stimulated a greater interest in the study of his tory and have been continued annually.

The course in rag rug weaving for mentally retarded girls, begun in 1922, soon outgrew the experimental stage, becoming a definitely profitable part of the educational program. As time passed the use of rags was discontinued.

Regular weaving material was substituted. Bright colors were introduced, creating greater interest on the part of the girls. Believing that the course would benefit the brighter girls, the authorities encouraged them to try it. Soon there were more applicants for a chance to try weaving than could be accommodated. Steadily the popularity of weaving grew and soon it became a part of the regular curriculum for all the older girls. As skill was developed more intricate patterns were introduced and finer materials were used. Some of the girls became so adept at weaving, their parents bought looms for them upon their graduation and the girls made money weaving in their homes and selling their products to their townspeople.

The teaching of mechanical drawing was introduced, and while no draftsmen have been turned out, the elements of drafting have been taught in correlation with instruction in woodwork. The course provided familiarity with drawing in struments, terms, and orthographic projections, producing working drawings.

In September a 2-B audiometer was purchased to provide an accurate and scientific test of the hearing of the pupils. Tests were made annually or as much oftener as was deemed advisable. The record of the hearing loss of each pupil has been kept on file.

On December 11 the superintendent made a radio address over station W.C.A.E. on The Child Handicapped by Deafness. The address follows;—giving, among other facts, a sketchy picture of the education of deaf children as provided in The Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf:— A glimpse of the deaf child before the Christian Era will convince us that no matter how greatly a deaf child is handicapped today, his handicap compares in no degree to that of the child of older times possessing the same handicap.

Spartan law consigned deaf children to the great pit in Taygetus, as use less to the state.

The Athenians put them to death, according to Herodotus, "’without pity, no voice being raised against the monstrous deed.’’

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In Rome they were thrown into the Tiber. Their presence in a family was considered a disgrace and a calamity.

Those who escaped death lived in desolate isolation, were considered a burden and were often subjected to cruelty and neglect.

Today, in spite of their many handicaps, deaf children are educated and enjoy the same privileges as their hearing neighbors.

The deaf child has a defective hearing apparatus, but not defective speech organs, and is not dumb.

The deaf child’s handicaps all arise, then, from his hear ing defect,—his deafness. His handicaps are numerous, but before we consider them let us first look at the different types of deaf children.

First, there is the child born deaf and the child losing his hearing in infancy before he has had a chance to learn to talk or to acquire English, or who becomes deaf after a very limited amount of speech and English have been developed, but who becomes deaf so early in life he forgets both before reaching school age.

Second, we have the child who becomes deaf after the development of speech and after the mastery of English,—the child who perhaps has made considerable progress in the public school before he is overtaken by deafness.

A third type is the hard-of-hearing child whose deafness is not detected until he begins to fail in the public schools.

Each of these types represents problems of various kinds but all have many handicaps in common.

The average citizen thinks of only the first class which he calls "the deaf and dumb'' and to this class he consigns all types of children with hearing defects, supposing his responsibility ends when he thinks of his neighbor's ''deaf and dumb'' child as being sent off somewhere to a "mute school" or to ''a deaf and dumb asylum" where the child learns to talk with his hands.

In reality the child in a residential school for the deaf is in a modern school where he is receiving advantages equal to or perhaps far superior to those enjoyed by his hearing brothers and sisters at home.

Physically this child is getting the best care for the school has an up-todate health program. His food is well selected, well prepared, and served regularly. He has regular hours of sleep and enough of them. He is examined regularly and systematically by the school physician and the school nurse.

The school physician is not a resident officer, usually, but an attending physician, one of the best in the community in which the school is located. He calls daily. The nurse is a graduate nurse of the highest type who lives in the school Infirmary, usually a separate building in the school group, and is on duty at all hours of the day and night. A careful record of the deaf child's physical defects is made, the defects being corrected in so far as possible. The child is weighed carefully each month and a record of his weight is kept from the day he enters school until his graduation. If at any time his weight shows him tco much below par, he is given another physical examination, a tonic is prescribed and he is given a special diet with an extra hour's rest in bed in the middle of the day.

A first-class dental clinic is maintained in the school with an expert dentist in charge. Every child in the school has his teeth put in one hundred percent condition once a year.

A highly trained group of specialists, including a surgeon, one or more otolaryngologists, a pediatrician, and an optometrist are on the staff. Each child's eyes are examined free of charge and when glasses are necessary, they are provided at a nominal cost.

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The child is immunized against small pox, scarlet fever, and diphtheria.

In case he develops a contagious or communicable disease he is placed in isolation in the contagious ward of the school Infirmary and a special nurse is placed in charge under the direction of the school nurse and the attending physician.

The health department includes instruction in health and sex. Spacious playgrounds with excellent equipment as well as well ventilated playrooms are provided. Instruction in physical education in an up-to-date gymnasium is given. Sports of a wide variety are scheduled.

Academically the deaf child receives a tenth grade education or more if he is mentally able to take it. This training includes, in addition to work done in the regular public schools, special instruction in speech and speech-reading.

In other words, oral methods of instruction are pursued except in cases where the child is not able to learn orally. The development of speech in a deaf child who enters school without it is a most difficult task. Fluent, natural speech in such cases is exceedingly rare, but understandable, usable speech, though it may be somewhat monotonous, is a valuable asset to any deaf person. Every reasonable effort is made to develop it. In cases where the development of intelligible speech is not possible, manual methods are used.

(By way of parenthesis let me say that the majority of the deaf people whom you see going along the street manualizing to each other, have been taught orally and possess usable speech. Their talking on their hands simply means they are going the way of least resistance, for it is easier for them to converse in this manner than it is to talk orally and to read each other's lips.

In conversation with hearing strangers they will very probably resort to pad and pencil. At home and among their friends as well as at work many of them use oral speech. In their clubs and religious meetings, which will be discussed later, they use principally manual methods because in large groups speech and speech-reading are not practicable.)

Returning to the problem of the deaf child’s education, please note that in every residential school there are many children who have some residual hearing. The hearing of each child is tested accurately by means of an audiometer. Those children, then, who have usable hearing are given instruction through their ears by means of a multiple amplifying instrument.

This is called auricular or acoustic instruction. In this group may be found children, to be discussed later, who are only slightly hard-of hearing and who should be in the public schools from which they have been excluded because these schools have failed in their responsibility to meet their needs. It is unanimously conceded that a residential school for the deaf whose duty it is to educate the really deaf child is no place for the hard-of-hearing child.

However, these residential schools do the best they can for the slightly deaf child, exercising his hearing, correcting his speech and straightening out his language, eventually returning him to the public schools when possible.

The deaf child is given industrial instruction, receiving training in the fundamental principles of a trade. Beginning at the age of thirteen or fourteen years he joins a class in woodwork, printing, or painting. Following a modified pre-vocational program he is transferred from one department to another until he finds the place he seems to like best.

With the assistance of his parents, the superintendent, the principal, and the teachers, he finally makes a definite choice as to the trade he desires to learn. He puts in from twelve to fiften hours a week at this trade for several years,—as long as he remains in school. In woodwork he studies cabinet making, general repair work, mechanical drawing, upholstery, chair caning,

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. and acetylene welding. In painting he studies house-painting, lettering, furniture finishing, glazing, paper hanging, and plastering. In printing he studies hand composition, linotyping, and press work. To be sure he is not able, in the limited time alloted to industrial work, to master a trade, but he learns what is more important, the value of punctuality, carefulness, obedience, trustworthiness, reliability, and application to duty.

During his later years in school he is allowed the choice of graduating in academic work or in industrial work, spending his entire time at his trade if he prefers to graduate in that department.

In some schools he is taught auto mechanics barbering, baking, and tailoring. Agriculture, dairying, and poultry raising are taught in certain sections.

Since deaf girls usually become home makers, they are given instruction in homemaking, including housekeeping and cooking, and dressmaking. In some schools they are taught beauty culture and commercial subjects.

Art, bookbinding, and weaving are taught to both girls and boys.

The deaf child in most residential schools receives non-denominational religious instruction.

Literary societies, reading clubs, dramatic clubs, athletic associations, Boy Scout and Girl Scout organizations provide extra-curricular activities.

Special attention is given to the social development of the deaf child to enable him to meet easily and to mingle freely with the young people in his family’s circle of friends at home.

The aim of his education is to enable him to take his place beside his hearing brothers and sisters in the industrial world, a self-respecting, Godfearing citizen.

Upon leaving school the deaf person seeks employment at his trade or at a kindred occupation when he can find it, or he seeks more education. If he goes on to school, he gains admission to his local public high school, going on to college for hearing youths in rare instances or he enters Gallaudet College for the deaf in Washington, D. C. A list of things a deaf person can do would be too long to enumerate here.

We find deaf men in almost all the trades. They cannot become stenographers, piano tuners, or telephone operators. They can fill any position where hearing is not necessary. Among the more highly specialized vocations we find them as teachers, editors, photographers, chemists, architects and dentists.

One of the most serious handicaps under which a deaf person labors is the reluctance of employers to give him employment. Employers seem to fear for the safety of the deaf employe when by actual experience it has been ascertained that deaf people are not as liable to accidents as are hearing people, because they have been trained to be on the alert and to sidestep danger.

Adult deaf people have their own social clubs, as well as philanthropic, fraternal, and religious organizations. In Pennsylvania there is a Society for’ the Advancement of the Deaf, which owns and maintains a Home for Aged and Infirm Deaf people at Torresdale, Philadelphia, one of the most worthy institutions in the State. Here deserving old deaf people live in a congenial atmosphere saved from the drab loneliness that many of them would otherwise have to endure in County Homes.

The deaf of America, handicapped by exclusion from the benefits of regular insurance companies, organized in 1902 The National Fraternal Society of the Deaf with headquarters in Chicago. It is owned and managed

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. exclusively by the deaf, providing protection to able bodied deaf men. The Society has met all its obligations and today has assets of almost three million dollars.

In spite of their handicaps the deaf do not beg. Beggars posing as deaf people are impostors and should be jailed and put at hard labor.

The third type of child mentioned above,— the child who is hard-ofhearing. presents one of the most serious educational, social, and economic problems of the age.

President Hoover’s White House Conference Report disclosed the fact that there are over three millions of children in the United States handicapped by deafness in some degree. Of these only about twenty thousands are in res~ular schools or special classes for the deaf. The others, alrnost three millions, are either in the public schools, or should be.

The tragic situation here is that in the vast majority of these cases in the public schools the child does not know he is hard-of-hearing. Even the teacher does not know it. The child does not make satisfactory progress. He is considered inattentive and stupid. He is scolded and is embarrassed. He accepts the teacher’s verdict and considers himself dumb. He becomes morose and reticent and often he becomes a behavior problem. He feels that the whole world is against him, and there are nearly three millions like him in the United States,—one of our most gigantic problems, for when promotion time comes he is not allowed to advance to the next grade. He becomes a repeater,—a great financial burden upon the public school system, eventually dropping out a humiliated failure, becoming an economic liability upon the public. Every large city has its hundreds or its thousands of expensive repeaters, the responsibility for whose failure and blighted lives rests upon the public school authorities. Every smaller community, even each rural school district, has its share of these handicapped pupils.

The remedy is to be found in a two-fold program. The first is a survey of every public school, a test of the hearing of each child being made, such as was made a few years ago in the public schools of the Borough of Munhall, Pa., under the auspices of The Pittsburgh League for the Hard of Hearing.

Why should such a survey not be made in every city, borough, and township in the State and in every state ?

A recent issue of The Journal of Education reported that in one hundred and forty-two cities in The United States provision had been made in the public schools for the special care of their children with sight defects.

At enormous expense these handicapped children have provided for them in special sight saving classes every means for their continued education in the public schools. That is wonderful but more than two and a half millions of hard-of hearing children in our public schools because their defect is not conspicuous, are doomed to drift along under the unjust stigma of being stupid. Their lives become failures unless they are sent to schools for the deaf where they do not belong, until we wake up to the need of doing for the hardof-hearing child the same thing we are doing for the child with sight defects.

After a survey of its deafened children has been made, these handicapped pupils should be arranged in special classes under specially trained teachers who will teach them lip reading and also correct any speech defects they may have. Their classrooms should be equipped with multiple electrical hearing aids and the children’s hearing should be trained by receiving instruction through their ears.

These children should then be allotted to the ear specialists in the community for trea.ment, for if taken in time the hearing of many of these

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. children can be saved and they can be restored to their regular classes where they can pursue their education without these artificial aids. In cities where this plan has been tried the ear specialists have graciously cooperated with the school authorities.

Here it seems imperative that we warn distracted parents of deaf or hard-of-hearing children against airplane stunts and quacks, whether they be religious healers, the sellers of artlficial ear drums, or dealers in ‘’rattlesnake oil.’’ If parents are not able to engage the services of a reputable ear specialist, they should consult the head of the residential school for the deaf in their state and he will gladly render them any assistance in his power free of charge.

We have all hoped that, with the rapid strides being made by the medical profession, deafness would gradually decrease, but we have seen no evidence of a decrease.

In conclusion let me urge upon all parents the importance of the prevention of deafness.—the necessity of treating seriously common colds and other contagious diseases, the most frequent causes of deafness.

1935 In l 935 a group of the teachers, representing the graduates of the teacher-training class, made a donation of $525.00 toward the purchase of a Ford station wagon which cost $739.00, for the use of the School in taking classes on educational and sight seeing tours. Since that date the teachers have made numerous contributions to the equipment of the School. Some of them are a stereoptican and screen, glasses for pupils, a radio for the older boys, a radio for the older girls, two tea sets for the Girls’ Industrial Department, a typewriter for the Primary Department, a motion picture camera and projector attachment, two electric pick-up arms for hearing aids, phonoraph records, basketball tournament tickets for pupils, games for Primary and Intermediate pupils, tools and materials for ‘’hobby hour’’ use, swings for the older girls, incidental expenses for girls’ in the Industrial Department, an opaque projector, a screen and tripod, pictures suitable for the class rooms and sitting rooms. The cost of these items was approximately $1,400.00. The School is deeply indebted to its teachers for these valuable expressions of their genuine interest in the welfare of the pupils.

The Dick test was administered in March to all the pupils who had not had scarlet fever to see whether or not they were susceptible to the disease. Only twenty children showed a positive reaction. These were immunized and none of them had scarlet fever. The testing and immunization were continued from year to year and there has not been a case of scarlet fever among the pupils since the policy was adopted.

This spring a long cherished dream was realized. The older boys in the printing class began spending part time in local commercial print shops. The boys took turns at going to neighborhood printeries for the afternoon, working alongside experienced printers under typical commercial printing conditions. This experience, in addition to their supervised instruction at the School, gave them confidence in themselves as well as familiarity with working conditions to be met on leaving School. This “co-operative plan” has proved thoroughly satisfactory and beneficial.

Miss Junia M. Wall, who had served the School as an academic teacher retired in June after twenty-two years of faithful service.

Mrs. Helen Ehni Smith who had been a teacher in the Girls’ Industrial Department since 1930 was made teacher-in-charge of that department in September because of her outstanding teaching and artisticability. Her skill in winning the confidence and co-operation of the girls and in inspiring them to want to do their best enabled her to raise the quality of their work to a gratifying high standard.

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Soon after the fall term began a class in art metal and simple jewelry was organized for the older girls and boys. The class met in the woodworking classrooms on Monday evenings under the instruction of Mr. Chisholm Garland and Miss Olivia Koenig, both of Edgewood, who worked on a voluntary basis. Keen interest was evidenced in the work by the students, several of whom developed exceptional skill at the art. Some of the boys followed the work after graduation. Some of them be” came jewelry repairmen and some became watch repairmen,— all of them doing well at their trades. All the students profited much in habits of application, carefulness, and perseverance. The work of the class continued without interruption until June, 1943, when war conditions made it necessary to discontinue the class.

1936 On January 19, at the request of the State Department of Public Instruction, the School sent a class of small children to Harrisburg to give demonstrations of class work during the annual Farm Show. Samples of the work of the Vocational Department were placed on exhibition and several thousand pieces of literature were distributed, giving the School much publicity.

On February 5 the School lost by death one of its most faithful employees,—Mr. John Clinton Craig, one of the first graduates, who was School gardener and janitor for nineteen years. Mr. Craig, by his gentle manner and kindly spirit, endeared himself to the pupils and to the other employees. His death occurred at Columbia Hospital in Wilkinsburg as a result of meningitis superinduced by a severe sinus infection.

In the spring an incinerator was installed at the smoke stack outside the kitchen, making possible a sanitary and economical disposal of trash and garbage.

The School was host to The Executive Heads of American Schools for the Deaf in their Seventeenth Regular Conference, April 21-25. (The meeting had been planned for March 1721, but due to an unprecedented flood at that time, it was postponed until April.) Thirty-nine schools were represented at the meeting. The opening session was held in the auditorium the superintendent of the School presiding. The guests were welcomed by Mr. James E. Hindman, representing the Board of Trustees. The address of the evening was delivered by Dr. John C. Bowman, chancellor of The University of Pittsburgh. Following the formal meeting, the superintendent and Mrs. Manning entertained the members of the Conference and other guests in their apartment.

The chief topics discussed at the Conference were Teacher-Training, Research on Problems of the Deaf, Testing and Conservation of Hearing, Proper Placement of Slow Pupils, Character Development Medical Care and Health Programs, and Physical Education The School entertained, at a special dinner at The Penn-Lincoln Hotel in Wilkinsburg, the members of the Conference with the School’s teachers and their families as guests, Judge Sara M. Soffel of Pittsburgh was the guest speaker.

Mrs. Rachel Dawes Davies, after thirteen years with the School as academic principal and teacher-in-charge of the teacher-training department, resigned in June to accept a position with The New Jersey School for the Deaf at West Trenton. By her enthusiasm and unusual ability, Mrs. Davies had helped raise the standard of the work done in the academic department to a high level and in many ways contributed to the advancement of the profession throughout the country. Though Mrs. Davies’ leaving was a severe blow to the School, we were fortunate in securing as her successor a man who was recognized as one of the best authorities in the United States on the education of the deaf,—Mr. Fred C. Numbers, Jr., formerly academic principal at The Michigan School for the Deaf and later

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. occupying the same position at The Louisiana School. Mrs. Numbers joined the staff, a most acceptable and efficient teacher.

During the summer a tunnel was made to the Gymnasium and extensive improvements were made in the heating equipment of that building. A similar tunnel was made to the Primary Building.

The sixtieth anniversary of the opening of the School at Turtle Creek on October 25, 1876, was celebrated at the School, Sunday, September 6, 1936. The exercises were held in the auditorium, a large crowd participating in the celebration. Addresses were made by Mr. G. M. Teegarden, one of the School’s first teachers, Reverend Robert W. Gibson, D.D., pastor of The Third United Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh under whose auspices the School was founded, and Dr. Percival Hall, president of Gallaudet College, Washington, D. C. This celebration was the occasion for a homecoming of a large concourse of alumni and friends who met in reunion at the School from Friday, September 4 to Monday, September 7.

Until October 21, 1936, all vocational classes were in session on Saturday mornings. On this date these classes were discontinued to give the pupils time for their Girl Reserve work, Boy Scout and Hi-Y activities, hobbies or anything that interested them.

The death of Mr. G. M. Teegarden, one of the School’s former teachers, occurred on November 14, 1936, at Columbia Hospital. Mr. Teegarden was one of the first teachers engaged when the school was opened and for virtually fifty years he served faithfully and efficiently in that capacity. He was founder and editor of the school paper, The Western Pennsylvanian.

Mrs. G. M. Teegarden and her daughter, Miss Alice Teegarden, a teacher in The New York School for the Deaf, gave to the School the sum of $250.00 to be known as The George M. Teegarden Memorial Fund. The income was to be used for the establishment of a library of poetry and for prizes to the pupils, producing the best poems each year. To start the library, Mrs. Teegarden and her daughter donated a set of Mr. Teegarden’s published poems.

These books are prized highly for Mr. Teegarden was one of the few deaf men in the country who had the ability to write beautiful poetry.

Writing editorially in The Western Pennsylvanian on December 3, 1936, on the subject of Hearing Aids, the superintendent said, “We believe the use of hearing aids in schools for the deaf has been overemphasized in some quarters. It may have been neglected in others. In our School we are most anxious to avoid both extremes. Every fair minded person must admit that every bit of usable hearing a child has should be preserved and educated. As an educational proposition, the use of both eyes and ears insures a more rapid mental development than would result from the use of the eyes alone. Quickening the sense of hearing even though it be imperfect also gives more nearly perfect speech, and surely one of the things most desired by deaf people is a pleasant tone of voice.’’

Meetings of all teachers were held every month during the school year. The programs varied. Interspersed with programs consisting of discussions of professional problems were inspirational addresses by visiting educators. The meetings were usually followed by informal suppers and a social hour in the superintendent’s apartment, enjoyed by the teachers and the household staff. Good fellowship and a unity of spirit were prevalent on these occasions which were looked forward to eagerly by the members of the school family.

At irregular intervals, when advisable, special meetings were held to study classroom problems, at the call of either the superintendent or the principals.

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The superintendent held frequent meetings with the household and maintenance officers for informal discussions of problems peculiar to the different departments.

1937 Classes in ironing for the older girls were organized in the spring, and as a result the girls were prepared for positions in commercial laundries where a considerable number of them secured employment.

On the evening of May 24 members of the Board of Trustees and their wives attended an informal dinner at the School and attended a special demonstration of academic work of the pupils. They also inspected an exhibit of articles made in the vocational classes.

A fire escape was added to the Girls’ Industrial Building this year. Alterations were made in the fire escapes at the Main Building. Steps were substituted for ladders at certain points.

In the same year extensive improvements were made in renewing the steam and water lines to the Laundry and to the Primary Building. The tunnels to these buildings were enlarged and rebuilt.

The State legislature which adjourned in June enacted laws which materially influenced the history of the education of the deaf in the State. The compulsory school attendance age was raised from sixteen to eighteen years. Every physician, nurse, parent, and guardian were required to report every child known to be deaf or partially deaf, such children to be given treatment and special education. Medical inspectors were required to make audiometric hearing tests in special classes and in special schools at least once each school year. Teachers Colleges were required to provide instruction in the use of audiometers so that teachers would be qualified to test the hearing of public school children. In the State Department of Labor and Industry a Division for the Deaf under the State Rehabilitation Bureau was provided for. For the operation of this Bureau seven districts were set up in the State with a chief in charge of each district to study the ability, aptitudes, and needs of such deaf persons in his district with a view to his future education and employment.

The Bureau of Rehabilitation for the Deaf went into operation at once with a very capable officer in charge of this section of the State. From time to time changes have been made in the local officer but the standard of work clone by the Bureau has been uniformly high. It is in no way connected with the School but the School’s relation with the Bureau has at all times been most cordial. This cooperation has proved benefi cial to many of the former students. Some had left school before they had become adequately prepared for life. These were in urgent need of the assistance the Bureau was prepared to give. These were given training in shops under the sponsorship of the Bureau and finally secured positions where they made good. Even many well prepared in School were unable to find employment because of their deafness. The Bureau lent valuable assistance in overcoming the fear of employers about employing deaf people, helping hundreds to find desirable employment.

The superintendent. asked to prepare an address on the subject of Social and Character Development, presented the following treatise, giving in some detail a number of items on this subject as they are in operation in The Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf.

Recently according to United States Senator Royal S. Copeland from the State of New York, The Manufacturers Record, which is one of the most conservative magazines in The United States, published these statements: ‘’The annual income of The United States is about fifty billion dollars. Our

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. annual crime bill is about thirteen billion dollars,—about one fourth of the nation’s income being spent to pay the cost of crime. This is three times the amount being spent for education, and we go on doing nothing much about it, except ignoring the facts or bemoaning them and paying the bills.”

Today the average age of criminals is twenty-three years. The largest age group is nineteen and the next is eighteen.

Statistics indicate that crime and insanity are on the increase, which proves that we as adults are dumping into the lap of youth a world that is terribly out of joint. Some people harangue about the wickedness of modern youth and holily protest that when we were young, youth was not so hopelessly depraved. Personally I doubt either their veracity or the reliability of their memories. Today youth may be more daring and less secretive than were their parents, but I do not believe that when we were young, we were any better than are ourchildren.

The condition today is deplorable, and I believe we shall have to analyze the situation before we can do much toward remedying it.

Naturally we go to the source of things and put the blame on the home.

The perfect home, some claim, should produce perfect character, regarding character building as the prime responsibility of the home. Others, wishing to fix the blame on somebody but themselves, call the churches bad names.

Others put the blame on the doorstep of the schools, placing on the teacher the responsibility for the manners and morals of their children.

Taking conditions as they are, admitting that the home has fallen down on the job, admitting that the church has lost its hold on youth, shall teachers attempt an alibi, or shall we accept the challenge, study the problem, find out where we have failed, or at least find out what is wrong and do what we canabout it rather than sit back and criticize everybody and every thing and youth in particular?

For one thing I wonder if we have been putting the emphasize in education in the wrong place. Have we been teaching subjects rather than girls and boys? Have we been placing the emphasis on getting rather than on living? Have we been teaching that success in life depends on material things rather than on the development of the spiritual life? Have teachers gone the way of the world and have we lost the vision of our supreme calling, selling our birthright for a mess of pottage by joining labor unions, for instance, and “demanding our rights” ? Have we lost our influence over our pupils who say, “What you do speaks so loud I can’t hear what you say”?

What, then, is the remedy? I would suggest the setting our own individual houses in order by getting back to fundamental principles of Christian living, helping to eliminate from our ranks those who have lost the faith of their fathers, who have nothing to give and who now scoff at religion.

Shall we help to re-establish the American home as the bedrock of our civilization? Shall we change the emphasis in education from the acquisition of facts and the accumulation of wealth as the mark of the educated man to the behavior of the individual child, trying to teach him how to live first and how to make a living second?

These are mere generalities and I must admit that the tendency is to generalize and then stop, letting the situation rest there. But I wish to make a few specific suggestions which, I trust, will be constructive.

In our School we are trying to put first things first. Our whole program is built around the belief that the education most desirable is that which will enable our pupils to stand up under the stress and strain of life now and after they leave school.

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We believe a record should be made of our pupils’ attitudes and habits and that the conventional records of their grades in subjects like mathematics should be abandoned entirely or made secondary. In our School we do not give a grade in any subject studied. We mark our pupils on their habits and attitudes in every classroom. The parents are kept informed and they are asked to consult us about these reports,—especially if they are not satisfactory. We study each report carefully, an earnest effort being made to find out why a pupil’s record is “not satisfactory”, why another “does not co-operate” or “does not accept criticism in good spirit’’, et cetera.

When a child finds a genuine, sincere concern on the part of his teacher, his principal and his superintendent, in most instances, he begins to take the matters seriously himself and responds accordingly.

In our household department we have a form for a report on the out-ofclass record of the children’s habits and attitudes. This report is made several times a year by the assistant matron and her assistants and the counsellors who have charge of the pupils when they are not in class. This gives us a chance to study the habit formation of each child during his free time.

We believe there is as much character development going on during his free time as during his class hours.

We believe in frequent conferences with the parents who often feel helpless but are eager for suggestions as to ways and means of procedure in accomplishing the proper development of their children.

We consider of incalculable value chapel exercises and Bible school instruction of the right sort. Bible school instruction, to be any value, must be personal and defimte, backed by consistent Christian living.

We believe emphatically in the value of extracurricular activities in the development of worthy ideals and in the strengthening of the fibre of real manhood and womanhood. Girl Reserve Groups, Hi-Y Clubs, and Literary Societies all of which we have in our School. To lend a hand in these movements several of our teachers keep intimately in touch, leading but taking direct charge when necessary. These organizations, if wisely used, are marked influences for good.

A feature of our social development program is a birthday party in class for every small child whose birthday comes during the school year. These occasions are fraught with opportunities tor teaching courtesy, cordiality, thoughtfulness, and generosity as well as numerous social graces and sterling qaulities. So popular are these parties that children whose birthdays come during the summer vacation have asked that their birthdays be changed to a date during the school year.

Since the proper use of leisure is soon to become one of the major problems of modern life, we recognize three avenues to the approach of their solution,—play, hobbies, and reading.

A large number of deaf children need to be taught how to play. In addition to the instruction our pupils receive on the playground, in the playrooms, and in the gymnasium, every Friday afternoon in the Primary and Intermediate grades a period is spent playing games in the classrooms, the teachers introducing new games as others are learned. This is one of our most vital social activities.

The last period of every Friday afternoon in the Academic Department is devoted to a “hobby hour” for the older pupils. The proper use of leisure by young people is one of the greatest challenges facing educators today.

We believe it can be met to a large extent by teaching our pupils to select desirable hobbies and how to develop them.

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Reading occupies a prominent place in our program,—not only as a formal educational function but as a recreational and leisure activity. With a Carnegie Library in our School and a sizable income for the purchase of books, our pupils are surrounded with an abundance of the best books. The classroom book shelves are teeming with tempting literature and there are shelves in the living rooms filled with attractive books available at all hours.

Our pupils are encouraged to look upon good books as indispensable to their happiness. Their reading rooms are bountifully supplied with the best magazines. No pupil can ever feel justified in feeling ‘’lonesome”. In the fall, Friday evenings are devoted to parties for the older pupils, the teachers in charge. Just as soon as the pupils are able to assume it, a part or all of the responsibility for the program of games and the serving of refreshments is passed on to them. In a surprisingly short time the pupils are able to plan and carry out the entire program.

Beginning with the daylight saving schedule in the spring, formal physical eduction classes are discontinued for the season. The older girls and boys have informal recreation periods together after supper on the boys’ playground with wholesome results. The teacher of physical education is in charge of the program with the assistance of the counsellors of boys and the housemothers. The children in this way are permitted the enjoyment that hearing children have of playing together under careful, sympathetic supervision.

During the school year almost every teacher has one or more parties in her home for her class. These occassions are rare opportunities for social and character development.

For a short time, once a week the older boys may call on the older girls in the officers’ reception room. This privilege we have found a most satisfactory substitute for clandestine notes and their attendant evils.

We try to bring our older girls and boys together as often as possible in a natural manner. In the dining room our girls and boys sit at the same tables, a large girl and a large boy sitting at the ends of each table, acting as monitors, the younger pupils, a girl and a boy alternately sitting around the table. We consider the effect of this plan very wholesome on the conduct of both girls and boys.

The boys in the graduating class are taught the elements of cooking.

Occasionally they entertain groups of girls at dinner. The girls in the foods classes are allowed to invite groups of boys to dinner. They invite the teachers and officers as well as the other girls to tea parties. Once a week the foods class invites a member of the staff to dinner. On each such occasion the pupils act as hosts and hostesses, the teacher in charge keeping in thebackground.

A “merit system’’ has been adopted for the older pupils. For every twentyeight days that a child has a clean sheet in his out-of-school conduct he gets a half holiday on a school day. This half holiday he may spend as he wishes,— either going to the movies at one of the neighborhood motion picture theatres, going to the woods, roller skating, working at his hobby, reading, or at any other recreation of his choice. This part of our program has been in effect for ten years and we like it better every year, even though we have had to teach new assistants not to use it as a ‘’demerit system”.

For the older pupils we have a program called a “self reliance club’’ which has done much to help the pupils depend on themselves rather than having the household officers remind them of their daily responsibilities. They have

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. more privileges than the other pupils as long as they perform their duties without the necessity of supervision. These privileges are much coveted.

Our philosophy of education, then, includes among others, a few theses in which we believe strongly : 1. Children learn best and develop socially and spiritually only when they are happy.

2. They are going to be most happy only when we individually are interested in them individually.

3. If children are kept happy, there is little necessity for punishment or so-called discipline.

4. One of our greatest responsibilities is teaching our pupils how to use their leisure time.

5. It is much more important for our pupils to have indelibly written on their hearts the cardinal virtues, to know and to practice the Golden Rule, to be good losers, to be good scouts, to learn to live with other people, to take criticism gracefully, to meet their appointments promptly, to be neat in person and in work, than to be able to bound each state, to name the presidents of The United States in their order, and all the kings of England, or to work square root.

6. In teaching our pupils to think and speak kindly of people instead of peddling idle and harmful gossip, we have done much to insure their happiness and success in life.

1938 The erection of a separate diningroom for the pupils in the Primary Department in the summer of 1938 marked a significant milestone in the lives of these children. A gift of the Board of Trustees, this beautiful new building added much to the comfort of the children as it relieved the crowded condition in the large pupils’ dining room. The building was equipped with sturdy oak tables made by the older boys who were justly proud of them, and with glaceful oak chairs upholstered in red Dupont leatherette. The building was first used by the children on January 2, 1939.

During the month of January moving pictures of the pupils were made in their various activities,—household, class health and recreation. These pictures gave a vivid portrayal of the school life of the girls and boys. They were used both for the entertainment of the pupils from time to time and for publicity purposes.

The older girls in the cooking classes, under the direction of their teachers, began in February the operation of a tea room, serving lunch to the teachers and officers at noon on Wednesdays. The girls gained much valuable experience in planning menus, practice as hostesses, check girls, waitresses and cash girls. The program was continued until war condition interrupted it.

The School entertained the eleventh annual Basketbal1 Tournament of

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The Eastern States Schools for the Deaf, February 23-26, 1938. One hundred players, representing ten schools, participated in the event. It was a thrilling experience to witness sixteen hotly contested games in three days. The players were particularly fine specimens of young manhood who had been taught the highest type of sportsmanship,— that ‘the play’s the thing”. The local team won third place.

In April the Board of Trustees granted approval to any employee who so desired to join The Hospital Service Association of Pittsburgh. This membership gave employees the benefit of hospitalization on the payment of dues.

Constantly the Board of Trustees kept in mind the necessity of maintaining up-to-date equipment in all the departments of the School. The most important additions to equipment this year were a modern saw table to replace an antiquated saw in the woodworking department and a group of three shirt ironing presses in the Laundry. With these additions both of these departments were equipped with first-class machinery in every respect.

The one hundred-yard tunnel connecting the Boiler House with the Main Building was much enlarged, accommodatinc the light, power, telephone, and fire alarm system lines, as well as steam, gas, and water lines. A tunnel was run to the. Boys’ Industrial Building, making the engineer s services to that building and to the Gymnasium much more satisfactory. Only the electric light lines on the east side of the campus were not included in those placed in the tunnel.

Since in the average home there is more or less of modern electric equipment and since the average home has a certain amount of plumbing, it seemed wise to give instruction inmple electrical and plumbing maintenance together with other general repairs required in a home. The course was known as Home Mechanics and was open to both girls and boys. It quickly became very popular with the pupils of both sexes and was continued until the Second World War. In the fall the Girl Reserve organization was disbanded and two Girl Scout troops were formed, giving the girls a wider scope of activities than was possible under the former program. Through the years interest in the Girl Scout movement increased and has continued to the present time, helping much in preparing the girls for a well-rounded adult life.

In September a great advancement was made in the educational program when a trained psychologist, Miss Eldora Haskell, was added to the School’s teaching staff. Miss Haskell began her work by taking the School’s course in methods of teaching deaf children. She gave intelligence and hearing tests

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. and did a great deal of coaching of pupils entering from public schools, and others who needed special help in speech reading and in other subjects. Miss Haskell did an outstanding job and was sorely missed when she left in June, 19441 to be married. Because of the demands made by the War and by defense industries no psychologist could be found to fill the vacancy for several years.

This has been called a utilitarian age, more stress being given to making a living than to living a life, with the wholly cultural studies being neglected, emphasis being placed on useful pursuits. “What is an education going to be worth in dollars and cents?’’ seems to be the test when it comes to planning a curriculum. The bread and butter side of life must not be neglected, but unless our young people are taught to appreciate and to enjoy living during the many leisure hours this machine age is providing, life is going to be miserably dull and dreary. Deaf children must be given as much English as possible and a love of books. The School is trying to carry out a balanced program, both cultural and useful.

1939 Mr. Elmer D. Read, a valued teacher in the School for thirty-two years, was unable to resume his duties in September, 1938. Mr. Read died March 2, 1939.

One of the strongest evidences of a good school is the enthusiasm of its teachers in their endeavors for self-improvement. This School is justly proud of the zeal of its teachers in their efforts to improve their skills. At some time during the year a large number of them take university courses, thereby becoming familiar with the latest developments in general educational fields.

During this year one hundred thirty-one university credits were earned by the teachers at a cost of approximate $1750.00.

Schools for the deaf need much publicity because the public has little conception of the work done in them but such schools do little to publicize their programs, lest they seem to make extravagant claims. This School has refrained from newspaper publicity. The superintendent accepts invitations to address Service clubs, women’s clubs, literary societies, parentteacher associations, and public school assemblies, using pupils to demonstrate methods of educating deaf children. Groups of interested persons often visit the School, frequently prompted to come by parents of the pupils or friends.

Frequently nurses-in-training in hospitals in the Pittsburgh area visit the School in classes. Literature about the School is distributed generously. The annual Open House, mentioned in the year 1922, does much good in publicising the work.

For years the Pittsburgh Chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. has been providing the pupils with delightful entertainments, excursions and treats. Their gracious acts of kindness have included all the children,—not only the Jewish children.

1940 In 1923 a Colt autosan electric dishwashing machine was purchased as a more sanitary measure than the use of ordinary dish pans which had been used up to that time. In 1940 it became necessary to replace the old machine with a new one. In January a rebuilt Champion dishwashing machine, more effective in every respect than the one formerly used, was installed.

This year two days were given up to the entertainment of professional visitors. The first group was composed of one hundred-twenty school and public health nurses, under the leadership of Dr. T. Ernest Newland of the State Department of Public Instruction. They spent the entire day of April 26 inspecting the work and studying the School’s program of health preservation. On November 21 with Dr. Newland’s assistance the School entertained a large number of public school executives,—county superintendents and school superintendents. Their time was spent in visitations of classes and general discussions of problems peculiar to the education of deaf children. Both visits gave the School desirable publicity.

Power sewing machine instruction was introduced in the girls’ industrial classes in the spring. All the older girls were taught to use these machines and many of the girls have, on leaving school, been employed as power machine operators.

In July the widening of Swissvale Avenue. in front of the School, was begun by The United States Works Progress Administration. Four months and a half later the space between the front gates, less than four hundred feet, was completed.

In all buildings containing sleeping quarters for officers and pupils an Aero Fire Automatic Alarm System was installed in 1940, giving additional security to the School family. The system was installed by The American District Telegraph Company and connects every bedroom, closet, and corridor of these buildings with the company’s of fice in Pittsburgh and with Edgewood’s fire department. The residential buildings are fire-proof; every building has adequate fire escapes; automatic hand fire extinguishers are conveniently located. With two fire alarm systems and with regular fire drills every month, the family is well prepared in case of fire.

Heretofore fire drills have been conducted during the dav’ only. At this time the authorities decided that, in spite of the strain on the pupils, night fire drills were highly desirable, so that the pupils would be prepared for the

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. emergency in case of fire at night. Beginning on September 30 of this year the fire alarm bells were rung once a month after the children were asleep, and the pupils were led from their sleeping quarters by the resident employees all of whom had specific assignments for the drill.

October 30, 1940, was a red-letter day in the School. On that day Miss Helen Keller and her companion Miss Patty Thompson, visited the School.

The entire Schooi family was assembled in the auditorium to greet Miss Keller who gave the pupils an inspiring address.

The president of the Board, in his Annual Report, commented as follows on the School’s educar.onal policy:— “Emphasis has been placed on 1) the development of personal responsibility, of independent thought and action on the part of the pupils, 2) the desirability of their being able to think straight and to think things through, 3) the recognition by the pupils of their obligation to be appreciative of the privilege of getting an education and their obligation to be loyal to the School as well as to the nation and to God. Cognizant of the fact that we cannot give the pupils instruction in all the lines of industry represented in our section of the State, we have confined our instruction to the fundamental principles of the oasic trades. These mastered, and possessing familiarity with tools and machines, having formed correct work habits and having an appreciation of the value of time, a consciousness of the fact that their best is none too good, and a willingness to begin at the bottom and work their way up slowly, there will be a place for them in industry.”

1941 In March, April, and May the School had an attractive exhibit of photographs of classes at the Buhl Planetarium in Pittsburgh. During the exhibition eight thousand pieces of literature about the work of the School were distributed to visitors from all over western Pennsylvania. Again in February, 1946, a somewhat similar display of photographs and literature was on exhibition at the Planetarium, portraying the School’s activities. Both of these exhibits elicited favorable comment by visitors who probably would never have heard of the School had they not seen the exhibits.

The School sustained a grievous loss in the death of its president, Mr. J. Charles Wilson, July 1, 1941, at his home in Pittsburgh. Mr. Wilson became a member of the Board in 1892. From 1894 to 1909 he was a member of the Executive Committee. During the years 1904- 1909 Mr. Wilson was vice

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. president. On the death of Mr. John B. Jackson in 1908 he was elected president and held that position until his death. Mr. Wilson was devoted to the interests of the School, visiting it often, giving much of his time to careful study of its problems. Few men give as much gratuitous service to worthy causes as Mr. Wilson gave to this School, which many of his friends referred to as “Charley Wilson’s School”.

Mr. Rees T. Scully, chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board, became president at the death of Mr. Wilson. Having been an active member of the Executive Committee since 1933, Mr. Scully was intimately conversant with the affairs of the School when he assumed the duties of the presidency.

In November, 1941, Mr. Christopher G. Smith, one of the vocational teachers became acting principal of the Industrial Department. Because of his health Mr. Smith asked to be relieved in June, 1943, and was out until February, 1945, when he returned to his position as principal.

1942 In February all pupils and the employees who handle food were given tuberculin tests. All who showed a positive reaction were taken to the Tuberculosis Hospital in Pittsburgh where X-Ray photographs were made.

During this year two new Iron Fireman stokers were installed in the Boiler House to replace units which had worn out. The refrigeration system was revamped and an ice making plant was added.

In response to a request by The National Humane Review the superintendent prepared the following report on How Pupils in the School Are Helping to Win the War:— ‘’Our pupils are decidedly war conscious. Many of them have relatives or friends in the service. As practically fifty percent of our pupils have relatives in Italy or in the countries occupied by Germany, our girls and boys are vitally concerned with events as they are reported in the daily papers. Formerly they were in the habit of turning to the sports pages of the newspapers when they first came into the reading rooms. Now they are absorbed in the reports from the war fronts. Maps and giobes in the class rooms are studied avidly each day in a desire to keep informed of war developments. Scores of pupils have their own maps, clipped from newspapers, and made into scrap books. Some of them have magazine map sections issued by the daily press, and they study these maps zealously, watching for new maps. Reports of reverses to our forces depress them. They are constantly asking, ‘’Why is

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. this? “ ‘’Why is that?’’ With the news of the catastrophe at Pearl Harbor our pupils were electrified. ‘’What can we do?’’ they inquired impatiently. “I want to help’’ was heard on all sides.

Seeing the teachers and officers knitting for the Red Cross, the girls who could knit joined them. Many girls learned to knit and are now doing their bit knitting,—proud of their ability to help. Forty-nine boys begged to be taught to knit. A class of girls in the sewing department is busily engaged, doing sewing for the Red Cross.

Every pupil in School is enrolled in the Junior Red Cross. In our three Boy Scout troops nine boys have had merit badges in First Aid for some time. Since our entrance in the War many more Scouts have studied First Aid. At a recent Scout affair eighteen of them passed tests in First Aid. Our Girl Scouts of whom we have two troops are studying the same subject. Our Boy Scouts have participated in the recent nation-wide campaign to secure pledges to buy Defense Bonds and Stamps. They canvassed the community adjacent to the School and secured pledges for the purchase of $28,238.75 worth of Bonds and Stamps.

Our regular course of instruction includes thrift. The pupils have well over a thousand dollars in their savings accounts in one of the savings banks in Pittsburgh, but never before have our pupils been so tnoroughly imbued with the idea of saving. In addition to their enthusiasm over the purchase of Saving Stamps and Bonds, which they were buying with their regular allowances from home, they have begun to learn the meaning of sacrifice.

They gave up movies, ice cream, and lollipops for the sake of the beneRt the government will derive from the extra Stamps and Bonds they can buy.

A considerable number of the pupils are saving their cancelled postage stamps which are being sent to England. There the dye is extracted and used to buy supplies much needed in British hospitals.

Our boys are collecting and baling paper. To date they have collected approximately $50.00 worth of paper and magazines.

The older pupils have prepared for and conducted a carnival for the benefit of the Red Cross under the guidance of a committee of members of Mu lota Sigma, a professional fraternity to which a

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. nurnber of our teachers belong. The pupils planned, organized and conducted the program. They made the posters advertising the carnival, they printed the tickets; they decorated the Gymnasium where the carnival was held, using United States and Red Cross flags; they supervised the games which their guests played; they planned, prepared, and served the refreshments for the occasion.

They netted $1 18.16 at the carnival, and their enthusiasm has prompted them to ask to be allowed to engineer another carnival “to help win the War’’.

Each Sunday an offering is received in our Sunday school. Each child who is able to do so is encouraged to contribute at least a penny to the Sunday school treasury each Sunday. Many give more than a penny. There is a consideIable sum in the treasury and the pupils have applied to The United China Relief Incorporated for the privilege of adopting two Chinese war orphans. Our girls and boys are looking forward eagerly for their certificates entitling them to the right to be called “Esteemed Grandparents.”

Our pupils are much interested in the Red Cross Blood Bank and express a keen desire to “let my blood win the War”. However, very few of them are old enough to qualify as donors.

We believe the patriotism exhibited by the pupils in The Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf can be duplicated in every one of the other eighty-five residential schools for the Deaf in The United States.

In 1942 the School began an Honor Roll which was published three times a year and was copied in the School paper. The Western Pennsylvanian.

The Honor Roll contained the names of all the pupils above the Primary grade level whose work was checked as satisfactory in every subject for the previous semester. Every pupil, regardless of his mentality, can get on the Honor Roll, if he tries hard enough. Some one has said, “It does not really matter materially how much brains you have as it does how well you use the brains you have”. Several of the pupils on the Honor Roll every term are far from brilliant. They get recognition because they do their dead level best.

Mrs. John P. Orr who had been a valuable member of the School family, serving as receptionist and dentist assistant with rare tact and ability since 1926, asked for a leave of absence in the summer of 1941 to take care of her husband, Mr. John P. Orr who, because of ill health, needed her. She resigned in 1942 as did Mr. Orr who was not able to return to his position in the School. During her long connection with the School, Mrs. Orr endeared herself to the pupils and to their parents as well as to her fellowworkers.

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1943 Miss Nellie Burket, after nineteen years of devoted service to the School in several capacities, retired in January, 1943, while serving as assistant matron of large boys.

In June and July resident officers and household help were given pay with their vacations for the first time.

In June Mrs. Nola R. Scott who had served faithfully as assistant matron in charge of the kitchen and dining rooms since the fall of 1924, retired.

For the first time in the history of the School all the pupils were away at Christmas. Those children who had no homes were invited to the homes of other children.

In September, 1943, Mr. Albert C. Esterline, one of the academic teachers and dean of boys, was relieved of his duties as academic teacher and was made supervising teacher of The Boys’ Industrial Department which position he held until, February, 1945, when he returned to his academic classes. Mr. Esterline had not been specially prepared for supervision of vocational work, but in the absence of a principal, he rendered highly appreciated service in co-operation with the teachers and students in their industrial work.

In one of his annual reports to the Trustees, the superintendent commented as follows on the difficult subject of the “Hard of Hearing Child’’:— “The hard of hearing child continues to be one of our greatest problems. We have always contended that a school for deaf children is no place for hard of hearing children if any other provision can be made for them. It is singular that nobody seems to know where the line should be drawn in deciding whether or not a child has little enough hearing to be eligible for admission to a school for the deaf. We have been asked often, “How deaf must a child be to be admitted to your School?’ We believe there is no easy answer to this question. Several conditions, in addition to the degree of deafness, need to be considered in the study of this problem: l. the personality and disposition of the child, 2. the home background, as to whether or not the parents speak English, whether or not they are intelligent and interested in the child’s welfare, 3. the community background, as to whether the other children in the community treat him kindly or whether they persecute him,

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4. the type of public school in his community and the type of teacher he has in the local public school, 5. the type of medical attention, if any, he can get at home, as often the hard of hearing child has suppurating or “running” ears and if he does not get proper medical attention he may become totally deaf, 6. the quality of speech of the hard of hearing child. Often the hard of hearing child has defective speech which cannot be corrected in the public schools. It is generally understood that a hard of hearing child needs instruction in speech reading or “lip reading” which he cannot get in the public schools except in rare instances.

We believe that when it seems advisable to admit a hard of hearing child to a school for the deaf, his admission should be agreed upon only with the distinct understanding that he will be returned to the public school just as soon aspossible.

Incidentally we doubt that more hard of hearing children are admitted to schools for the deaf than were admitted twenty-five or thirty years ago.

At that time aualometers were not m use io exam.ne the hearing of children and records of residual hea,ing were meager.

1944 In February, 1944, equipment for the School’s ear, nose, and throat specialist was installed in the Infirmary, greatly facilitating examination and treatment of the pupils in cases needing such service.

One of the most severe criticisms directed against residential schools for deaf children is that these schools do not provide enough opportunity for the development of a sense of responsibility,—that the pupils are not taught to make important decisions for themselves. A prolonged study of this problem was made by the School authorities. It was felt that the pupils were not prepared for a “student government ‘ program but the opinion prevailed that something should be done to give the girls and boys such responsibilities as they were capable of assuming. It was hoped that as time passed they might develop ability to assume larger responsibilities. It was decided to inaugurate a program of instruction and guidance in student participation in the affairs of the School in so far as their activities were concerned. A Student Council was formed in February. Each of the upper five classes elected a member of its group as a representative on the Council. A committee of teachers was appointed to meet with the student committee. Both committees met separately and jointly. Much hard work was done and much good was

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. accomplished. At each combined meeting the student committee presented recommendations and requests from the student body. Careful consideration was given to each proposition made by the students. If, in the opinion of the whole group, a request seemed reasonable, it was granted. If it seemed impracticable, the leader of the student representatives explained to the student body why the request could not be granted. A similar report was made to the teachers, making it possible for them to explain further to their pupils any item not fully understood. Definite progress was noted in the development of the students on the committee and the student body as a whole received valuable instruction.

Finger-printing of all pupils was begun in March. The records were kept in each pupil’s file in the office. All employees, who so desired, were fingerprinted.

On April 24, 25, and 26, 1944, the School entertained the Conference of Executives of American Schools for the Deaf, just eight years after its first entertainment of this group of educators. Forty-one schools in the United States and three Canadian schools were represented. The program was full and diversified, centering around problems arising from the War. Thirty-three individual desks for the older girls in the Main Building were bought and placed in their living room in August.

Twenty-one portable fire extinguishers were purchased in August and were placed in strategic points throughout the buildings. The number of such extinguishers is now forty-two. They are refilled each year.

This story would not be complete without mention of th’ student monitors.

Each year a group of the most reliable pupils,—usually six of each sex were selected as leaders of the other girls and boys. Having been selected because of their dependability and trustworthiness, they were looked upon by the other pupils with respect. Their chief responsibility was to set a good example. Their leadership was an asset in the administration of the School for they were often entrusted with directing the activities of the younger pupils in their groups,—in their play and in their household duties. At times they were called upon to supervise the other pupils during their meals. There was no monetary compensation for their assistance, but they were given special privileges and on Commencement Day they were recognized publicly and each one was given a book of his own choice. The position of monitor was much coveted.

Extensive improvements were made in the Primary Building during the summer. Three additional bedrooms were built for the housemothers,

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. providing the privacy of a separate bedroom for each housemother.

A bathroom was installed on the third floor of the girls wing of the Main Building for the use of the housemothers in that department.

In 1944 the basement corridor connecting the boys’ wing to the Main Building was converted into a workroom for the smaller boys in that building where they might spend their spare time and engage in any handwork that appealed to them. Except during class hours and meal time the room was seldom vacant from early morning till bed time, the boys being busy there with their hobbies.

In August Miss Lillian R. Tait resigned after twenty-one years of devoted service to the School, first as assistant matron in charge of the kitchen and dining rooms, and later as matron She was responsible for the administration of the entire household, including the dietetics, laundry, and household staff.

Miss Tait was capable and conscientious in the discharge of every obligation.

She exerted a definite Christian influence in the School and her going was much regretted.

Miss Tait was succeeded as matron by Mrs. Esther Barr. Her husband, Mr. J. Oscar Barr, was appointed administrative assistant to the superintendent and assistant counsellor of large boys. Both Mr. and Mrs. Barr had extensive institutional experience before coming to Edgewood and they fitted well into their positions in the School.

1945 For years the older girls and boys were allowed to go out co work during their spare time for neighbors in the community,—Edgewood and Wilkinsburg. Because of the excellent quality of their work, the girls and boys were in constant and persistent demand. In this way they made a considerable sum of money and many friends for themselves and for the School. Because of the danger to the pupils in certain kinds of work and because of the School’s responsibility for the security of the pupils, the Board of Trustees decided to confine the employment of pupils to the employees of the School residing in the community. Each employee was given a list of activities considered dangerous.

Attractive sets of bed room furniture were purchased for all the household help and for all housemothers from funds provided by a bequest of a friend.

In October the United States Veterans Bureau rehabilitation of disabled war veterans at the School.

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Giving one phase of his philosophy of education in an editorial in The Western Pennsylvanian, the superintendent said:— “Often we hear that there is 90 much to teach and we have so little time, there are not enough hours in a day. The inference is that there are so many important facts our pupils do not know.

It is really impossible to teach all the facts we consider desirable, but if we teach our pupils how to think and if we develop in them strong Christian character and with it the ability to live with other people, which experts assure us is far more diHicult than acquiring knowledge and the ability to make a living, we are succeeding. Knowledge is essential,—literature and history (especially the history of our country, the stories of the founding fathers, their sufferings, their sacrifices, their ideals and the price they paid for them), but let us put ideals first. In other words, let us remember we are teaching girls and boys,—not subjects.”

On June 16, 1945, the Execu ive Committee of the Board of Trustees selected Mr. Sam B. Craig, principal of the Kendall School for the Deaf, Washington, D. C., as the next superintendent of the School. At a regular meeting of the Board, June 26, Mr. Craig’s appointment was unanimously approved with the understanding that he was to remain at his Kendall School position until May 31, 1946, and report for duty as assistant superintendent of The Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf the first of June, 1946, assuming the superintendency on November 1, 1946.

Mr. John L. Friend, one of the School’s teachers of printing retired June 30, 1945, because of failing health, after twenty-three years of faithful and efficient service. He retired to his farm in Butler County.

1946 In March a strike by the employees of The Duquesne Light Company which supplies the School with electric light and power caused extreme inconvenience for several days. Alterations made in the Boiler House provided facilities for the continuation of the School’s activities during the emergency.

In April the girls’ industrial ciasses were moved to the first floor of the girls’ wing of the Main Building from their Industrial Building. The move was necessary in order to make the Industrial Building available for improvements and interior decoration.

In 1946 extensive alterations were made in the Infirmary and in the

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Laundry.

On retiring, October 31, 1946, after twenty-five good years as superintendent of the School, I wish to express to the Board of Trustees keen appreciation of their unwavering assistance in directing the affairs of the School. To the teachers, officers, medical staff, household, and maintenance forces (many hundreds of them in a quarter of a century) goes much credit for our success. For their loyalty and co-operation Mrs Manning and I are deeply grateful. And I wish to credit Mrs Manning with much of the success of the work during our quarter of a century. Keeping in mind constantly our responsibility to the 3064 children who have come and gone during our stay here, we rejoice to think of them as happy youngsters under the inspiring guidance of teachers and officers who have been sympathetic and vitally interested in them individually.

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HISTORY 1946 - 1969

Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf

by Harold Mowl, Jr. September, 1973

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Introduction Even though the depression had ended years before, W. P. S. D. was still in a state of “depression� when Dr. Samuel B. Craig became superintendent on November 1, 1946. Funds secured were barely enough to keep the school in operable condition; practically everytning was in need of repair or replacemdnt. The Second World War, which had ended only a year before, also had adverse effect: materials were difficult to obtain, and W. P. S. D. was lacking trained personnel.

Over the years, the student body grew, the professional staff grew, the budget grew, the educational and extracurricular programs improved, and the facilities were expanded and improved.

The student body, which numbered 228 in 1946, broke 300 in 1948, 400 in 1966, 500 in 1968, and upon Dr. Craig’s retirement in 1969, totaled 544.

One hundred six teachers and seventeen aides comprised the professional staff in 1969, as compared to only 40 in 1946, 53 in 1953 and 75 in 1963.

W. P. S. D. was operating on a 1.6 million dollar budget in 1969, against only 0.4 million in 1946, 1.0 million in 1953 and 1.2 million in 1963.

The educational program expanded to include children of nursery school age. The school received accreditation from the Conference of Executives of American Schools for the Deaf in 1965, and the high school program was accredited by the state in 1967. A cooperative program with Churchill Area High School began to be included in the high school program.

Vocational opportunities became diversified to include typing which later developed into business office practice, blueprint reading and drafting and quantity foods management. A cooperative program with the Vocational Rehabilitation Center was established for the non-college bound seniors.

The extracurricular program also took strides: a number of activities were introduced, wrestling and track became major sports for interscholastic competition, and girls began to compete in sports with other schools.

Slowly but surely, extensive remodeling took place. Practically every corner in the existing buildings was touched and made better; the exterior of all buildings underwent a considerable amount of face-lifting; an extensive amount of landscaping work was done; and additions were built to the Main Building and Primary Department.

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Two new buildings, the boys’ gymnasium and the elementary school, were added to the campus. “Aanarde,” the preschool structure, was acquired from Mrs. Allen S. Davison.

Much of above would not have been possible had it not been for the enthusiastic cooperation of the state of Pennsylvania and our Board of Trustees.

An alumnus remarked at a reunion after many years absence, “Is it the same old W. P. S. D. I am visiting?”

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Chronicle of Events Harry Wilson, elected to the Board of Trustees in 1917, died on November 10, 1946. He served on the executive committee from 1919 to 1933.

A group hearing aid was first developed and put to use in a classroom in the Advanced Department during the early months of 1947. Christopher G. Smith, a teacher at W. P. S. D. and an expert in the communications field, undertook the project, investigating the cost and designing a model. The availability of materials and money enabled him to go ahead. When it proved to be a valuable tool in educating deaf children, W. P. S. D. began to acquire group hearing aids for the classrooms. Today practically every classroom is equipped with a type of group hearing aid.

Death claimed Joseph Murdi, an eighteen year old student, on March 6, 1947. Complications which set in while he suffered from an acute sinus condition caused his death.

C. E. Willock, who served as a trustee of the school since 1932, died on September 13, 1947. Allen S. Davison, C. Snowden Richards, William F. Hoffmann and John Gilfillan were elected to fill in the vacancies on the Board.

W. P. S. D. managed only one championship in the Eastern States Schools for the Deaf basketball tournament between 1946 and 1969; this occurred in 1948 at the New Jersey School for the Deaf. W. P. S. D. won games over the Maryland School for the Deaf (57-35), St. Mary’s School for the Deaf (66-40), New York School for the Deaf (48-35) and St. Joseph’s School for the Deaf (68-37!.

Albert Curry served as a trustee on the Board from 1935 until his death on March 11, 1948.

Joseph Horne died on April 2, 1948 after serving on the Board for thirtytwo years, four of which were on the executive committee.

Crafts, Sewing, Weaving and Foods comprised the Gir}s’ Vocational program until the introduction of a typing course in April, 1948. Ten new Royal typewriters were purchased.

The Girls’ Homemaking Department was moved to the former superintendent’s apartment on the second floor of the Main Building. The former home economics building was converted into a home for the

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Updating of the printing shop took place in April, 1948. A new Challenge paper cutter replaced the obsolete model there; a linotype machine was transported from Brooklyn, New York.

Second place honors were won by the 1949 basketball team at the Eastern States Schools for the Deaf tournament.

The Main Dining Room was decorated in 1949. The whole room was painted, slip covers were added to all chairs and the wornout window curtains were replaced by beautifully decorated wooden frames.

An epidemic of measles, chicken pox and mumps hit the school in March, 1949. There were 20 cases of chicken pox, 17 cases of measles and 11 cases of mumps which required 355 days of hospitalization and the employment of three additional nurses.

John C. Hill resigned from the Board of Trustees after twenty years of service.

Dr. Kenneth M. Day, an eminent otologist at the Pittsburgh Eye and Ear Hospital, was elected to serve the Board on September 27, 1949.

When Mr. Joseph G. Horne was elected to serve on the Board in 1949, he became the third member of his family to serve W. P. S. D., Durbin Horne having served from 1894 to 1916 and Joseph Horne from 1916 to 1948. The present Mr. Horne served as a member of the executive committee from 1955 to 1966 and as the secretary from 1959 to 1966. He is still associated with the Board.

The garden area, situated along Hawthorne Street, was graded and converted into much-needed playgrounds. A sofiball diamond for the girls and a standard-sized football field encircled by an one-fifth mile running track for the boys were constructed. The resulting slopes were planted with 6,020 honeysuckle vines. Work on these playgrounds began in September, 1949; they were ready for full use during the fall of 1950.

The service drive that crossed the playground between the Infirmary and the Swissvale Avenue boundary line was removed; the area was seeded so that all of that portion of the campus facing Swissvale Avenue would be in lawn and used as a playground. A new service drive was installed at the edge of the property parallel to Maple Avenue to join the old drive at the Boiler House.

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The heating plant converted from the use of coal to gas. This made possible the removal of the coal conveyor, filling up of a large pit and the development of a parking space behind the Boiler House.

W. P. S. D. hosted the Eastern States Schools for the Deaf basketball tournament in 1950. After hard competition by fourteen schools for the deaf, the New York School for the Deaf emerged as champions; W. P. S. D. placed fourth.

Samuel A. Taylor, elected to the Board in 1936, was a member of the executive committee from 1941 until his death on August 20, 1950.

H. Lee Mason, Jr. died on September 7, 1950 after serving on the Board for forty-two years.

Lloyd W. Smith died on September 28, 1950. He was elected to the Board in 1913 and served as the secretary from 1913 to 1923 and as the treasurer from 1923 to 1945.

Roscoe Seybold resigned after serving four years. His resignation was due to his business activities which kept him away from Pittsburgh.

Hugh C. Boyle, John F. Frazer, Jr. and Richard D. Edwards were elected to serve on the Board of Trustees on March 27, 1951.

A most unfortunate accident happened on the campus on June 5, 1951. A student, John DeLong, fell through a third floor window, breaking three vertebrae in his back and a bone in his arm. Miraculously, he survived this fall. He wore a cast most of the summer but recovered fully in time for the next school term.

Miss Eva Hench, school secretary for thirty-nine years, retired on June 8,1951. She was honored at a dinner party at the College Club in Oakland given by the Board of Trustees and Teachers’ Association.

The porches on the girls’ side and boys’ side were torn down, the old service elevators were removed, and new- fire resistant stairways were installed and completed during the summer of 19.51. New toilet facilities were installed, on each floor, in areas formerly used for elevator shafts and stairs.

The garden tool shed was transformed into an attractive campus cottage for Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Barnes.

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The old gravity water supply system, in use since 1901, was replaced late in 1951 with one furnishing a constantly high pressure and insuring an ample supply of water at all levels in all buildings.

Robert M. Fisher was elected as a trustee on September 25, 1951.

On January 19,1952, Dr. J. C. Burt passed away. Son of W. N. Burt who was the superintendent of W. P. S. D. from 1889 to 1921, he served on the Board since l914.

A group of teachers, headed by Lower Primary Supervising Teacher Marian Quick, met to discuss general topics of educating deaf children and then set themselves to be familiar with the non-oral reading method introduced by James E. McDade. Mr. McDade advocated a two year postponement of oral reading to insure the development of silent reading skills. This concept was implemented into the reading curriculum for young children. Success was evident in reading tests; students became more enthusiastic and did a lot more independent reading. In Miss Quick’s decision to continue employment of the non-oral reading method, she commented, “We do not consider non-oral reading a panacea, but we have seen that it can be used to make beginning reading a stimulating and successful experience for young deaf children.”

Summer of 1952 saw the construction of four double garages, three behind the Boiler House and one near the superintendent’s residence.

Mr. Fred Numbers, academic principal for seventeen years, retired in June, 1953. The duties formerly assigned to Mr. Numbers were divided between Marian Quick and Christopher Smith.

Miss Quick became the supervising principal and was responsible for the school program from the Upper Primary through the Advanced departments.

Mr. Smith, the administrative principal, was responsible for the vocational departments and coordination of activities in various departments.

Miss Rosemary Burke succeeded Miss Quick as the supervising teacher of the Nursery School and Lower Primary department.

Maitland A. Wilson, a trustee since 1937, and Samuel McKim, a trustee since 1938, retired in 1953. John H. Henshaw, John A. Hutcheson, Harold E. Meyer and George McKee Blair were appointed to serve on the Board of Trustees.

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Martin N. Ballard was actively associated with the Board from 1923 until his death on September 20, 1953. He served as the secretary from 1923 until 1949 when failing eyesight caused him to give up that position.

Dedication took place on November 23, 1953 for a long-needed student library. The new library was located in the front part of the Main Building in the Intermediate and Advanced Department; it was decorated with dark oak bodkeases and limed oak tables and chairs.

Marian Quick, supervising principal, received a letter from Pennsylvania Governor John S. Fine, expressing his deep satisfaction for a much needed facility.

The library since then has moved to occupy the first floor of the addition between the Main Building and Boys’ Side. It has several thousand volumes.

On the boys’ side and girls’ side, the classrooms were moved down from the second floor to the first floor. The second floor on both wings became dormitories. The ground floors were changed into recreation areas. The changes on the boys’ side took place during the summer of 1953; on the girls’ side, the summer of 1954.

Miss Edna Krieg, head housemother in the Primary since 1930, retired on September 1, 1954. In addition to her regular duties, she was the “mother” of the twenty-four groups of beginning pupils.

Death claimed Allen S. Davison on December 2, 1954. He served on the Board from 1929 to 1937 and again from 1947 until the time of his death.

A charter was issued for the fourth Boy Scout troop in January, 1955, with Richard Jones serving as its first scoutmaster. This troop (No. 19) joined three other troops ( Nos. 20, 24 and 32) at W. P. S. D. The explorer post 20 was chartered also in 1955 with Mr. Harvey Barnes as its advisor. In 1958, John Stanton assumed leadership of this group.

Paul Gum was accoladed with the Eagle Scout honor at the Alumni Reunion held during the first week of September, 1955. He joined John Stanton, William Steele, Edward Rothman, Jay Shrock, James Michael and Ralph Cornell as Eagle Scouts produced by W. P. S. D. The basketball team which accumulated 16 victories against only 5

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. defeats in 1955 played hosts to the Eastern States Schools for the Deaf tournament. The tournament was won by the St. Mary’s School for the Deaf, and W. P. S. D. placed second.

William N. Dambach died on May 5, 1955. He was elected to the Board in 1935 and served as the chairman of the executive committee from 1936 until his death.

Face-lifting of the whole Primary Department was done during the summer of 1955. The open central stairway was removed and replaced by two fire resistant stairways, one at each end of the building. A new extension was added to each end of the building, providing for additional dressing rooms, classrooms and matrons’ bedrooms.

Toilet rooms were installed on the first floor, and the classrooms were rearranged for more efficient operation.

The biggest change took place on the bedroom flcor. Three bedrooms for housemothers were built at each end of the building. An office for the night matron was placed in the center of the floor. The dormitory space where the children sleep was arranged in cubicles.

All new wiring and lighting, new plumbing and new heating units were installed during this period. Painting and moving in of new furniture were done one week after school opened, during which period classes for primary children were held in the gymnasium and other available places.

William F. Hoffman, a professional contractor who personally supervised most of the building improvements at W. P. S. D. since Dr. Craig became superintendent, died on September 27, 1955. He served as a trustee in 1947 and as a member of the executive committee from 1948 until his death.

George Roth Craig, Spencer R. Hackett and William Stirling were appointed to the Board of Trustees.

On October 8, 1955, W. P. S. D. was fortunate in acquiring “Aanarde” from Mrs. Allen S. Davison, widow of Allen S. Davison, who served on the Board of Trustees. The property includes a residence, a garage and approximately an acre of beautifully landscaped lawn at the intersection of Walnut and Hawthorne streets. Built in 1914 and remodeled in 1928, the building is of tile, stucco and steel construction and has 26 rooms on the first, second and third floors. The name “Aanarde” is derived from the first names of the members of the Davison family.

After some alternations, this addition was ready to house and provide

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. educational and recreational facilities to about thirty-five resident children of nursery age in the fall of 1956.

Headed by Coach Richard Jones, the W. P. S. D. soccer teams between 1953 and 1956 registered 30 wins against only 3 defeats, two of which were against the University of Pittsburgh teams.

Basketball continued to be strong— the 1955-1956 team managed 17 victories while losing only 4.

Miss Marie Gildea, a teacher, and Mr. Howard McDonald, Chief Engineer, retired in June, 1956 after putting in a combined 70 years of service.

The 1956 Commencement Exercises saw Joseph Iacobucci, Michael Dorrell and Barron Gulak receive the Eaple Scout awards.

It was determined by major educators of the deaf in 1957 that the three major factors responsible for the modern approach to the problems of impaired hearing were: the widespread use of electronic hearing aids; the develop ment of preschool education and parent orientation; and the expanded facilities for different diagnosis. The five-phase educational program at W. P. S. D. utilized this modern approach.

The preschool department encouraged use of the multisensory approach in instruction and socialized play for development of language concepts.

Continuing emphasis on oral communication skills in the kindergarten and primary years enabled the programs to widen and include reading readiness activities and introduction of reading, writing and number work.

Formal introduction to textbooks in social studies, science, arithmetic, reading and language began in the elementary department.

The intermediate department allowed expansion of subject matter and increased demands for written and spoken language skills. It was in this period of education when vocational opportunities were first offered.

The pupils became increasingly aware of the need for concentrated study in order to fully accomplish the aims which they have established for themselves when they entered the advanced department. Some prepare for college work while others prepare to enter the labor market.

Space was made available in the Laundry Building in 1957 for business office practice. This course was arranged on a three year basis with a total of

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. about 600 hours of instruction designed to develop skills on a typewriter, adding machine and printing calculator. Clerical work and filing were also included in this course of study.

Curved Bars, the highest honor in Girl Scouts, were presented to the following girls on June 9, 1957: Phyllis Conti, Carol Daberko, Eleanor Cutshall, Norma DePaolo, Shirley Deuel, Marilyn Jezerski, Zada Hockman, Joan Lebda, Elsie McCue, Deanna Miceli, Georgetta Oravec, Patty Thomas and Virginia Torrance.

Mrs. John Stanton, Director of all Girl Scout Activities at W. P. S. D., received the highest honor presented by the National Headquarters on June 9, 1957.

Miss Elizabeth Key, crafts and handwork instructor for 31 years, retired in June, 1957.

The boys’ industrial building was remodeled during the summer of 1957.

The inside stairs were torn out, and a new stair tower was built on the front of the building.

Henry D. James died on August 21, 1957. He was a member of the Board since 1932 and served on the executive committee for 14 years.

William D. Stirling, appointed only two years before, died on September 7, 1957. He was on the executive committee at the time of his death.

The vacancies on the executive committee, created by the deaths of Mr. James and Mr. Stirling, were filled in by George McK. Blair and Harold E. Meyer. Francis B. Nimick, Jr. was elected to the Board.

A flu-like infection started among W. P. S. D. students on Saturday, October 5, 1957. By Sunday noon the infection swept throughout the school.

The infirmary was filled to capacity; dormitories were converted into sick wards; and additional nurses were called in. On Wednesday, all classes were closed down, and most of the students were sent home. School reopened the following Monday, but only a fraction of the teachers and students were present.

Harry Schwarz, an eight-year old pupil, fell victim to the infection and died only a few hours later on Sunday, October 7th despite efforts by the school infirmary and Children’s Hospital to save his life.

Charles Hiney and Harry McWee joined the ranks of Eagle Scouts during

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Mr. John R. McCune, Jr. succeeded Mr. Rees T. Scully as the president of the Board of Trustees on June 17, 1958 when Mr. Scully asked to be relieved of the responsibility. Mr. Scully had been president since 1941.

Mr. McCune began his association with the Board in 1923, having served as a trustee on the executive committee, as the vice-president from 1927 until he was tapped for president. He is the third member of his family to serve on the Board; John R. McCune as a charter member and John R. McCune, Jr. who served from 1897 until 1923 preceded him.

E. Bruce Hill, a member of the Board since 1926, passed away on October 27, 1958.

John Henshaw, elected in 1953, resigned in 1959 because he moved away from Pittsburgh.

Miss Dorothy Rung retired on January 5, 1959 after serving as a nurse and the director of the school Infirmary since September, 1931. For many years before the Infirmary staff expanded, Miss Rung and only one assistant made up the whole Infirmary staff.

Thirty-six boys, coached by John Barner, joined the first wrestling team in 1959 to participate in meets on the junior varsity and freshman levels and lost all of them. W. P. S. D. was invited to wrestle in the Eastern States Schools for the Deaf tournament and came out with fourth place honors. It was not long before W. P. S. D. began to wrestle only on the varsity and junior varsity levels.

A drafting and blueprinting course was added to the Boys’ Vocational program in 1959. The course consisted of fundamentals, orthographic projection, development of techniques, blueprint reading, sheetmetal drafting, reproduction and graphic representation. The classes met twice a week.

Another tragedy occurred on October 29, 1959. An eight year old student, Jay Scott Smith, was found dead in his bed when a houseparent attempted to awaken him.

His death was attributed to acute encephalitis.

Eight times during who best fulfilled the development necessary

the 1959-1960 mental, moral, to becoming

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students physical adults

Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. were focused upon as the “Stars of the Month.” Each winner received a pin, a wallet card and publicity in the Western Pennsylvanian and in his hometown newspaper.

The school was saddened on June 6, 1960 by the of Dr. A. C. Manning, superintendent from 1921 to He died as a result of burns received at his home.

Frank DelRosso and Eagle Scouts on June 9, 1960.

Durbin

Dixon

were

honored

death 1946. as

Robert M. Fisher resigned as a member of the Board of Trustees on June 21, 1960 due to poor health. Frederick W. Okie was elected to the Board in March, and Rohert Rundle was appointed in September.

The third floor of the girls’ side was renovated during the summer of 1960. Two large bedrooms were divided into twelve smaller ones, each accommodating from two to six girls.

Each bedroom was painted in attractive colors and decorated with new furniture and curtains.

Two lounge arcas were prepared and decorated accordingly.

Adolph Binotto, head supervisor in the Boys’ Dormitory, died suddenly the evening of January 11, 1961. Mr. Binotto was a pupil at W. P. S. D. from 1910 to 1922. He returned for a year of postgraduate work and then accepted the position of boys’ supervisor. In all he spent over fifty years at the school. Surviving him was his wife, Anna, who has been a housemother for a long time.

Four members of the Girl Scouts received the highest honor, the Curved Bar, on June 4, 1961. Linda Lou Smith, Joan Hiney, Joyce Thayer and Carol Crawford were the recipients of this award.

Mr. John Mackin retired in June, 1961 after 34 years of service as a painting instructor and a basketball coach.

The school was touched by the loss of Rees T. Scully who died on August 8, 1961. He served as a trustee beginning in 1928, as a member of the executive committee beginning in 1933 and as the president from 1941 to 1958.

Albert H. Burchfield III was appointed in 1961 to serve as a trustee.

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W. P. S. D. again hosted the Eastern States Schools for the Deaf basketball tournament in 1962. Thi,s one saw W. P. S. D. participate in a heart-breaking defeat in the opening round to the American School for the Deaf who lost the championship to the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf. W. P. S. D. failed to win the consolation champion honors as they lost to St. Mary’s School for the Deaf by one point.

Marian Quick, who had been with W. P. S. D. since 1950 as a supervising teacher and then as the supervising principal, resigned to take a post with the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf in Philadelphia. Mr. William Walker was named to succeed Miss Quick.

An addition was built in the court between the Main Building and the boys’ side during 1961-1962. This provided an extra 600 square feet on each of the four floors. When completed, there were additional dressing rooms for the boys on the ground floor, a library on the first, two classrooms on the second and two dormitory rooms on the third.

Extensive remodeling took place on the third floor of boys’ side during the summer of 1962. The two large bedrooms were divided into eight smaller ones and two houseparents’ bedrooms. The work done was similiar to what was done on the girls’ side during the summer of 1960.

The Student Council, a student organization to help the students learn the parliamentary procedure and understand how a government operates, wa s established in 1962 as part of the extracurricular program.

Bernard Teitelbaum was honored at a dinner held by the Teachers’ Association on October 8, 1962 when he retired after 38 years teaching. He was also active in the Boy Scout program at W. P. S. D. James E. Hindman, a trustee since 1928, died on November 11, 1962.

Frederick W. Okie resigned after serving on the Board for three years.

Charles Lockhart died January 21, 1963. He served as a trustee for twenty-five years. Jack E. McGregor, John C. Campbell, C. Holmes Wolfe, Thomas P. Eddy and Edward A. Brown were elected to serve as trustees during 1963.

Rodney Danco and Dale Ford became Eagle Scouts on March 24, 1963.

These fellows brought the total of Eagle Scouts produced by W. P. S. D. up to 16.

Track was introduced as a major interscholastic spor in the spring of 1963. W. P. S. D. participated in only two meets and lost both.

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An addition was built in the court between the Main Building and the girls’ side during the summer of 1963. This provided room for auditory testing and an observation classroom on the ground floor, four regular classrooms on the first and second floors and a three-room apartment on the third floor.

A formal groundbreaking ceremony for a new gymnasium took place on May 7, 1963. The new gymnasium was erected on a site between the Boiler House and the Athletic Field near the boundary fence which separates Edgewood High School from W. P. S. D. It contains a High School from W. P. S. D. It contains a 97’x75' main floor, two 50’x25' exercise rooms and several rooms and offices at the northern end. It was completed in the fall of 1964 and used for the boys’ physical education program; the old gymnasium was maintained for use by the girls.

The extracurricular program for the boys expanded in September, 1963 to include an organization called the Varsity Letter Club. This club, comprised exclusively of varsity letter winners, have held fund-raising projects in order to provide jackets for the members, sponsor parties and carnivals for the student body and furnish athletic equipment to the school.

Raymond E. Jordan was elected a member of the Board on March 24, 1964.

Skipper Lewis and Jack Otterman were honored as Eagle Scouts in March, 1964.

A foreign language was offered for the first time in the school’s history to a class of seven students. The students learned the Spanish language.

One of the classrooms was converted into a laboratory-classroom during the fall of 1964, and equipment was purchased so that chemistry could be taught as part of the curriculum in the Advanced Department.

An extracurricular organization for the girls was organized in January, 1965. The purposes of this new club. the Girls’ Athletic Association, were similar to the purposes of the Varsity Letter Club for the boys.

The 1965 basketball team lost to the Kendall School for the Deaf by one point in the final round and placed second in the Eastern States Schools for the Deaf tournament. This was the best showing since 1955, when the team finished second.

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Ground was broken on May 21, 1965 for a new, rectangular elementary school building located parallel to the fence facing the Edgewood High School and the Edgewood Presbyterian Church. It was equipped with dormitories, living quarters for the household staff, classrooms, kitchen, dining room and recreation areas to accommodate eighty pupils between eight and twelve years old and was ready for occupancy in September, 1966.

Mrs. Cody Borrell, Mrs. Helen Nelson and Mrs. Harriet Short retired in June, 1965. Mrs. Borrell had been a teacher for thirty-three years; Mrs. Nelson and Mrs. Short, for eighteen years apiece.

Academic Principal William Walker resigned in June, l965 to accept the position of supervising principal of classes for the hearing handicapped in the Cincinnati, Ohio schools.

Jack W. Birch was elected to the Board of Trustees after Edward A. Brown resigned because he moved away from Pittsburgh.

June 21, 1965 was a red-letter date. W. P. S. D. finally became accredited by the Conference of Executives of American Schools for the Deaf (CEASD), having met all of their standards for quality education.

After taking competitive examinations in September, 1965, seven members of the Class of 1965 received high school diplomas issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Instruction. Five members of the Class of 1966 and a member of the 1963 graduating class followed suit and received their diplomas in June, 1966.

A driver education course was introduced to the W. P. S. D. curriculum of study during January, 1966. The course consisted of 30 hours classroom instruction and 6 hours behind-the-wheel experience, satisfying the standards set by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Throughthe courtesy of Three Rivers Ford of Wilkinsburg, Pa., a 1966 Ford Galaxie 500 was provided for the program. Since then, over 100 students have been enrolled in this course and made safe drivers.

Ever since its conception, wrestling continued to stand out as a major sport at W. P. S. D. On January 29, 1966, the matmen defeated Serra Catholic of McKeesport, 36-34, for the first wrestling victory in the school’s history.

Misses Hannah and Phoebe Oehler retired in June, 1966. Hannah Oehler came to W. P. S. D. in 1922, was a clasroom instructor, a supervising teacher

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. of the primary department and a speech and language teacher while Phoebe Oehler was a classroom teacher since 1922.

A preschool orientation for deaf children and their parents started during the summer of 1966 and has become an annual affair. This has enabled the parents to learn and understand the purposes and functions of special education for their children.

Mr. Herbert Barkuloo was appointed Academic Principal in September, 1966. Formerly a principal of the high school department at the Oregon School for the Deaf, he replaced William Walker who resigned in June, 1965.

W. P. S. D. was awarded state accreditation for its high school program on January 31, 1967. For four years after Superintendent Sam Craig gave his go-ahead signal. Mrs. Ada Smith, supervising teacher of the Advanced Department, and her teachers worked tirelessly, developing the course of study and meeting with officials from the State Bureau of Education. Being accredited made it possible for W. P. S. D. to award certified high school diplomas.

The letter of authorization sent to superintendent Craig read, “The Department staff has completed a review of your high school program. The program meets all of the requirements of school law and the State Board of Education for issuing a high school diploma. Approval is given for you to award a diploma to students who complete your program.”

The physical education program was expanded in 1967 to include primary children. The young children have been enjoying one hour per week participating in the extracurricular program.

Textbooks were put aside during the spring of 1967 for the 125 multiply handicapped students at W. P. S. D. A flexible curriculum was developed, all education centering around frequent, meaningful and widening experiences.

An audiology department was established in 1967 in order to have each student’s hearing checked periodically; if a child had an hearing aid, it was evaluated to see if it was providing him with the kind of amplification most beneficial to him.

An institute for training houseparents was made possible in 1967 by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The houseparents’ institute was set up to cover a broad range of subjects of interest and value to people responsible for residential care of children at W. P. S. D. Mrs. Lessie Chamberlain, Mrs. Lillian Edge and Mrs. Margaret Stanton

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. retired in June, 1967. Mrs. Chamberlain was a girls’ counselor, dean of girls and a teacher for 14 years. Mrs. Edge came to the school in 1930 and retired as a librarian. Mrs. Stanton began her association with W. P. S. D. in 1927; she was a teacher and director of all Girl Scout activities.

Enrichment and acceleration courses were offered to students from grades 7 through 12 during the summers of 1966 and 1967. The programs, made possible by a federal act, provided for educational experiences through a Social Studies program rather than intense concentration on reading, language and mathematics. The students went on field trips to Ohiopyle, Fort Necessity, Fallingwater, Wilkinsburg Water Filtration Plant, a bread plant and glass factory.

A part of the 1967 summer school program saw six players from the Pittsburgh Phantoms (a professional soccer team that has since disbanded) holding clinics with W. P. S. D. boys. Phantom Coach Gruber remarked in July 15, 1967 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “It was amazing to see the young players work with our hints.

They followed the instructions to the letter and showed us they can move the ball very well.”

An in-school program for W. P. S. D. seniors at the Vocational Rehabilitation Center in downtown Pittsburgh with cooperat~on from the Pennsylvania Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation began in the fall of 1967.

The non-college bound seniors spend part of each day at V. R. C. so that their vocational potentials can be assessed, and they can participate in periods of work adjustments.

Mary Krulick, a kitchen staff member who saw her three children grow up and graduate from W. P. S. D., retired on September 30, 1967 after 31 years of service.

Interscholastic competition by W. P. S. D. girls was virtually unknown until the 1967-1968 school year when the girls finally had the opportunity to compete in volleyball, basketball and softball.

The school was saddened by the death of Mr. James O. Barr on April 13, 1968. He was an assistant counselor of boys in 1944 and the assistant to the superintendent from 1945 until his retirement in 1967. His wife, Esther, continued to be the Matron at the school.

Miss Theresa Rolshouse, on the staff since 1926, Mr. John Stanton, since 1930, Mr. Christopher Smith and Mr. Milford Holliday, both since 1935, retired in June, 1968. Mr. Howard McElroy retired on September 30, 1968

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. after many years on the maintenance crew.

Construction began on the Aanarde annex in June, 1968, and it was completed for use on September 24, 1968. The annex, made necessary by the rubella epidemic four years before, provided room for an extra twenty children of nursery school age.

Dr. Kenneth M. Day died on September 9, 1968 after serving on the Board since 1949.

Since September 1968, students have had the unique opportunity to leave W. P. S. D. at noon, eat lunch at Churchill Area High School and then attend classes there.

The purpose of this program was threefold: to supplement the secondary education of college bound students; to enable deaf students to elect courses and socialize with their hearing peers; and to give the students an opportunity to experience a complicated and competitive environment similar to what they might expect if they were to continue their education in a hearing college or technical school.

In 1968 and 1969 W. P. S. D. hosted an invitational wrestling tournament with American School for the Deaf, Kentucky School for the Deaf, New York School for the Deaf, Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, Western Pennsylvania School for the Blind and W. P. S. D. competing. The Pennsylvania School won the championship in 1968 but failed to repeat in 1969 when W. P. S. D. unseated P. S. D. in what is reputed to be the most exciting tournament in the history of the school.

The sport of track saw each year’s team fare a little better than the previous year’s team. Soon a dynasty was to be seen. The 1968 and 1969 track teams brought home championship trophies from the Eastern States Schools for the Deaf Invitational track tournaments held at Gallaudet College.

During the spring of 1969, the one-fifth mile running turf on the Athletic Field was bounded and covered with cinder. Parts of the far ends of the fields were covered with asphalt for miscellaneous field events in the sport of track.

A new course was added to the Vocational Department in the fall of 1969 where students learn to be acquainted with quantity foods equipment and its use while maintaining high standards of sanitation and safety. This Food Service Program as a two-year course open to 10th and 11th grade students.

At a regular meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. on May 6, 1969, Dr. William N. Craig was elected superintendent of W. P. S. D. to succeed his father who retired near the end of 1969.

The young Dr. Craig, who grew up on the school grounds and has been associated with the deaf all his life, received his B.S. degree in Government from Washington and Lee University, M.S. degree in Deaf Education from Gallaudet College and Ph.D. in Audiology from the University of Pittsburgh.

Prior to coming to W. P. S. D., he taught at Oregon College of Education and the University of Pittsburgh.

At the same meeting of the Board, James M. Salem was named principal to succeed Herbert Barkuloo who resigned to head a program for the deaf at the Seattle Community College in Seattle, Washington.

Mr. Salem came to W. P. S. D. in 1957. He received a B.S. degree in Economics from the University of Pittsburgh and a M.S. degree in Deaf Education from Gallaudet College. He served as a boys’ counselor, teacher, dean of boys and dean of students. Always attempting to broaden the horizons for all the deaf students, he was largely responsible for the cooperative program with Churchill Area High School and was Mrs. Ada Smith’s right arm in getting the high school program accredited.

Dr. Samuel B. Craig retired during the Christmas holidays in l969 after nearly, 50 years of service in the field of deaf education.

Prior to his retirement, he and Mrs. Craig were honored at dinners given by the Gallaudet College Alumni Associcltion, Hearing and Speech Council of Greater Pittsburgh, Professional Association of W. P. S. D. and the student body.

Both Dr. and Mrs. Craig contributed substantially to developing the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf into one of the finest educational institutions for deaf children and young people in the nation. Mrs. Craig actively assisted in the decorating of the school buildings and in making the children feel more at home on the school campus.

Both Dr. and Mrs. Craig also were very active in the community, with groups of deaf adults, and with others who showed interest in the problems of deafness.

Dr. Craig came to W. P. S. D. in 1946 from Gallaudet College where he was a Professor of Education and Principal of the Kendall School. Though his accomplishments were considerable at that time, some of his activities while living in Pittsburgh bear special attention. It should be noted that these professional attainments earned him a num-

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. ber of honors from sources interested in various, diversified aspects of deafness. These included honorary Doctor of Letters degrees from Gallaudet College and from Centre College of Kentucky, a Community Service Citation from the Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, and a Distinguished Service award from the Conference of Executives of American Schools for the Deaf. His knowledge of the field of deafness was recognized by the University of Pittsburgh where he held a position of Adjunct Professor, Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation.

Among his many professional activities, Dr. Craig had the rare opportunity to serve as president of the Conference of Executives of American Schools for the Deaf from 1947 to 1951. He served on government advisory groups at both the federal and state levels and served on the Executive Committees of the Conference of Executives of American Schools for the Deaf, the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf, and the American Annals of the Deaf. He also served as an active member of the Convention of American Instructors for the Deaf, the Association of School Administrators, the Pittsburgh Speech and Hearing Society, the Council for Exceptional Children, and the Community Hearing and Speech Council of Greater Pittsburgh.

His interest in community affairs was well demon- strated through the initiation and direction of the Counseling and Community Services Center for the Deaf. In addition, he participated as a member of the Executive Committee for State-Wide Planning for Vocational Rehabilitation. His nonprofessional activities included active participation in the Rotary Club, the University Club, and the Cosmos Club of Washington, D. C. He also served as elder and trustee of the Edgewood Presbyterian Church.

In particular, however, Dr. Craig was most noted for his fine leadership of the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf. His devotion to deaf children in the school, his encouragement of teaching efforts, and his appreciation of the fine work of the many devoted people on the staff were the keynotes of his career.

Dr. Craig was “the business executive, the educational philosopher, the accountant, the teacher of teachers, the architect, the dynamic public speaker, the human relations expert, and the maintenance engineer� all through his years as the superintendent of W. P. S. D.

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STUDENT ENROLLMENT 1946- 1969 YEAR

ENROLLMENT

1946 - 1947 1947 - 1948 1948 - 1949 1949 - 1950 1950 - 1951 1951 - 1952 1952 - 1953 1953 - 1954 1954 - 1955 1955 - 1956 1956 - 1957 1957 - l958 1958 - 1959 1959 - 1960 1960 - 1961 1961 - 1962 1962 - 1963 1963 - 1964 1964 - 1965 1965 - 1966 1966 - 1967 1967 - 1968 1968 - 1969 1969 - 1970

288 299 301 327 327 332 354 377 393 397 416 426 435 423 427 431 444 437 451 452 468 491 511 544

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GRADUATING CLASSES 1947-1969 A total of 483 students graduated from W. P. S. D. between September, 1946 and June, 1969 Class of 1947 Ellis, Joseph Gault, Gail Hezlep, Joseph Krulick, Robert Mainos, Nick Mervis, Meyer Patterson, George Shrock, Jay Stoyko, Anna Class of 1948 Alexander, Mary Carnahan, June Conti, Anthony Dickson, Wesley Fye, Harold Golden, Rachel Gordon, Charles Javens, Robert John, Calvin Kennedy, Barbara Kukleski, Audrian Lamphier, Frances McCall, Harvey McDanel, James Meyers, Shirley Mowl, Betty Peoples, Marian Salopek, Thomas Scovern, Genevieve Simmons, Grace Taylor, Clara Urbanovich, Josephine Winslow, Patricia Class of 1949 Allen, Arthur Altheide, Theodore Anderson, Ralph Bolimos, James Filowiat, Andrew Kramer, Robert Letunik, Jean Mackey, Richard Martin, John Nelson, Arthur Payne, Mitchell Penn, Varah Prinzler, James Randolph, Richard Rebish, Rudolph Reed, Marion

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Rowe, June Savage, Virginia Schultz, Ned Valent, Joseph Watson, Marilyn Class of 1950 Andrews, Richard Bodnar, Irene Boyer, Glenn Burns, Jane Cox, Clyde Faulds. Florence Frye, Lynn Hana, John Hankinson, Robert Hewitt, Phil Householder, Gloria Mahoney, James Miller, Curtis Petrick, Thomas Rice, Elijah Russ, Robert Scovern, William Silva, Virginia Smith, Donald Vasilko, Dorothy Class of 1951 Allison, Beatrice Clevenger, Irvin Gray, Ida Hageman, George Kirkpatrick, Dale Klein, Alice Kooser, Edward Kooser, Edwin Lavra, John Majocha, Donald Miller, James Miller, Lawrence Potyka, Constance Rice, May Saraka, John Shaffer, Howard Sobina, Frank Vettorel, Evelyn Tipton, Maryetta Class of 1952 Benton, Ray Blaker, Patricia Bonheyo, Richard Books Donna Cornell, Ralph Ferraro, Louis Filowiat, Virginia Gilliland, Elsie Giusto, Gloria Litten, Pearl Reese, Harry Robinson, Isabelle Salada, Raymond Sutton, Eleanor Trefanoff, Edna

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Wilson, Jean Zamperini, Virginia Class of 1953 Bergman, Glenn Dewitt, Samuel Ferraro, Mary Fusilli, Samuel Hill, Eddie Miceli, Margaret Overdoff, Ronald Rocha, Mary Smith, Anna Class of 1954 Cole, Franklin Derkiss, Joseph Gill, Blair Hagerich, Kenneth Kratz, Ethel Leasure, Lillian Martin, Audrey McCulley, Clark Miller, Della Mowery, Carolyn Oravec, Dorothy Richardson, Ada Ritchey, Wayne Sickles, Albert Turns, Robert Class of 1955 Cenis, Margaret Crutchfield, Arlene Daberko, Donald DiCola, Mary Ann Fink, Alice Flint, Shirley Henry, Jean Irvin, Jesse Jezerski, Joseph Lewis, Shirley Rankin, Eugene Schwalm, Elizabeth Shaposka, Bert Smith, Shirley Class of 1956 Black, Nancy Cramer, Robert Crawford, Patricia DeLong, John Filowiat, Anna Fisher, Charles Gum, Paul Heckman, Ronald Jacobucci, Joseph Majocha, Arthur Radzik, Arlene Rice, Jane Slonaker. Dorothy Sparks, Elizabeth Walstrom, Theodore

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Waronek John Wang, Joan Class of 1957 Blank, Janet Conti, Phyllis Cutshall, Eleanor D’Amore, George Davis, Connie DeLong, Kenneth DePaolo, Norma Dorrell, Michael Fitzpatrick, John Gales, D’Rae Gulak, Barron Hearn, Donald Jezerski, Marilyn Knetzer, Paul Lebda, Joan McCue, Elsie Miceli, Deanna Parsons, Gary Phillips, Allen Phillips, Norma Ritchey, Ferman Servideo, Barbara Sipes, Ralph Thomas, Patrick Torrance, Virginia Class of 1958 Avery, Gary Brandt, Nancy Chiota, Marie Conte, Nancy Cordis, Dimetrios Daberko, Carol Deuel, Shirley Dunmire, George Dunn, Regis Grove, Carrie Hockman, Zada James, Nancy Mackey, Andrew Morris, Daniel Osterling, Gerald Oravec, Georgetta Pisarek, Caroline Scritchfield, Harold Stewart, Gerald VanNort, David Vardy, Gertrude Voigt, Joan Watreas, Robert Welch, John Class of 1959 Black, Benjamin Friend, Ruth Connor, George Coyler, Mary Hiney, Charles Knopsnyder, Stanle, Lepley, Judith Lonetti, Joseph

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Lytle, Marie Luce, Mary Ann Olszewski, Joseph Powaski, Irene McCulla, Sandra McCulley, Dean Scheidmantel, Frank Schwartz, Jane~ Simpson, John Stewart, Nancy Taylor, Shirley Class ol- 1960 Allshouse, Charles Antal, Jack Coyler, Gertrude Cumberledge, Robert DelRosso, Frank Dixon, Durbin Fairbanks, Donald Friend, Richard Hannold, Roger Lecorchick, Patricia Lord, Winston McCorkle, Margaret Meier, Jeffrey Nelson, Larry Noker, Conrad Orr, Raymond Stitt, Donna Webb Robert Yount, Thomas Class of 1961 Boehm, Nancy Cimarolli, John Crawford, Carol Crow, lloward Freehling Donna Graham, Thomas I larold, Walter I leadrick, Gary Hiney, Joan llo~rmell, Linda Johnson, Bert Kocis, Donald McManigle. Bruce Nagv. John Nagy, Joseph Niel, Charles Orange, Frances Powaski, Andrew Reiner, Clara Rounds, Lucy Scopel, Larry Sharpe, Joan Smith, Linda Lou Stone, Donald Thayer, Joyce Thomson, John West, JoAnn lass of 1962 Baker, Richard Bennett, Darvin Berkheimer, Melvin

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Bisesi, Rosemarie Blamble, Paul Carney, Russell Diehl, Nancy Flanders, Elwood Fluent, Patricia Grinder, Timothy Hoover, Nancy Ludwick, Mary Marbury, Nathie Marketich Stanley Moskal, Gioria Oswalt, Sandra Reisinger, Janet Roadman, Donald Ross, Robert Stiffler, Donald Subasic, Richard Varner, David Wingard, Earl Zatko, Robert Class of 1963 Anderson, Russell Brown, Thomas Burk, Jessie Burrows, Gordon Davis, Robert Faust, Gary Fetzer, Shirley Fisher, Donna Garrett, Virginia Harris, Joyce Heise, James Helsel, Mearl Horner, Keith Hudicek, Mary James, Carl Jarvie, Joan Johnson, Kay Kennedy, Sandra Learn, Russell Leighty, Janet Leighty, Joyce Lvke, Donna Lou Macheska, John Matthews, Terry Maxwell, Ralph McDermott. Viole McNeish, Gen’ Miller, Ronald Nance, Nancy Oravec, Marlene Pixler Shirley Rolewitz, Janet Schrift, Suzanne Sutton, William Vardy, Ann Wroughton, Joyce Young, Carol Class of 1964 Barwiolek, Linda Bucci, Linda Campero, Lawrence Fitzgerald, Charles

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Halli, Janet HUlgrove, Elaine Hlavay, Douglas Inches, Thomas Keith, David Kirby, Janet Kot, Stanley LaHood, Laverne Lewis, Harrison Lewis, Robert Lutsko, Gary Otterman, Jack Ritchie, Carol Saeler Robert Schmidt, Sharlene Smith, Edward Smith, William Snyder, William Walters, James Weber, Malcolm Whitingham, Robert Williams, Willa Class of 1965 Brogan, James Conte, Marica Danco, Rodney Ford, Dale Glazewski, Leon Goettmann, Patricia Hoover, David Hummel, Paulette Kramer, Judith Kuszaj, Thomas Lang, Harry Major, Martin McGuire, Sharon Mowl, Harold Mumford, Dianne Overbeck, Janet Parsons, George Picard, Sandra Pintarich, Barbara Prentice, George Shady, Sharon Smith, Dexter Wade, Eugene WUlison, Judith Class of 1964 Barwiolek, Linda Bucci, Linda Campero, Lawrence Fitzgerald, Charles Halli, Janet Hillgrove, Elaine Hlavay, Douglas Inches, Thomas Keith, David Kirby, Janet Kot, Stanley LaHood, Laverne Lewis, Harrison Lewis, Robert Lutsko, Gary Otterman, Jack

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Ritchie, Carol Saeler Robert Schmidt, Sharlene Smith, Edward Smith, William Snyder, William Walters, James Weber, Malcolm Whitingham, Robert Williams, Willa Class of 1965 Brogan, James Conte, Marica Danco, Rodney Ford, Dale Glazewski, Leon Goettmann, Patricia Hoover, David Hummel, Paulette Kramer, Judith Kuszaj, Thomas Lang, Harry Major, Martin McGuire, Sharon Mowl, Harold Mumford, Dianne Overbeck, Janet Parsons, George Picard, Sandra Pintarich, Barbara Prentice, George Shady, Sharon Smith, Dexter Wade, Eugene Willison, JudithClass of 1968 Baird, Linda BeBee, Margaret Campero, Louis Deemer, Paul Fix, James Harper Gary Herold Diane Hertel, Linda Kitchen, Donald Klapak, Geraldine Laird, Sharon Lee, Valerie MacWilliams, John Mangan, Patricia Miller, Betty Lou Mogue, Janice Otterman, Roy Roxberry, David Speer, Ronald Stoops, Donald Williams, Leon Class of 1969 Beckwith, Alan Biddle, John Black, Chalmer Bush, Jerry Dawson, Paul

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Ethridge, Lee Grot~inger, Paul Helsel, David Herod, Richard Ianaro, Nina Inches, Gail Karcher, Carol Kerry, Karen Kushner Gregory McElwain, Daniel Moore, Walter Morgan, Lawrence Murphy, Kathleen Reisinger, Charles Rudy, Daniel Rupert, Homer Siar, Richard Willaman, Thomas Young, Margaret

Introduction The past five years, 1969-1974, under the direction of Superintendent Dr. William N. Craig, could be best described by two words—change and innovation.

The Lower Intermediate Building was converted into a dormitory for boys.

The antiquated Laundry Building and Boiler House were demolished. A new residence for the girls was constructed. The old Boys’ and Girls’ wings became classroom buildings. New garages were built. Additional parking lots and two tennis courts were installed.

The grounds underwent considerable amount of landscaping.

The Guberina Method of Teaching Speech, virtually unknown in the United States, was introduced. An “open learning environment” was incorporated into the Middle School. The extracurricular program expanded to include a “Language Lab” for younger children and avocational classes for the older ones.

The whole instructional program was reorganized into Upper, Middle and Lower schools and Special Studies department. Consulting teachers were added to provide expert advice on subject areas. Supportive services enlarged.

The partial integration program expanded. “Reverse integration” was tried.

All changes and innovations were necessary to meet increasing demands to better educate the deaf and to keep up with the ever-changing educational trends.

A highly cooperative Board of Trustees and the state of Pennsylvania, through the Department of Education, played a major role in these efforts to provide quality education and pleasant living conditions to the students 123

Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. enrolled here.

Chronicle of Events

The school year 1969-1970 opened with the following people as new members of the professional staff: Judith Albright, Gloria Boldizar, Mrs. Karen Buchwald, Mrs. Ida Cornman, Mrs. Shelby Culatta, Virginia Curl Leech, Nancy Davis, Mrs. Elizabeth Hargraves, Kathy Linehan, Mrs. Geraldine Malmberg, Susan Martino, Mrs. Bernadette Mason, Mrs. Connie McCullough, Mrs. Dorothy McDavitt, Thomas McMullin, Mrs. Margaret Ozark, Mrs. Marie Phillips, Mrs. Lola Tornabene, John Slemenda, Mrs. Pauline Tamari, Mrs. Martha Wayman and James Weber.

In observance of WPSD’s 100th anniversary the Professinnal Association of WPSD held a Cornmunity Open House on October 16, 1969. It was the first time anything like this was attempted by the school, and it did a great deal to enhance our image to the general public.

The project to renovate the auditorium was completed early in December, 1969.

Generous contributions from the Parents’ Organization, the Alumni Associatinn and the Professional Association; memorial gifts in memory of J. O. Barr, Kenneth Ritenour and Walter Moore; and numerous gifts from individuals and organizations aided the project.

The high ceiling was lowered, new seating was installed, walls were painted, carpeting installed and new drapery and stage curtains were put up.

James H. Garrity assumed the duties of Dean of Students on January 1, 1970. Mr. Garrity has been with WPSD since the fall of 1964 as a boys’ counselor, academic teacher, coach and dean of boys.

Dr. William Ohrtman, Director Department in Harrisburg, spoke to ciation of WPSD on January 15th.

Allegheny County Commissioner, himself handicapped with partial vision,

of the

Special Education Professional Asso-

Leonard spoke to

and senior students on the role of “Young People in Society And Government” on February 27.

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Dr. Ruth Lynn Scott from the Department of Special Education in Harrisburg spoke to the parents at the Parents’ Association meeting on March 5.

During the spring vacation, Mrs Jane Birch, psychologist, and Miss Rosemary Burke, principal of preschool and primary departments, visited the Center for Rehabilitation of Speech and Hearing in Zagreb, Yugoslavia. The Center, founded by Dr. Pater Guberina, educates deaf and hard of hearing children beginning at the preschool level.

WPSD, at the request of the Department of Research of the State Bureau of Education, agreed to participate in a pilot study of the methods and of the instrumentation used in Dr Guberina’s Center, later known as the Verbotonal Method here.

The 1969-1970 basketball season experienced a dismal season—winning only 3 and losing 7. At the ESDAA tournament, this team failed to win the consolation honors.

The wrestling 10 defeats.

team

managed

only

5

victories

against

A new girls’ vocational course, Home Mechanics, was started in the spring of 1970 to provide the girls some training in simple repair jobs which they could do around the house. The course consisted of basic electrical work, simple plumbing, furniture refinishing, window shade repairs, etc.

Each unit was taught by demonstration and practice with field trips to local stores to purchase necessary supplies.

The May Festival in 1970 honored Karen Brickett as the queen.

Her court was comprised of Jan Sheldone, Monica Moxley, Judy Wissinger, Susan Eyerolles, Shirley Turner, Carol Ethridge, Faye Johnson, Beverly Palmer and Sandra Inches. Suzanne Bono was the bearer of the crown.

The queen’s entertainment was provided by the students of the school in a pageant “Toby Tyler at The Circus.” An estimated 1000 parents, alumni and friends attended.

The track team compiled a record of 9 wins against only 1 loss. Only one of the track records was broken in this fantastic year: Michael Chuto threw the discus a distance of 144 feet 103/4, inches.

The

extracurricular

awards

assembly 125

held

on

the

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Sunday of the school year was highlighted when and Alan Shaulis won the most outstanding athlete awards.

Rita

Mowl

The commencement exercises had for its main speaker Mrs. Ada Smith, retiring supervisor of the high school department, and 21 boys and girls received diplomas.

Alan Barwiolek Karen Brickett Milton Carter Michael Chuto Francis Csemay Carol Ethridge Suzanne Eyerolles Lee Hammel Joseph Hilbish Carmen Ianaro Sandra Inches

Faye Johnson Edward Laird Monica Moxley Beverly Palmer William Reed Genevieve Sheldone James Toner Frank Tripson Shirley Tumer Judith Wissinger

WPSD enrolled 544 pupils (311 boys and 233 girls) during 1969-1970. The average enrollment was 496 pupils. The school operated on a 1.9 million dollar budget that year.

Mrs. Ada Smith, supervising teacher of the high school department, Mrs. Opal Wells, a teacher in the intermediate department, and Miss Caroline Wahlberg, secretary to the superintendent, retired after many years of service.

A summer session was held at WPSD for the intermediate and junior high students. This program was oriented toward strengthening the concepts in language, reading and math for about 65 students who enrolled. The extracurricular activities included individual sports, outings, picnics, arts and crafts, and a trip to see the Pirates play in the new Three River Stadium.

Extensive remodeling took place during the summer of 1970. The Lower Intermediate Building was convertedto a dormitory for the boys; the Boys’ Side in the Main Building was converted into a classroom building.

Blackboards and teaching equipment in the Lower Intermediate Building were removed to the Boys’ Side; bedroom and lounge furniture in the Boys’ Side were transferred to the new dormitory.

Additional toilet and shower facilities were installed on the first floor of the new dormitory to accommodate approximately 75 boys. Lighting was upgraded in the new classrooms.

The purposes for this extensive change were: 1) to consolidate academic classrooms into the Main Building; 2) to provide an attractive dormitory for 126

Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. the boys; 3) to bring supportive services such as instructional media and curriculum coordination closer to the classroom areas; and 4) to provide an opportunity for expansion of club and extracurricular activities through increase in available space.

Two tennis courts were installed in the area between the Girls’ Field and superintendent’s home. They include an asphalt surface with a green sealer.

The laundry facility, due to its obsoleteness, was closed during the summer of 1970. The school no longer launders clothes for children, and all linen is cleaned by a commercial industry.

The high school, junior high school and upper intermediate departments were reorganized as of September, 1970 to include subject area consulting teachers. These consulting teachers, instead of carrying a full teaching load, are spending part of each day developing and coordinating curriculum. This department became known as the Upper School, and Mr. Charles Harkins was named to direct it.

Mrs. Mildred Dovey was named the vocational consultant; Mrs. Soralie Goldfarb, language arts consultant; Mrs. Gertrude Hanes, science consultant; Mrs. Pat (O’Connor) Pahre, special studies consultant; Mrs. Ada Sapko, mathematics consultant; and Mrs. Jane Stewart, social studies consultant.

Mrs. Elizabeth Braun was appointed consulting teacher for the upper division of the Lower School, and Miss Evelyn Tabacek was given the responsibility of the nursery and kindergarten in the Lower School.

The following people were welcomed to the professional staff in September, 1970: Mrs. Francine Anstey, Robert Black, Mrs. Nancy Brennan, Mrs. Lois Davies, Mrs. Jo Graziano, Mrs. Barbara Hast, Mrs. Anne Kalyvas, Mrs. Ruth Ludivico, Mrs. Elaine Moore, Harold Mowl, Jr., Edward Nagy, Mrs. Esther Shuster, Mrs. Joan Slemenda, Miss Janice Smith and Mrs. Mary Spiro.

After-school programs in photography, home repair, auto repair, gardening, weaving, interior decorating and other avocations started in October and proved themselves quite popular with the students.

The 1970-1971 Varsity soccer team registered 5 wins, 4 losses and 3 ties.

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On October 9, a full auditorium witnessed the presentation of Eagle Scout awards to Paul Baseler, Donald Galloway and Kenneth Taylor. Mr. John Stanton was at hand to extend congratulations to them, and the ceremony appeared on Channel 2 on television.

Mrs. Esther (Barr) McCann retired on November 21 after serving as the executive housekeeper since 1944. She had charge of the food service, the laundry and all of the other housekeeping chores needed at the school and was greatly admired by the students, staff and friends of the school.

Upon Mrs. McCann’s retirement, the school decided to consolidate the housekeeping department with the maintenance department and named William Garrity as the Assistant Director, Facilities Operations. Edmund Clippinger continued as the Director.

Mr. Stewart Karn, who has been serving as the vocational counselor, took on additional responsibility of directing the boys’ vocational instruction in December, 1970.

A comprehensive program of “autotelic” activities (activities that reinforce themselves and are considered to be “play” by the children involved in them) was devised and implemented for the primary children, starting in January, 1971.

Initially, the Laundry Building was modified for use of this program, but later an area in the old Boys’ Side was divided into specific sections for the different activities which the children were free to select.

This program was set up to help make better use of time in dormitory play hours and lead the children to increased perception in the language and simple science concepts through opportunities to view, explore and act.

Dr. O. K. Moore from the University of Pittsburgh and Dr. Helen Craig, the superientendent’s wife, helped implement this program. It is still in use and is known as the ”Language Lab.” Another innovation undertaken at WPSD starting in January, 1971 was the Guberina Verbotonal System of Teaching Speech to The Deaf And Hard of Hearing.

A Yugoslavian team of teachers trained by Dr. Guberina, Branka Gabric, Elvira Sakic, Natalija Martinov and Zdenka Gavilovic, arrived in the United States on January 3 to work with the children and teachers at Aanarde and

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. remained here for six months.

The children at Aanarde are being educated by means of a program of unisensory communication, training for maximum use of residual hearing.

To achieve this, the following teaching devices are employed: the use of Guberina’s Suvag auditory equipment with broad, extended frequency provisions; the use of body movement to accompany speech work, such as tense vs. relaxed movements and sound; musical stimulation such as simultaneous clapping and speaking in phrases in rhythm; language building “implementation” in which the teacher relates previously learned words and phrases to meaningful language concepts; and individual sessions employing individual speech stimulation with an auditory training unit.

Although Dr. Guberina’s project had been used experimentally in this counstry, this is the first time it is being done under research conditions.

The Guberina approach has expanded to include the Primary department and part of the Upper School.

A greenhouse, gift of the Parents’ Association of WPSD, was erected adjacent to the Boys’ Vocational Building. Completed in January, 1971, it is being used as part of educational and extracurricular programs.

Generous alumni contributions and the donation of the soda fountain by Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Volbrecht fulfilled a long-needed dream for the students—a snack bar was done entirely by members of the Alumni Association and was put to full use in February, 1971. Students later named it the “Lion’s Den.” The 1970-1971 basketball team won three and lost seventeen, an exact duplicate of the 1969-1970 season. The team lost all games at the ESDAA tournament held at St. Mary’s School for the Deaf in Buffalo, New York.

A committee was formed and met on March 7, 1971 to re-evaluate our athletic policy. It was agreed to limit our involvement in the ESDAA activities to those that will fit our goals, increase educational athletic visits to other schools for the deaf, provide opportunities for the girls’ teams to travel and compete against other schools for the deaf, and, if possible, be tournament hosts on the local level for the track, wrestling and basketball teams.

A three-day conference on the employment problems of the deaf,

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. sponsored by the State Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation was held at WPSD, March 23-25, 1971. Dr. William Craig, Mr. Edgar Shroyer, Mr. Donald Gallion, Mr. David Tornbloom and Dr. Boyce Williams were a few of the participants.

Students and friends at the school were saddened by the tragic death of a day student, Robert Walden, 11, on April 27th when he was killed by a truck after running into its path.

Sue Deremer, a junior at WPSD, was honored at an American Legion Auxiliary meeting at the County Building on May 4th for her essay on Americanism. Sue’s winning theme, “This Land Is Mine,” was the best in all Edgewood and runner-up in Allegheny County.

The track team had another very successful year—they were undefeated in 10 meets of regular competition and placed second in the Eighth Annual ESDAA Track Tournament.

Five track records were set in that successful year: David Glenn ran the 880 Yard Dash in 2:03.1 minutes and the Mile Run in 4:42.0 minutes; Donald Rand did the 120 High Hurdles in 16.2 seconds; Marcus Hooper cleared the high jump bar at 5 feet 11 inches; and Alan Shaulis triple-jumped for a distance of 41 feet.

The 1971 May Day saw the crowning of Vivian Ivory as the queen. Jody Boyd, Becky Frick, Ronna Goldberg, Shirley Maines, Connie Sanchez and Vanessa Ryan were on her court.

David Glenn and Shirley Maines were honored as the most outstanding athletes at the extracurricular awards assembly held in June, 1971.

Donald R. Gallion, of the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation in Harrisburg, delivered the commencement address to the Class of 1971 which included 21 members.

Eugene Areford Samuel Barnett Jody Boyd Bradley Frase Rebecca Frick Ronna Goldberg Gary Hamilton Vivian Ivory Shirley Maines Lester Mecklem Vernon Mikels

Darnell Parker Gerald Petrick Michael Pritchett William Rennie John Rudish Vanessa Ryen Connie Sanchez Alan Shaulis Donald Wertman Steven Williams

Dr. Samuel Craig, former superintendent, and Dr. John T. Dickinson were

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. elected to the membership of the Board of Trustees during the 1970-1971 school year.

Five hundred forty-two pupils (302 boys and 240 girls) were enrolled at WPSD during 1970-1971. The average enrollment was 536 pupils, the highest ever. The budget, for the first time, went over the two million dollar mark and reached 2.2 million dollars.

Mrs. Genevieve Barnes, Director of the Special Studies Department, Mrs. Evelyn Holloman, primary department teacher, and Mrs. Clara Stahl, paymaster, retired after many years of service.

WPSD has undertaken and has been following up on surveys of its graduates. Begun during the summer of 1971, assessments of the employment status and social well-being of the former students were made to ascertain whether changes in the school program should be made.

During the summer of 1971, WPSD embarked upon a 1.6 million dollar construction project, the main object of which was a new girls’ dormitory.

In preparation for the new construction, several changes were affected.

The most spectacular was the razing changes were effected. The most spectacular was the razing of the antiquated Laundry Building in the center of the campus. This structure was originally built by vocational students of WPSD around the turn of the century.

In addition to the demolition work, a relocation of parking facilities was necessitated, and a 20 car asphalt lot was created at the northwest corner of the campus. Parking in front of the Boys’ Dormitory was eliminated.

A landscaping contractor was retained to relocate many valuable trees and shrubs around the grounds.

The central heating plant and transmission tunnels were abandoned and removed after independent heating systems were designed and installed to serve the two gymnasiums, the Main Building, the Boys’ Vocational Building and the Primary Building.

New members on the professional staff for the 1971-1972 school year included: Miss Karen Biddle, Miss Jean Comeforo, Dale Ford, Mrs. Marianne Garfield, Miss Elaine Herrmann, Gary Holman, Mrs. Nancy Hovland, Mrs. Glen Husak, Mrs. Emma Liu, Dale Rusch, Miss Eileen Schulhoff, Mrs. Cherie Smith, Miss Margaret Willard and Mrs. Deborah Wilson.

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Effective September 1, 1971, Mr. Gary Holman assumed duties as the director of a newly organized department, the Middle School. Mr. Holman came to WPSD from the University of Idaho where he was an instructor of Speech Pathology and Audiology.

It was with Dr. Helen Craig and Mr. Holman that the concept of an “open classroom” was incorporated into the Middle School. An “open learning environment” is one in which each individual student is given the opportunity, motivation and encouragement to actively participate in the educational process, at both the concrete and symbolic levels, and at the stage, pace and degree of structure most conducive to his continued pursuit of knowledge.

In two years, this program expanded to include almost all of the Middle School.

The Physical Education curriculum expanded to include individual sports.

Male students enjoyed having in their curriculum horseback riding, tennis, golf, bowling, ping pong, swimming and paddle ball.

Forty members of the Class of 1972 made a trip to Washington, D. C. Places of interest visited were the Congress; the White House; the Jefferson, Lincoln and Washington Memorials; Arlington Cemetery; the Smithsonian Institute; and Mt. Vernon. Classes of 1973 and 1974 also went in their senior years.

The Varisty soccer team had a rather successful season, compiling a record of 9 wins, 2 losses and 1 tie. This team could boast about its eight shutouts against other teams.

The Varsity wrestling team of 1971-1972 managed only 3 victories against 13 defeats.

The basketball team also had a poor season—4 wins against 17 defeats.

Over the weekend of February 25, 1972, WPSD hosted its first annual invitational basketball tournament. The participating teams included Bishop’s Latin School, George Junior Republic School, St. Anselm’s School and WPSD. St. Anselm’s emerged as the tournament victor.

In girls’ sports, the Varsity basketball team compiled a record of 3 wins, 5 losses and a tie.

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On April 29, 1972, Father A. van Uden of the Institute for the Deaf, Sint Michielsgestel, the Netherlands, presented a workshop on the acquisition of language by the deaf child.

On May 23, 1972, Professor Pater Guberina, of the University of Azagreb, Yugoslavia, presented a lecture on the Verbotonal method of instructing deaf children.

The 1972 track season saw Charles Tasselli set the Two Mile Run record at 10:36.7 minutes, David Tasselli did the 180 Low Hurdles in 22.3 seconds, and Allen Talbert, Bennie Turner, Richard Guerin and William Krahl ran the Two Mile Relay in 8:57.1 minutes.

The 1972 May Festival honored Karen Isenberg as the queen. Her court included Joanne Bandish, Susan Deremer, Linda Feathers, Kathy Goehring, Debra Kennedy, Darlene Lepley, Debbie McElwain, Rita Maher, Sondra Moats, Rita Mowl, Susan Prosky, Anne Mary Sedlowski, Richelle Wineland, Denise Woelfel and Donna Zoller.

Richard Aust and Sandra Paul were the winners of the most outstanding athlete awards.

Mr. Frank Gyle from the staff of the Vocational Rehabilitation Center in Pittsburgh addressed the senior class, and Mr. Edwards awarded the diplomas on June 8, 1972. The graduating class, the largest ever, consisted of: Richard Aust Joanne Bandish Paul Baseler Charles Bilonick William Bonasso William Bowman Michael Brinker Robert Cominotti Susan Deremer James Eddy Allen Eschrich Linda Feathers Kathleen Goehring Richard Guerin Robert Hazel Patrick landiorio Karen Isenberg Debra Kennedy Victor Kibelbek Darlene Lepley

Deborah McElwain Gerald McGuire Rita Maher Ronald Mahnick Donald Metlay William Mitchell Sondra Moats Michael Moses Rita Mowl Susan Prosky Robert Querry Donald Rand Anne Mary Sedlowski Edward Shepherd Dwayne Sumpter Allen Talbert Charles Tasselli RicheUe Wineland Denise Woelfel Donna Zoller

A total of 551 pupils (307 boys and 244 girls) were enrolled during 1971-

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1972. The average enrollment was 545 pupils.

Mr. Robert Rundle was appointed to the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees at its quarterly meeting on June 15, 1972.

The 21st Alumni Association Reunion was held at WPSD during the weekend of June 16. Over three hundred alumni and friends attended this affair.

Mrs. Susan Antill, Emil Brinker, Miss Abbylee Charrapp, Miss Roberta Glessner, Mrs. Rose Holman, Miss Carla Johnson, Miss Susan Loop, Mrs. Ellen Maney, Robert Neisworth, Mrs. Bonnie Pezel, Miss Kathryn Rukavina, Mrs. Valerie Sins, Robert Stewart, Miss Eileen Vorek, Miss Lynda Wright and Mrs. Linda Yedlicka joined the staff on September 1, 1972.

Mrs. Virginia Schatz became the Consulting Teacher of the Fine Arts Department on September 1, 1972. Mrs. Schatz coordinates and supervises all art and rhythm instruction in the school.

On the same date, Mr. Stewart Karn was appointed Director of Vocational Education.

The Media Center since 1969 has expanded and developed to serve students from all levels of the school. The staff includes Esther Shuster as the Director; Kersti Hammermeister as the Library Teacher; Dale Rusch as the Media Specialist; Mary Christulides as the Assistant Librarian; Anne Hagg as the Media Assistant; Robert Neisworth as the Artist and Filmmaking Teacher; and Charles Fisher as the Media Technician.

An audio-lab was created during the fall of 1972 to handle auditory equipment, do maintenance on them and provide advice on available audiological equipment. Emil Brinker, who previously worked as an engineer for the Union Switch and Signal Company, took charge of this department as the Audio Consultant and Communications Engineer. Richard Douglass was hired to be his assistant.

The Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf lost a sincere and faithful friend with the death of the President of the Board of Trustees on October 11, 1972. Mr. John McCune served as President and Board member of the school over a period of 49 years.

During this time, Mr. McCune saw the campus grow from a small school

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. to a comprehensive facility of more than five hundred students coming from all areas of Western Pennsylvania. Working to meet these increasing demands on the educational facility, Mr. McCune urged the construction of the new Boys’ Residence Hall, Gymnasium, Preschool expansion, and classroom renovation. He involved energetically in the construction plans for a new Girls’ Residence.

Although his energies in behalf of the school’s expanding student body were apparent in the physical appearance of the campus, Mr. McCune was most essentially a true friend of the deaf children for whom he felt a deep responsibility. On his regular tours of the campus, he liked to drop in on a classroom, visit in the dormitory, watch children working with crafts, and see young people discover new aspects of living.

The school missed Mr. McCune as a person who understood the problems of deafness and who devoted his energies to resolving as many of these as he could.

Mr. Richard D. Edwards, son-in-law of Mr. McCune and President of the Union National Bank, succeeded as the President of the Board of Trustees.

Mr. William A. Gordon became the Vice-President.

During the fall, two Yugoslav teachers were on the campus to help expand the Verbotonal Teaching System to older children. At the same time, two teachers from the Iowa School for the Deaf stayed here in order to learn the Verbotonal techniques and then maybe apply them at the Iowa School.

The Varsity soccer campaign ended with 5 wins, 5 losses and a tie.

On November 12, 1972, the teachers in the Upper and Middle schools participated in an exchange program. For one day the Upper School teachers took over classes in the Middle School; the Middle School teachers, Upper School classes. Reaction varied, but everyone benefited since the philosophies differed in these schools.

Traditional teaching methods prevailed in the Upper School while the Middle School concentrated on the “open classroom” philosophy.

Snowdon Richards resigned from the Board of Trustees on December 14, 1972.

Jack Ham, a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers football team, paid a visit to the Boys’ Dormitory during January. He spoke to the boys, answered many questions and signed autographs.

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Mr. Robert A. Rundle died on February 26, 1973. He had been a member of the Board of Trustees and of the Executive Committee and had expressed a very strong interest in the education and development of deaf children at the school.

The 1972-1973 basketball season ended with WPSD registering a 4 win, 13 loss record. The team traveled to the Lexington School for the Deaf in New York City the week-end of February 2nd.

Seven schools, St. Anselm’s, West Allegheny, Youth Development Center, Immaculate Conception, Bishop’s Latin, George Junior Republic and WPSD participated in the Second Annual Invitational Basketball Tournament held at WPSD. St. Anselm’s repeated as the champion.

The 1972-1973 wrestling season saw the Lions finishing with a 4-12-0 record. Of particular interest was Gary Butlin’s winning second place honors at the 38th Annual National Independent College Preparatory Schools and Academies Wrestling Tournament at Lehigh University.

About 150 people, mostly parents or relatives of the children enrolled in the Middle School, attended the Middle School Open House on April 1, 1973.

They enjoyed a series of meetings, observing slides of children at work or play and the buffet that was served.

An unique opportunity for 4 WPSD students took place the week of May 13th. Kenneth Taylor, Gary Butlin, Kathy Maier and Debra Krausa participated in a student exchange program with the Lexington School for the Deaf. This program had positive impact on our students—they came back very impressed with the Lexington School and New York City and commented that we should make it an annual thing.

The 1972-1973 track team ended the season with 8 wins and 4 losses.

Regis Gilchrist cleared the pole vault bar at 12 feet to tie the school record set

by Joseph Michiline in 1967. Lothar Schafer set the school javelin record at 102 feet 71/2 inches. Andy Kovach, Randy Prezioso, Steven Rute and Kenneth Taylor ran the 880 Relay in 1:37.7 minutes to set a new record.

The Senior Girl Scout program at WPSD has been providing ample opportunity for social integration with hearing people. The Senior Girl Scouts went on a combined camping trip with the Edgewood Cadette Troop, took part in a Southwestern Pennsylvania Conservation Project, sponsored a Christmas party for some of the Edgewood children, had representation on the Penn Peoples Planning Board, had joint meetings with

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Alberta Pollock was honored as the May Queen during the May Festival held on May 25th. The girls in the 1973 Senior Class had the pride of being on her court.

Gary Butlin and Kathryn Miksich won the Most Outstanding Athlete Awards for the 1972-1973 school year.

John S. Cunningham, Associate Dean of Students at Bethany College, delivered the commencement address to the Class of 1973 on June Kathryn Angstadt Elizabeth Baker Richard Buterbaugh Joanna Colesar Mildred Eddy Darlene Evans Donald Galloway David Glenn Anthony Godfrey Ross Hanley Cynthia Hayden David Heckathorn Marcus Hooper Dennis James Barbara Jones Andrew Kovach Andrea Kuric Kathleen Maier

Robert Barger James Burness Judith Mainos Alan McCormick David McFadden Alexander Neforos Robert Newbraugh Karen Park Elaine Piper Alberta Pollock Patricia Porter Mary Powell Ralph Prezioso, Jr. Diane Snowden Kenneth Taylor Sandra Wallace Leslie West Anita Wilson

Enrollment for 1972-1973 was 540 pupils, 307 boys and 233 girls, for an average of 536 pupils. The budget was approximately 2.6 million dollars.

After 22 years of service at WPSD, Mr. Richard Jones resigned on June 8th to accept a teaching position at the Maryland School for the Deaf. Mr. Jones was the Athletic Director, head soccer coach, head basketball coach, track coach and boys’ physical education teacher. Mr. Michael Adam joined the staff to be the boys’ physical education teacher and coach.

Twenty five houseparents registered for courses in Communication Techniques, Child Growth and Development and Activities for Children through the Boyce Campus of Allegheny Community College; upon completion of these courses, they received certificates from the Convention of American Instructors of the Deaf.

The Upper School faced considerable change for the 1973 -1974 school

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. year. The department was reorganized to alleviate crowded conditions and to even out the number of students in each grade, thereby maintaining a ratio close to eight students per teacher.

The sixth grade was eliminated; some students according to age and readiness jumped a grade; and one class moved from ninth to tenth grade so that the students may start vocational training a year earlier.

Mrs. Ada Sapko (Mahematics), Mrs. Jane Stewart (Social Studies) and Mrs. Soralie Goldfarb (Language Arts) resigned as consulting teachers. Mr. Harold Mowl, Jr., Mr. Charles Harkins, and Mrs. Patricia Pahre assumed duties of these departments, respectively.

Mrs. Joann Casiola became the Director of the Special Studies Department.

Two consulting teachers were added to the Middle School Department.

Jeanette Ehrman was made responsible for the Reading, Language and Social Studies programs, and Marie Thompson for the Mathematics and Science programs.

Due to an unusual number of resignations after the 1972-1973 school year, twenty seven new teachers were added to the staff. They were Michael Adams, Shirin Antia, James Bernauer, Connie Cleevely (replaced by Joan Kern in November due to sickness in Mrs. Cleevely’s family), Ann Coyle, Terry Edelstein, Mary Elesser, Rosemary Garrity, Cynthia Germaine, Pamela Goldwasser, Barbara Gualtieri, Beth Horvath, Mary Lilley, Sonja Merrell, Madalyn Moser, Mary Minner, James C. Noschese, Robert Rodriques, Jean Rosefeld, Sandra Rossi, Eleanor Schatz, Barbara Seigel, Carol Starman, Mirian Selleck, Robin Watters, Joan Wylie and Elizabeth Young.

Catherine Sargus was added to the staff as a psychologist; Dale Ford was named guidance counselor; Mr. George Colaizzi became the Athletic Coordinator; and Mr. Robert Stewart became the Administrative Assistant.

The 1973-1974 soccer team won 3 games, lost 6 and tied 2.

The fall of 1973 was the first time that the girls at WPSD participated in interscholastic soccer. The girls endured a five game season for 3 wins, 1 loss and 1 game cancellation.

The girls, after the soccer season, competed in volleyball with other schools. Their final mark was 7 wins and 3 losses.

The partial integration program enlarged to include sending some of our high school students to McKeesport Area Technical High School and some of

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. our primary age children to Shaffer Elementary School. We also had a number of preschool hearing children spend part of their day everyday at Aanarde.

An acute bacterial disease of the intestinal tract characterized by diarrhea, fever and vomiting, Shigella, spread among the primary age children, and the school closed one week earlier for Christmas vacation. The problem was under control in January, and the school days lost were made up by extending the length of a school day by 15 minutes for the remainder of the school year.

Dr. Edward R. Schatz, Provost and Vice-President for Academic Affairs at Carnegie-Mellon University and the husband of our Consulting Teacher to the Fine Arts Department, joined the Board of Trustees in January, 1974.

The 1973-1974 wrestling team was perhaps one of the finest in the school’s history. Coached by Robert Stewart and led by senior captain Gary Butlin (11-1-1), the team posted a respectable 8 - 6 won-loss record after competing against schools that had good teams. Among the standouts on this team were David Evanchek (13-2), Randy Buchanan (10-5) and Jack Montell (10-3).

The Varsity basketball season ended with the team winning two and losing sixteen. Jerry Deasy earned merit as an outstanding player in the Third Annual Invitational Basketball Tournament.

The tournament was to have included six teams, but a bus accident forced withdrawal of the Lexington School for the Deaf and the Pennsylvania State Oral School for the Deaf. The tournament proceeded with George Junior Republic, Gladstone High School, West Allegheny High School and WPSD participating; West Allegheny captured the championship.

The girls’ Varsity basketball team concluded the season with 4 wins, 1 loss and 1 tie.

Danny Longo, his entry being “Leaves,” and Rosemarie Rolewitz and Andrea Kovach, their entry being “Convection” won awards in the Pittsburgh Regional School Science and Engineering Fair sponsored by the Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science. They received their awards on April 19, 1974.

The school inherited the Willard F. Rockwell, Sr.’s property on

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Hutchinson Avenue in Edgewood on May 20th. After careful consideration by the Board of Trustees and the superintendent, the property was sold.

The 1974 track team managed a record of 5 wins and 6 losses. Three track records were shattered: Randy Prezioso ran the 100 Yard Dash in 10.4 seconds, bettering the 1963 record of 10.5 seconds by Gene McNeish; Steven Rute did the 220 Yard Dash in 23.1 seconds to erase the old mark of 23.8 seconds by Gene McNeish in 1963; and Steven Rute posted a 42.4 second time for 330 Intermediate Hurdles, a new event in track.

In the second year of competition and on an expanded schedule, members of the track team represented WPSD’s softball team in interscholastic competition. The team posted a 3 - 3 won-lost record.

Vicki Will was crowned the queen at the May Festival held on May 24th.

Her court included Jennifer Cristina, Debra Krausa, Robin Hughes, Chris Linehan, Rosemarie Medvick, Debra Meray, Kathy Miksich, Marsha Morrison, Mary Lou Novitsky, Sandra Paul, Molly Pfeifer, Cathy Querry, Valerie Reese, Joann Saunders and Yvonne Tupek.

Dennis Mancini and Lynda Pelton were named recipents of the most outstanding athlete awards on June 2nd.

The 1974 Commencement ceremony featured Marian Quick, Associate Professor in Deaf Education at Pennsylvania State University, as the speaker. She spoke on “The 1974 Graduate And Consumerism.” Mr. Edwards presented diplomas to: Chris Atkinson James sabcock David Bradley Gary Butlin Jennifer Cristina Regis Gilchrist Robin Hughes Debra Krausa Chris Linehan Ralph Mauro Rosemary Medvick Ronald Menzie Debra Meray Kathryn Miksich

Marsha Morrison Mary Lou Novitsky Sandra Paul Molly Pfeifer Cathy Querry Valerie Reese Stephen Rute Rex Ryan Joann Saunders David Tasselli Yvonne Tupek Bennie Turner Vicki Will James Yohe

The average enrollment for the 1973-1974 school year was 526 pupils. The budget came close to 3 million dollars; the school operated on 2.8 million dollars.

The Board of Trustees earlier in the year made amendments to the By-

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Laws. They were: ARTICLE I THE TRUSTEES Paragraph 1st shall be amended by adding: Five members of the Board shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE II OFFICERS OF THE BOARD AND THEIR DUTIES Paragraph 3rd shall be amended by adding: The Vice President shall at all times be ex-officio a member of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE IV THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE The Executive Committee shall consist of five members of the Board who shall be elected at the meeting in June to serve for one year or until their successors are chosen. They shall meet at least once a month, on such day and at such hour as they may appoint. They shall have the general charge of the interests of the School and of all matters which may arise from time to time between the meetings of the Trustees.

They shall see that all orders of the Board are properly and promptly carried into effect, and examine all bills of expenditures, and order checks drawn for their payment, which checks shall be signed by the Business Manager or Superintendent of the School and countersigned by a member of the Executive Committee, examine, approve, modify or reject all bids or estimates of requirements of the School submitted to them by the Superintendent; admit or dismiss pupils. They shall keep an accurate record of all its proceedings which shall be submitted to the Board for its approval at each stated meeting.

Mrs. Jane Waugaman, a teacher in the advanced department since 1968 and a girls’ physical education teacher from 1934 to 1936, and Mrs. Margaret Streibich, nurse since 1952, retired in June, 1974.

Mr. Charles Harkins, Upper School Director, resigned to accept a position at the Mystic Oral School in Connecticut. He had been with us since 1967, as a boys’ counselor, an academic teacher and the Upper School Director. Mrs. Joann Casciola, associated with WPSD since 1968, resigned as the Special Studies Department Director to await arrival of a young one.

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Mr. L. Melvin Nelson retired as the Business Manager after 10 years in August. Mr. John N. Wilson of Love, Wilson and Company succeeded Mr. Nelson.

Friends at the school were saddened by the untimely death of our Audio Consultant and Communications Engineer, Mr. Emil Brinker, during the summer.

New garages were constructed at the side of the Boys’ Gymnasium and along the Edgewood playground to house the school vehicles. Upon completion of the garage construction, the Boiler House was demolished.

The long awaited Girls’ Dormitory has been completed and is ready for occupancy in September. It complements the other more recent structures on campus. Highly fire-proof, it is framed of steel with a red brick facing. A split level design is employed for its beauty and practicality.

Larger than the Boys’ Dormitory, the new building is connected with the present Primary Building by a glass-enclosed passageway and extends in front of, and nearly to the far end of the Boys’ Vocational Building.

The new dormitory will house approx.mately 200 girls and is divided into eight units. Twenly to twenty-five girls will live together in each unit which has its own lounge area, bath facilities and a housemother’s room.

The second floor of the old Girls’ Side has become part of the Middle School which had classrooms on the first floor and in scattered places. The Language Lab moved to occupy all of the third floor.

The Special Studies Department which formerly was located on the third floor of the old Boys’ Side moved to the basement of the old Girls’ Side. The Upper School expanded to include the third floor on the old Boys’ Side.

On the administrative level and with respect to consulting teachers, many changes will become effective on September 1, 1974.

Mr. James M. Salem, Principal since 1969, will become the Assistant Superintendent. He has been with us since 1956 and is considered highly qualified for the job.

Mr. Gary Holman will assume the duties of Academic Principal. Mr. James Garrity will move from the position of the Dean of Students to Director of the Upper School, and Mr. Milton Graves, from the

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Rochester School for the Deaf in Rochester, New York, will be the Middle School Director. Mr. Robert Stewart will direct the Special Studies Department.

Mrs. Ada Sapko, for a long time Dean of Girls, will become the Dean of Students, replacing Mr. James Garrity.

The vacant post of Dean of Boys will be filled by Mr. Harold Mowl, Jr. who served as a director of dormitory life since January, 1971. He will continue to teach mathematics part time and serve as the consulting teacher to that department.

To reduce the responsibility of Mrs. Patricia Pahre who has been Consulting Teacher of the Modified Program and Language Arts, Mrs. Jeannette Ehrman was named to be the Consulting Teacher of Language Arts in the Upper School.

Mr. Thomas McMullin, a social studies teacher since 1969, will become the Consulting Teacher of the Social Studies Program in the Upper School.

Mr. John Slemenda will replace Mrs. Ehrman as the Consulting Teacher of Reading, Language and Social Studies in the Middle School. Mr. Slemenda has been a teacher since 1969.

The new teachers for 1974-1975 include Marilyn Abdoe, Deborah Buzanos, Derek Craig, Teresa Feher, Linda Graves, Marianne Kieda, Michael Kulish, Laurie Kunzelman, Ellen Maney, Mary Mowry, Ruth Ann Rinehart and Samuel Rochester.

HISTORY 1974 - 1987 163

Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed.

Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf

by Dr. Harold Mowl, Jr. December, 1987

1974- 197S Friends at the school were saddened by three untimely deaths during the summer of 1974. Mr. Emil BriDker, Audio Consultant and Communications Engineer at WPSD, passed away after being in failing health for a while. A six year old student, Clifford Kisner, died of heart failure, and Jack Montell a student in the Upper School and a wrestling star, was killed by a train while walking on its tracks.

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John Wilson replaced L. Melvin Nelson as the Bwiness Manager in July, 1974. Mr. Wilson has a Mlitt. degree from the University of Pittsburgh and is a certified public accountant. Prior to moving to WPSD, he worked for a CPA firm that audited the school’s financia1 records.

Other new members to the school staff at the beginning of the 1974-1975 school year included Marilyn Abdoe, Deborah Buzonas, Derek Craig, Carol Dacey, Gayle Dobbs, Teresa Feher, Linda Graves, Marianne Kieda, Michael Kulish, Laurie Kunzelman, Margaret Laird, Ellen Maney, and Ruth Ann Rinehart. Loree Rager and Samnal Rochester were added to the staff in January, 1975.

The Girls’ Dormitory opened in the fall of 1974 to house all girls of elementary and high school age. This facility features small bedroom units, study rooms, recreation space, an attractive dining room, and a modern kitchen. The grounds around the building were landscaped with flowers, bushes, and trees. The school library was moved into much larger and more attractive space in the Main Building formerly used as the school dining room.

On October 1, 1974, Muriel Shapp, wife of Pennsylvania Governor Milton Shapp, visited the nursery school, observing all aspects of the program: group speech and language work, individual tutoring, and the “day nursery” activities in which both deaf and hearing children participate. She was particularly interested in the nursery school because she was instrumental in setting up “Happy Talk School” in Harrisburg which uses an approach similar to ours.

The boys’ varsity soccer team ended the season with seven wins and six losses. Nine lettermen were lost through graduation, but Coach Mike Adams was optimistic, saying that continued hard work and desire on the part of the boys will produce many victories next year. The junior varsity squad fnished the season with a 5-4-1 record, and the freshman boys posted a 1-9 record.

The girls’ varsity volleyball team ended their season undefeated, compiling a 10-0 record. Coached by Janice Neleigh, the girls who helped the team go undefeated included Lynn Ashby, Barbara Barncastle (co-captain), Connie Condit, Audrea Kovach, Joan Laird, Betty Maher (co-captain), Lois Myers, Lynda Pelton, Betty Jo Rex, and Paula Tajc. The junior varsity volleyball went 3-4 that year.

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Senior student Randall accident in December, 1974.

Weld

was

killed

in

an

automobile

The basketba11 season was a disappointing one for the boys and girls. The boys’ varsity went 5-11, and the junior varsity team won 3 and lost 8. The girls’ varsity won only one out of four games; the junior varsity squad was winless in three games.

Coached by Robert Stewart and James Toner, the Lions wrestling team experienced one of the most successful seasons with 9 wins and 5 losses. The junior varsity squad turned in a perfect 8-0 record.

On March 18, 1975, the Board of Trustees regretfully accepted the resignation of Mr. Charles McCune as a member of the Board and the Treasurer of the School. He had been a member of the Board since June, 1945.

In April, 1975, Lawrence Hast, William Krahl, Randy Prezioso, and Scott Recht were tapped for membership into the The Society of Distinguished American High School Students, the nation’s leading honorary organization.

James Garrity, Upper School Director, said, “This is a high honor, indeed and one of which these students and parents may be proud throughout their lives.”

Linda Alexander was crowned the May Day festivities held on the Boys’ Field on May 23.

Queen

during

May

The track team at WPSD finished the season with a record of 4 wins and 5 losses. Two existing school records were broken: Randy Prezioso ran the 100 yard dash in :10.3 seconds; and Dennis Mancini triple jumped a distance of 41 feet and 11 inches. Dale Ward tied the high hurdle record with a mark of :16.2 seconds.

Dr. Jack Birch, member on the WPSD Professor of Educational Psychology at the delivered the Commencement Address, and Richard Edwards conferred diplomas upon of the Class of 1975.

Linda Alexander Paul Barnacastle Thomas Bennett Marc Bergman Gregory Bilonick

Bernice Mainos Dennis Mancini Edward Mays Beth Ann Metlay David Mikels

166

Board of Trustees and University of Pittsburgh, WPSD Board President 35 graduating members

Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed.

Debra Clifford Markey Cristina Nancy Goodman Lawrence Hast Joseph Kolash William Krabl Theresa Lahood Dale Lamothe Robert Layton David Lee Daniel Lcogo Betty Maher Harvey Maines

David Miller Randy Prezioso Scott Recht Lothar Schafer Ellen Shaffer Patrick Simpson Charles Smith Patsy Smith Dale Ward Richard Wilt Timothy Wolfe George Wyant

The total enrollment for the 1974-1975 school year was 529 children, and the school operated on a budget of 2.9 million dollars for the year.

Three long-time employees at WPSD retired at the close of the 1974-1975 school year. Miss Becky Marriner retired as a teacher after 20 years of service. Mrs Catherine Slates, a girls’ dormitory houseparent, and Mrs. Bertha Fry, a housekeeper, contributed many years of faithful service before retiring. They were honored at a reception at Dr. Craig’s residence and at several dinners given by their fellow workers.

James Bernauer, Elaine Herrman, Laurie Kunzelman, Mary Lilley, Sonja Merrill, and John Slemenda resigned at the close of the 1974-1975 school year.

Fourmembers of WPSD Class of 1970receivedtheirBachelor of Arts degrees from Gallaudet College on May 19, 1975. They were Alan Barwio1ek, Karen Brickett, Edward Laird, and Charles Reisinger.

1975-1976 The 22nd Reunion of the Alumni Association of WPSD was held over the weekend of June 20,1975. Donald Majocha was voted to take over the helm from Harold Mow1, Jr., who had been president since 1969. Registration totals showed that over 400 people attended the reunion.

School opened on September 2 with an enrollment of 502 students, of whom 400 were residents and the balance day. Deborah Bucciero, Cynthia Cioffi, Priscilla Comden, Helen Kulish, Rita Mowl, Marina Plakidas, and Margaret Van Fossan joined the school as new staff members in September. Nancy Denmark and Anthony DiMenno were welcomed to the staff in January, 1976.

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Superintendent William Craig reported to the Board of Trustees that House Bill 1254 which increased per capita reimbursement for residential students from $5,500 to $8,500 and for day students, from $4,125 to $5,100, was passed and signed into law by Governor Shapp. The total operating budget for the 1975-1976 school year was $3,218,000.

The boys’ varsity soccer team ended their 1975 campaign with a record of 3 wins and 8 losses. They placed third in an invitational tournament at Sewickley Academy, losing to Chartiers Valley in the first game and beating North Hills in the second game. The junior varsity squad went 5-3-1, and the freshman team won 2, lost 7, and tied 1.

Cooperation, hard work, and good team spirit helped the girls’ varsity volleyball team achieve another excellent season. The girls went 9-2, losing twice to a much larger school, Northgate. The junior varsity team won 7 and lost 4; the 7th-8th Grade team went undefeated, winning seven matches.

In February,1976, Mrs. Virginia Schatz, Fine Arts Consulting Teacher and a member of WPSD staff since 1960, was named to a new position of Director of Community Affairs, her duties encompassing coordination of activities between the community and the school, representation of the school at various organizations and meetings, and presentation of the school and its programs to the general public. Coming to WPSD as Vocational Evaluator and Counselor on April 1, 1976 was Paul Loera who had worked at the Counseling Center for the Deaf, which was operated by the Pittsburgh Hearing and Speech Society. Richard Terdine became the school psychologist in April, 1976.

Two bowling lanes located in the basement of the Girls’ Gym were restored during the winter of 1976. The lanes, which had not been frequently used because of their poor condition, were resurfaced and refinished. All labor and materials, including new bowling balls and pins, were donated by Wissman’s Bowling Supplies on Ardmore Boulevard.

The Butler County News in December, 1975 published an article about a unique on-the-job training program at W. W. Lord Manufacturing Company in Mars, Pa. Company owner Winston Lord, a 1960 graduate of WPSD, got into a cooperative venture with the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation to help deaf employees

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. receive instruction in welding techniques. This was believed to be the only on-the-job training for deaf people in the state. Among the deaf employees at the Lord Manufacturing Company were Kermeith McNeish (WPSD Class of 1963), Paul Baseler (WPSD Class of 1972), George Patterson (WPSD Class of 1947), Dean McCulley (WPSD Class of 1959), and Harry Young (a former WPSD student).

At the meeting of the WPSD Board of Trustees on March 17, 1976, Dr. Jack Birch was elected president, succeeding Richard Edwards. Mr. Edwards, who had been president since 1972, served during a period which saw the Girls’ Residence completed, extensive remodeling of classrooms, and a number of instructional programs initiated. Dr. Birch, a renowned professor at the University of Pittsburgh, had been closely associated with the school for many years and served on the Executive Committee of the Board since 1966. His wife, Jane, recently retired from WPSD after serving many years as the school psychologist.

The wrestling squad completed the season with a respectable 74-1 record. The boys’ varsity basketball team ended their season with a 4-10 record and a second place finish in the WPSD 5th Annual Winter Invitational Basketball Tournament. The girls’ varsity basketball team won three games while losing one, and the junior varsity squad broke even, winning three and losing three.

WPSD Board member Joseph G. Horne passed away on April 5, 1976. Mr Horne had been a member of the Board since September, 1949 and a member to the Executive Comrnittee from 1955 to 1973.

The boys’ track team ended a disappointing season, winning only three out of twelve meets. David Binning cleared the high jump bar at 6 feet 1 inch to set a new school record, and Joe Laino, Mark Kite, Tom Prechtl, and John Hazy combined their efforts to run the 880 Yard Relay in 1:36.7, another new school record.

The girls’ softball team completed their season with a three win and four loss record. Andrea Kovach broke two school records by hitting two homeruns in one game and five homeruns during the season. The girls’tennis team closed their season with a dismal 1 win, 6 loss record.

The 1976 May Day pageant brought the largest cast ever, 107

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. students from Aanarde through 12th grade. Celebrating the country’s 200 years of existence, the pageant highlighted the life of Benjamin Franklin, starting with his arrival in the city of Philadelphia in 1723 and ending as the aged Ben Franklin joined Thomas Jefferson and John Adams in front of Independence Hall for the announcement of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Following the pageant, Betty Jo Rex was crowned the May Queen.

Dr. John Gough, retired director of Captioned Films branch in the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, delivered the commencement address on June 3, 1976. Following the address, WPSD Board President Dr. Jack Birch presented dipiomas to the 29 members in the Class of 1976.

David Allison Kendell Brommer Stephen Christian Craig Clark Connie Condit Michael Courtemanche James DeBee Cindy DeLuca Vincent Dibble Linda Franklin Sheila Keener Karen Kramer Joseph Laino Joan Laird Michael Martin

JanetMcLallen Elaine Mifflin Leonard Miller Darlene Murin Lois Myers Lynda Pelton Kim Reeping Betty Jo Rex Thomas Seibold William Shaw Paula Tajc Charles Taylor Valentine Woiton Patricia Wolf

William Rennie of WPSD Class of 1971 received a B.F.A. degree from the College of Fine and Applied Arts at the June 12, 1976 commencement at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

James DiSanto retired after 29 years of service as the painting instructor and school painter. Mr. DiSanto was a member of WPSD Class of 1934.

Cynthia Beal, Deborah Bucciero, Cynthia Cioffi, Jean Comeforo, Nancy Denmark, Terry Edelstein, Teresa Feher, Carla Johnson, Margaret Hewston, Mary Minner, Rita Mowl, Patricia Pahre, Lillian Ross, Valerie Sins, Margaret Van Fossan, Alberta McWi1liams, and Jimmie Weber decided not to return for the 1976-1977 school year.

1976- 1977 A Verbotonal Workshop, co-sponsored by WPSD and Bloomsburg State Teachers College, was held in the summer of 1976 and included 13 teachers from WPSD among the 18 participants. Branka

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Gabric and Vesna Pintar, teachers from Zagreb, Yugoslavia, joined WPSD instructors Sondra Williams, Miriam Telleck, and Betty Braun for the training program. Forty teachers presently on the WPSD staff had received instruction in the Verbotonal Method since 1971.

A platform tennis court was erected during the summer of 1976 on the site where the Summer House used to be. The court was used by the students as part of their physical education and extracurricular programs. The platform tennis court was taken down in the summer of 1986 to make room for a Wells Fargo fitness court. Next to the fitness court is a shelter which is being used for cover during rain.

The enrollment for the 1976-1977 school year was 497 students, of whom 96 were day students. A budget of $3,527,000 was realized for that school year.

New staff for the 1976-1977 school year included Robert Aker, Cecelia Amorose, Bernice Baker, Mary Bagley, Mark Camillo, Mary Beth Christobek, Roberta Cooke, Bruce Dickson, Charles Earhart, Barry Fell, Rebecca Foster, Ellen Freeman, Mimi Gouzoulis, Pat Hartnett, Christine Kieda, Virginia Lusebrink, Laura McClure, Jane McDowell, Sandra Nair, Gladys Nolan, Rebecca Starr, Kathy Seuss, Barbara Ventura, Adele Viola, Karen Vormack, Jacqueline Walter, Sherry Waryanka, Dorothy Watkins, Jane Ann Williams, Caryl Wolff, and Carolyn Zachery. Dorothy Schwartzman returned to WPSD to work as a language tutor in the Special Studies.

New appointments included Chris Noschese as the Assistant Dean of Boys and Loree Rager and Miriam Telleck as Dormitory Directors.

A pilot program for 6 trainable mentally retarded deaf children began in September, 1976. It incorporated an “extended day� teacher in the dormitory who worked with the children during the after-school hours, providing them with language and basic Ihing skill experiences carrying out behavior modification policies used in the classroom. The team consisted of Eleanor Magyar, classroom teacher, Barry Fell, extended day teacher, and Dorothy Schwartzman, language tutor. The extended day program met with considerable success immediately and has been a part of the dormitory program ever since.

The school improved its vocational evaluation program by purchasing a set of Valpar Component Worksample Series, a group of work activities involving tasks, materials, and tools which are

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. similar to those found in actual jobs. All seniors were tested, providing them with information for realistic work choices. The addition of the Valpar series in 1976 marked the beginning of a sophisticated vocational evaluation system which now exists at the school.

Deaf citizens in the Pittsburgh area were able to view tapes of captioned ABC news on WQED, starting on October 6,1976. Much credit for the captioned news was given to the WPSD Parents’ Association which gathered over 900 signatures on the petitions urging WQED to pick up the news captioned daily by the public broadcasting station in Boston. WGBH Boston, under a federal grant, received the evening edition of the ABC news, captioned it, and had it ready for showing by 11:00 p.m. All PBS on the Eastern Seaboard were then eligible to receive the captioned version of the news. Today the ABC Evening News is captioned live for the hearing-impaired television viewers.

Representatives from the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Center were on the campus for a series of meetings for the dormitory staff during the 1976-1977 school year. They led houseparents and dormitory directors to interesting discoveries about the reasons for drug abuse and techniques for preventing it. Also during the same year, the dormitory houseparents participated in a workshop facilitated by the Planned Parenthood of Pittsburgh. The objectives for the inservice were to increase the houseparents’ ability to assist students in coping with their sexuality and to improve the houseparents’ sexuality counseling skills.

The girls’ volleyball teams had a ffne season, with the varsity winning seven and losing three. The boys’ soccer teams did not fare well. The varsity team won three, lost seven, and tied two; the junior varsity team won four, lost six, and tied one; and the freshman team won only one and lost nine.

On October 26, 1976, WPSD hosted visitors from three western Pennsylvania agencies serving deaf persons. Representatives from the Pennsylvania Rehabilitation Center (now the Hiram G. Andrews Center in Johnstown), the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation, and the Pittsburgh Hearing and Speech Center (now Pittsburgh Hearing, Speech, and Deaf Services) met with WPSD personnel to discuss ways in which relations between the agencies could be strengthened to provide better rehabilitation services to the deaf. Following extensive discussions and a tour of WPSD, the group resolved to work out details of the referral process.

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Under the direction of Dr. Gary Holman and with Sol Schwartzrnan as the liaison agent and Myra Shaffer as the educational coordinator, WPSD sponsored a continuing education prograrn for deaf adults in the 1976-1977 school year. The offerings included news interpretation-current events, consumer protection, gourmet cooking, typingdanguage, and macrame.

Penned by Assistant Superintendent James Salem, an editorial discussing WPSD’s concerns on how Pennsylvania was implementing the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (Public Law 94-142) appeared in the January, 1977 issue of the Western Pennsylvanian. The main theme was how “least restrictive” as interpreted by state law could end up as “most restrictive” for deaf children enrolled in public schools in Pennsylvania. The policy of priority for educational placement of a handicapped school-age child as established by state law places center schools such as WPSD sixth out of nine possible educational placements; the five placements preceding one at WPSD are school district or intermediate unit based and could lead to severe communication limits both at home and school. “By placing a deaf child in a public school environment where he may not be able to effectively communicate with his teachers, his peers, or his environment, are we not adopting a ‘sink or swim’ approach to the problem. In our desire to provide an environment for the deaf child free of restrictions, may we not be imposing a different and perhaps more severe set of constraints,” wrote Mr. Salem in his editorial.

A snow blizzard and unusuall cold weather on Friday, January 28, 1977 stranded l90 people for the night: 141 WPSD students, 29 students from the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children, and 20 adults who chaperoned the Altoona, Bowersox, St. Mary, and Erie busses. Erie students were not able to return home until the following Monday. WPSD remained closed until February 7 because Pennsylvania Governor Shapp had declared an energy crisis and requested that all schools throughout the state not be in session during the weel: of January 31.

The boys’ and girls’ basketball and the boys’ wrestling teams had a disappointing season in the won-lost column. The boys' varsity basketball team ended the year with three wins against eleven losses.

The girls’ varsity basketball team went winless, losing five games.

The boys’ wrestling team won two out of twelve meets. There was some fne individual ta1ent on the wrestling team, however. Randy Buchanan went 11-1, losing only to a postgraduate wrestler at Kiski Prep. Andrew Friday finished the season with 10 wins and 2 losses,

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. and William Rabenstein completed a successful year with 8 wins, 3 losses and 1 tie.

The boys’ track team won three and lost nine in the spring of 1977. Track star Wesley Hawkins broke one of the oldest track records at WPSD. His :51.4 in the 440 yard run eclipsed the mark of Chalmer B1ack (1969). Wes also shattered the existing records in team points, 179 formerly held by Alan Shaulis (1971) and in individual points, 1411/2, formerly held by Randy Prezioso (1975).

The girls’ softball team fnished schedule with 5 wins and 5 losses.

their

longest

and

toughest

May Day festivities were held on May 27. A large crowd of students, their parents, alumni, and friends of the school witnessed the crowning of Christy Baker as the May Queen.

Graduation exercises for thirty-two students in the Class of 1977 were held in the Auditorium on June 9. Harold Mowl Jr., Dean of Boys, was the graduation speaker, and Dr. Jack Birch, WPSD Board President, awarded each graduate with a diploma.

Robert Andrascik Lyrm Ashby Christy Baker Barbara Barnacastle Tammy Bennett David Binning Sandra Brocious Gloria Bruno Joseph Coelho Perry Davidson Jeremiah Deasy Renea DeBee John Edwards Patricia Funk Jeffrey Greenawalt Allen Hammel

Thomas Hattaway John Hazy James Iandiorio Andrea Kovach Rosemary Mangan John Mann Robert Meyer John Noschese Alfred Reese Rosemarie Rolewitz Sharon Siegel John Stahl Catherine Stauffer Mark Tarno Edward Veltre Joseph Waltz

Mrs. Anna Binotto and Mrs. Laura Kieffer closed their long careers with WPSD when they retired on June 10, 1977. Mrs. Binotto was a boys’ houseparent for 43 years, and Mrs. Kieffer wwiced with the girls in the Girls’ Donnitory for 17 years. They were honored at a reception given by Dr. and Mrs. William Craig, at a dinner given by WPSD students, and at another dinner given by their fellow workers.

1977-1978 WPSD welcomed the following new staff members for the 1977- 1978 school year: Joseph Ballcovec, Ralph Benson, Lisa Brown, Donna Groves, Dianne Mitchell, Joyce Rodella, Helen 174

Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed.

Sanford, Louise Studebaker, Helen Teuten, and Robert Wells. The new appointments for the year included Miriam Telleck as the Dean of Girls and Ann Walz and Jackie Walter as Directors of Dormitory Life.

Over the summer of 1977, a number of renovations were made to the physical plant to meet federal requirements removing architectural barriers and providing access to handicapped individuals. Two entrances to the Main Building were ramped, three bathrooms renovated and railings installed, and an elevator installed in the Main Building.

A new Fire Alarm Warning System was installed in all school buildings. The system was installed to be in accordance with the new Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry fire code regulations.

Structural deterioration in the balcony and porch off the second floor of the Main Building made it necessary to remove the balcony.

The damage was discovered when the restoration of the white pillars in the front of the school was begun.

The Parents’ Association of WPSD became very active with what was happening with Public Law 94-142. In a meeting on November 6, 1977, they unanimously voted to establish a Legal Fund for the purpose of giving financial assistance to parents who wished to challenge placement decisions for their children. The Parents’ Association also held regional meetings to inform parents about the background and implementation of Public Law 94-142 and in particular to inform them how it affected parents of students enrolled at WPSD. In one month’s time, the meetings were held in Sharon, DuBois, Altoona, and Pittsburgh. Andrew Sebastian, then President of the WPSD Parents’ Association, described the meetings as “fast and hectic, but well worth it.”

With federal funds, WPSD established a model project called “Evaluation of Aural Response Systems,” which offered WPSD students the benefit of an extensive series of middle ear examinations and frequent hearing loss evaluations. The purpose of this Project EARS was to provide each student at WPSD with maximum opportunity to benefit from his or her residual hearing. The project detected middle ear problems, determined their causes, and recommended treatment if needed.

Coached

by

Michael

Adams,

the

175

WPSD

Varsity

soccer

team

Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. finished with a final season record of 8 wins and 5 losses to post their first winning season since 1974. The season highlight was the trip to Altoona on September 20, 1977—in addition to 44 soccer players and coaches, 65 students and 5 chaperones traveled to Altoona and witnessed their varsity team beat Altoona High School, 2-0. The junior varsity team won 3, lost 7, and tied 2; the freshman team went winless in 10 games.

In 1977, four former WPSD soccer players were associated with Gallaudet College’s soccer program. Allen Talbert (1972) was the assistant coach, and Stephen Rute (1974), Valentine Woiton (1976), and Joseph Coelho (1977) were starting members of the soccer team there. They helped Gallaudet post their best season record ever—8 wins, 4 losses, and 1 tie.

The girls’ volleyball teams fared well that year, too. After losing the first two matches, the varsity team won the remaining six matches to post a 6-2 record. The junior varsity team ended their season with 7 wins and only 1 1oss.

Mr. Larry R. Lenarz and Mrs. Eleanor R Stuckman were elected to membership on the WPSD Board of Trustees on November 8, 1977. Dr. Jack Matthews and Mr. Andrew Sebastian were elected to the Board on June 14, 1978.

James H. Garrity, Director of Upper School, left WPSD in December, 1977 to attend the Nationa1 Leadership Training Program in the area of deafness at California State University, Northridge. He had been with WPSD since the fall of 1964 as a boys’ houseparent, academic teacher, athletic director, dean of boys, and dean of students. From CSUN, he went to Brigham Young University where he earned his doctorate. Dr. Garrity is presently the Executive Director at the John Tracy Clinic in Los Angeles, California.

Also leaving WPSD in December, 1977 was Barry had been in Extended Day houseparent in the Boys’ Dormitory.

Fell

who

At the quarterly meeting of the WPSD Board of Trustees on December 13, 1977, the resignation of William A. Gordon, member of the Board since 1935 and vice president since 1973, was accepted with regret.

The School was notified by the attorneys for a will made out by

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed.

Russell D. Anderson that a cash gift was being presented to WPSD. Superintendent Craig and the Executive Committee of the WPSD Board of Trustees agreed that the best use for the money was towards construction of a new Infirmary in the Girls’ Dormitory. The new Infirmary was named in honor of Russell Anderson, who was a student at WPSD from 1932 to l943.

A near record snowfall marooned 180 boys and girls at WPSD for the January 20,1977 weekend. Only about twenty boys and girls were able to go home when the weather improved, and this created a laundry problem for the students. The staff either manned all washing machines on the school campus the entire weekend or took suitcases home to get clothes ready for the next week.

Miss Hannah Oehler, who worked at WPSD for 43 years until her retirement in June, 1966, died on February 23, 1978. She was a classroom teacher, a supervising teacher of the primary department for 30 years, and a speech and language teacher.

John P. Orr, 75 died on March 5, 1978 after suffering an apparent heart attack. Coming to WPSD in 1929 as an academic teacher, he was put in charge of the Boys’ Industrial Department in 1931 and made Principal of the entire Vocational Department in 1934. He served in that position until 1941.

The WPSD varsity wrestling team closed out the season with an impressive 8-3 record, one of the best in the school’s history.

Randy Buchanan finished the season with a 10-1 record while teammate Andy Friday finished with a perfect 10-0 record.

The boys’ varsity basketball completed a very exciting and successful season, putting in a record of 12 wins and 8 losses. The team won the championship in the annual tournament hosted by WPSD, defeating Sacred Heart and St. John Fisher. Jay McLaughlin, Wesley Hawkins, and Randy Perks were named to the alltournament team. The junior varsity team won nine and lost eight games.

The girls’ basketball teams did not fare as well as the boys in that year. The varsity team went winless in 5 games, and the junior varsity team turned in a 2-3 record.

Miss Theresa Rolshouse, a former WPSD teacher, died on April 14, 1978. She came to WPSD in September,1926 and retired in June,1968. Although she spent most of her 42 years at WPSD as

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. a teacher of primary age children, she taught English and Literature in the high school for several years.

Two teachers resigned their teaching positions at WPSD in the spring of 1978. Jane Ann Williams left in March, and Charles Earhart moved to another school the following month.

The May Day in 1978 was another smashing success. The Parents’ Association netted over $8,000. Robin Shay was crowned the May Queen.

The WPSD track team finished its 1978 season with a 5 win -7 loss record in dual meets and a 5th place fnish (out of 8 teams) in the Serra Catholic Invitational Tournament. Three school records were established in that year: Wes Hawkins ran the 220 yard dash in :22.6 seconds; Thomas Prechtl, Scott Duessel, Mark Kite, and Wes Hawkins did the 440 yard relay in :46.1 seconds; and Robert Cline, Mark Kite, Mark Kemmerer, and Wes Hawkins broke the one mile relay record with a mark of 3:37.1.

The girls’ tennis team finished their season with one win and five losses. The girls’ softball team posted a record of 2 wins and 3 losses.

Dr. James Gallagher, President of Mt. Aloysius Junior College in Cresson, Pa., gave the commencement address. Thirty-five seniors in the Class of 1978 received diplomas from Board President Dr. Jack Birch.

Roy Anderson Paula Battin Steven Bergman Patricia Bitsko Randall Buchanan Merrill Cargo Susan Eash Susan Foley Barbara Frank Andrew Priday Theodore Grant Raymond Gwizdak Wesley Hawkins Stephen Hogenmiller Mark Kemmerer Mark Kite Thomas Kline JanetKoerbel

Louise Maher Mary Jane Marcouiller Alan McBeth Pamela McCoy Jay McLaughlin Dorothy Patterson Randell Perks William Rabenstein Joan Schellman Robin Shay Richard Shellhammer Philip Spittler David Tajc Lisa Teague Richard Umek Sandra Veltri Diane Wolfe

A total of 455 students were enrolled during the 1977-1978 school year, representing 256 boys and 199 girls. Of the total

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. enrollment, 367 resided at the school while 88 lived within daily commuting distance of the school. The school operated on a budget of $3,583,000 for the year.

Edmund Clippinger, Director of Facilities Operation at WPSD, retired after 22 years of supervision over the school physical plant.

He came to WPSD in 1956 as the Maintenance Engineer. Later that year, he was named Superintendent of Plants and Grounds. Mr. William Garrity, who had been Mr. Clippinger’s assistant since 1970 when the division of physical plant maintenance was renamed Facilities Operation, was named the new Director.

Also retiring at the close of 1977-1978 school year were Mrs. Jean Argall, Mrs. Philomena Spagnolli, Mrs. Angie Starkey, and Miss Anna Slean. Employed at WPSD for 26 years, Mrs. Argall held various secretarial positions, the last one being Superintendent Dr. Craig’s secretary. Mrs Spagnolli worked in the Staff Dining Room for 13 years. Mrs. Starkey worked for 22 years as a housekeeper and then as an aide in the Special Studies Department.

Miss Slean was on the Household Staff for 13 years, working in the Infirmary and Library.

Marilyn Abdoe, Mary Bagley, Ralph Benson, Catherine Christner, Tippi Comden, Jacqueline Guenther, Ann Hagg, Louise Hodder, Dorothy McDavitt, Jane McDowell, Agnes Pfrenzinger, Helen Sanford, Esther Shuster, and Penny Spiewak resigned at the close of the 1977- 1978 school year.

1978- 1979 The 23rd Triennial Alumni Reunion was held at WPSD during the weekend of June 23, 1978. About 350 people were registered, and about 150 spent two nights in the Girls’ Dormitory. Dr. Mervin Garretson of Gallaudet College was the main speaker at the banquet, and he spoke about new laws affecting education of deaf adults.

435 students from 32 counties in western Pennsylvania were enrolled at WPSD for the 1978-1979 school year. Seventy-seven of the students attended school on a daily basis while others were residential students.

New staff members for the 1978-1979 school year included Amy Ash, Linda Blankenbuehler, Martha Goslin, Mary Ann Schaefer, Glenn Shannon, Deborah Whitten, and Susan Wiegand. Tippi Comden, who resigned in June, 1978, returned to WPSD in November.

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WPSD gardener Lou Briski was recognized in The Seamen, the official publication of the Men’s Garden Club of Pittsburgh. The article read in part, “One of the nicest campuses in the area in that of the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf where our fellowmember, Lou Briski, holds forth as the horticulturist. The beautiful buildings, both old and new, sit beneath many large shade trees.

These in turn are complimented by hundreds of attractive shrubsdeciduous and evergreen-and numerous roses. The playing fields (soccer and track) are practically weed-free as are the extensive lawns. In addition, there are strategically placed flower beds, both annual and perennial. There is also a large greenhouse where Lou holds classes for interested students. As one tours the campus with Lou and discusses the parts that make the whole, one feels that for him it is a labor of love as well as a livelihood.”

Andrew Sebastian, president of the WPSD Parents’Association and member of the Board of Trustees, presented Superintendent Craig a check for $11,500 at the Parents’ Association meeting on October 22. Representing the largest single gift ever given to the School by the Parents’ Association, the check will be used to purchase a scoreboard for the athletic field and an animal carousel for Aanarde and to fund various student projects.

Dr. John Dickinson, a member of the WPSD Board of Trustees since 1970 and serving as a member of the Executive Committee at the time of his death, passed away at his home in Oakmont on October 17, 1978.

Evelyn Carben, teacher in the Special Studies Department, died on November 12 at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh. During her 18 years at WPSD, she taught at Primary and Middle School levels prior to assuming her responsibilites with older students in the Special Studies Department.

The varsity soccer team completed its season with a record of 7-6-3. Among the highlights of the year were the trip to Washington, D.C. where WPSD defeated Model Secondary School for the Deaf, 60; a game with Mt. Lebanon on their astro-turf field which ended in a 0-0 tie; and a trip to Altoona for a game under the lights which resulted in a 2-2 tie. The junior varsity team went 1-9-2, and the freshman team was 0-9-1 in that year.

In spite of injuries and rainy weather all season, the girls’ soccer

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. team won 4 and lost 1. The girls’ tennis team registered a mark of 0 wins and 7 losses that year.

Audrian Kukleski, teacher in the Upper School for more than twenty years, was married to Lester Graham, media specialist at the New Mexico School for the Deaf, on December 30, 1978 in the WPSD Auditorium. This was the first wedding ever held at WPSD. Mrs. Graham did not return to work at WPSD after her marriage.

Several changes in staff took place since school opened in September. Gregg Bowers returned to WPSD in January of 1979 to work as Dean of Boys, replacing Harold Mowl, Jr., who was named Dean of Students. Former Dean of Students Mrs. Ada Sapko filled the vacant position of Upper School Director. Milton Graves, Middle School Director, resigned on December 8 to become the hearing impaired program Supervisor at the ARIN Intermediate Unit, and his wife, Linda, left her teaching position at WPSD the same time. Mimi Gouzoulis, Robin Kammerer, Michael Kulish, and Patricia Teets also resigned their teaching positions at WPSD. New staff members included Vincent Ruscavage, Georgia Bulger, Kathy Bowers, Mary Schofield, and Verla Majocha. George Colaizzi, boys’ varsity basketball coach since 1975, was named Athletic Director.

In January, 1979, the professional staff at WPSD began the process of investigating the pros and cons of forming a collective bargaining unit. The matter has remained in litigation as of December, 1986.

The school was saddened by the death of a 12 year old student, Karen Supples, on January 18, 1979.

The girls’ varsity basketball did not fare well this year, winning only one and losing six games. The junior varsity team went 3-5.

A unique feat was accomplished by the girls’ volleyball teams.

Both the varsity and junior varsity teams went undefeated. The varsity team went 10 -O, and the junior varsity team won 9 and lost 0.

When asked to comment on the accomplishment of their teams, Coaches Jan Neleigh and Joyce Rodella said that volleyball is the favorite sport of the girls and they were highly motivated to win.

The boys’ varsity basketball team won 12 and lost 10 during the 1978- 1979 campaign. The most exciting game of the season was when WPSD beat the Model Secondary School for the Deaf team by 10 points. The junior varsity team finished with a record of 5 wins and 15 losses.

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The Lion wrestling squad was led by Billy Stockdill with a 13-2 record, following closely by Scott Franklin with a 10-5 record and MarkMalatestinic with a 10-3-1 record. The team ended their season with 9 wins and 6 losses.

Rosemary Garrity was appointed Consulting Language Arts in the Upper School in March, 1979.

Teacher

for

Lower School Director Rosemary Burke was honored with a Certificate of Merit from the Conference of Executives of American Schools for the Deaf at a special ceremony at Aanarde on April 25.

Miss Burke, who had been a teacher and director for 25 years, received flowers from six WPSD students, each representing a department in the school.

Mrs. Virginia Thornburgh, wife of Pennsylvania Governor Richard Thornburgh, visited WPSD in the spring of 1979 and met with parents of some WPSD students. An advocate of handicapped children and eager to increase her understanding of deafness and the process of educating deaf children, she listened to the personal problems the parents were having with the implementation of Public Law 94-142.

Robert Cline broke a school track record by running the 440 Yard Dash event in :51.3 seconds.

The May Queen in 1979 was Melanie Robis. Ten other senior girls served on her court during the May Day program on May 25.

On May 31, Governor Thornburgh signed Act 11 into law which changed the funding for WPSD from per capita reimbursement to negotiation of the budget each year with the Department of Education, starting with the 1979 - 1980 school year. The per capita reimbursement was inadequate to meet the total expense of $3,856,000 for the 1978- 1979 school year, and the school sustained a $229,000 loss which was offset by the school’s endowment funds.

Graduation exercises for twenty-six seniors in the Class of 1979 were held on Thursday, June 7 with Dr.DonaldMoores, professor at Pennsylvania State University, as the main speaker.

Mr. John Campbell, WPSD Board Vice President, awarded diplomas to the following graduates: Lance Aaron

Janet Lunn

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Suzanne Beeghly Brian Bernard Tina Chippo Jesse Clark Thomas Courtney Mannie Crotsley Peter Frontini Gerard Fuhrman Barbara Funk Gigi Gardner Cathy Harshberger Lisa Hlavay

Thomas Mainc Tracy McGill John Mlakar Laurel Riley Melanie Robis Thomas Simich Cynthia Snyder James Stubbs William Szymanski Damian Tasselli John Warner David Zdravecky

Ruth Lawrence, Head Nurse at the Infirmary for ten years, retired in June,1979. Grace Devroude was named to replace her as Head Nurse beginning with the 1979-1980 school year. Evelyn Long, a waitress who began her long career at WPSD in 1953, also retired. Amy Ash, Joe Balkovec, Barbara Black, Jeanette Ehrman, Kathy Seuss Emeigh, Ellen Freeman, Marianne Hudzik, Laura McClure, Elizabeth McPeak, Dorisanne Osborn, Dorothy Watkins, and SusanWiegand decided not to return as employees for the 1979-1980 school year.

Harry Lang, a graduate from the Class of 1975, became the first WPSD graduate to earn a doctorate. He received a Ed.D. degree from the University of Rochester. He graduated with a B.S. in Physics and Mathematics from Bethany College and a M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology.

Harry Lang has been employed as a physics professor at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf.

Three other graduates of WPSD also received college degrees in the spring of 1979. Scott Recht, ’75, Mary Lou Novitsky, ’74, and Molly Pfeifer, ’74, graduated with bachelor’s degrees from Gallaudet College.

By action of the Board of Trustees in their June 14, 1979 meeting, the following were elected to Board membership: Mrs. George Kesel, Dr. Caryl Kline, Dr. James Gallagher, and Dr. Sylvan Stool.

1979- 1980 Several remodelling activities were accomplished during the summer of 1979 to increase compliance with the Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act which calls for the physically handicapped to have access to instruction and physical plant at WPSD. Since the old Infirmary building did not meet the regulations, it was razed. The new Infirmary, which is housed in the Girls’ Dormitory, includes a modern examining room, an efficient, up-to-date clinic area, five patient rooms totaling 11 beds, a dental clinic, physical therapy

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. room, and kitchen and laundry facilities for Infirmary use only. The print shop was moved from the Vocational Building into a redesigned area in the Upper School basement.

The enrollment was 413 students—224 boys and 189 girls.

The school budget surpassed the four million dollar mark for the first time - a total of $4,402,000 was needed to educate the 413 students enrolled for the 1979-1980 school year.

Beginning with the 1979-1980 school year, MissDonna Groves was appointed Director of the Elementary School and Mr. McMullin was chosen to head the General Program Department.

Miss Groves had been a teacher at WPSD and a Supervising Teacher at the New Mexico School for the Deaf. Mr. McMullin, who had served as a dormitory counselor, coach, and teacher at WPSD, was the Upper School Social Studies Consulting Teacher at the time of his appointment. Mrs. Connie Stepien was hired to be the new Dean of Girls, replacing Mrs. Miriam Telleck who had resigned to return to the classroom. Mrs. Stepien moved here from the Pennsylvania Rehabilitation Center in Johnstown where she was a counselor assistant, teacher of the prevocational program, and interpreter.

New staff members for the 1979-1980 include Virginia Leech, who returned as a teacher, Bonnie Skaley, who returned as a secretary, Maro Avakian, Dyhan Cassie, Susan Eberhardt, Daniel Emerick, Mary Farrell, Deborah Fell, Deborah Grotth, Patricia Hawk, Janet Koerbel, Joanna Lambert, Sara Jane Manbeck, Christine O’Hara, Marlene Parr, Cynthia Potter, James Raffle, Loree Rager, Ruth Richardson, LaDora Rose, Linda Ruyak, Sharon Siglow, Barbara Ventura, Ruth Walz, and Susanne Wilkinson.

Members of the school staff who resigned at different times during the school year included LisaBrown, Carol Dacey, Christine Kieda, and Marianne Kieda.

Under a grant with the National Science Foundation, two classes, one from the 11th grade and the other from the 12th grade, were selected to take college classes for credit at the Community College of Allegheny County-Boyce Campus. The first semester courses included Basic Chemistry and Psychology; the second semester offerings were Basic Physics and Child Psychology.

Charles L. McCune, member of the Board of Trustees of the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf from 1945 to 1975, passed away on October 15, 1979. Mr.McCune was the third

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. generation of McCunes to be associated with WPSD—his grandfather, John R. McCune, was a charter member of the WPSD Board of Trustees, and his brother, John R. McCune, Jr., served on the Board from 1923 to 1972. The obituary in the Fall 1979 issue of the Western Pennsylvanian best described Mr. Charles McCune and his family’s ties to the Board; it read in part: “Mr. Charles McCune, 84, was one of the last giants of fabulous Pittsburgh era that made millionaires and built financial dynasties. As a young man, he was one the country’s leading oil wildcatters. He was 24 when he, his father, and a third partner set up Lewis Oil Co., the first of about six such partnerships. Eventually, the partnership was sold to Texaco and Mr. McCune became a member of its board of directors.

“The family ties to Union National Bank influenced the successful oilman to accept the position of president and chief executive of the bank in 1945, the same year he joined his brother, John R. McCune, Jr., on the WPSD Board of Trustees.

“In the History of the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, the early section of which was written by the Reverend Dr. John Brown and Dr. William N. Burt, former WPSD superintendents, Charles McCune’s grandfather is acknowledged as having done much to place the institution (WPSD) on a solid financial basis at its organization. Each succeeding member of the McCune family throughout these 108 years has continued to counsel wisely and to express genuine interest on the welfare of our students.

“Charles McCune will be remembered, along with these others, for his unselfish service and devotion to the education of deaf children at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf.”

One hundred sixteen people signed up for sign language classes taught by WPSD staff members Ruth Ann Adams, Ann Coyle, Pam Herward, Loree Rager, and Ada Sapko. The number of people represented families of one hundred eleven students enrolled at

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WPSD. The classes were held at WPSD on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Girls’ soccer coach Joyce Rodella congratulated the team on their 6-0-1 record by writing in the Fall 1979 Western Pennsylvanian, “Defense was the name of the game! The girls allowed only 5 goals all season while smashing through their opponents’ lines to score 22 goals. I’m proud of their undefeated record and congratulate each member of the team.”

In other sports, the boys’ varsity soccer team ended another successful campaign under Head Coach Mike Adams, posting a season record of 13-2-1 and winning the invitational tournament at WPSD. The junior varsity squad went 4-2-3, and the freshman team won 3, lost 7 and tied 1. The girls' tennis team won one, lost four, and tied one match in the 1979-1980 school year.

Staff and students at WPSD continued to be very generous with drives for the United Fund, Children’s Hospital and Blood Bank.

Student Council Advisors Cathy Rukavina and Mark Camillo reported that $301.00 was donated to the Children’s Hospital; Virginia Schatz, WPSD United Way Drive Coordinator, announced that staff giving was the highest ever at $876.00; and Marie Boal, Blood Bank Drive Chairperson, said that 68 staff and 21 students participated in the program.

The school was saddened by the deaths of its close friends during January and February, 1980. Esther Barr McCann, who retired after 26 years as the executive housekeeper at WPSD in November, 1970, passed away on January 3 following a short illness. A WPSD Elementary Department teacher for 18 years before her retirement in 1965, Helen Nelson died on February 11.

John Gilfillan, a member of the Board of Trustees since 1947, died on February 22. Mr. Gilfillan had served as Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer of the Board.

The basketball season during the 1979-1980 school year was an exciting one for the boys. The varsity team finished with a record of 18 wins and 8 losses. Junior standout player Mark Stopchick averaged 22 points and 16 rebounds per game. A highlight for the boys was a game against Edgewood High School at the Civic Arena.

The Lion wrestling team completed their injury-plagued season with a record of 3 wins and 9 losses. Fine performances were turned

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. in by Scott Franklin (8-2), Tom Prechtl (7-5), and Frank Sobina (7-4).

In girls’ sports, the varsity basketball team went winless after 6 games, and the junior varsity team posted a 1-6 record. The varsity volleyball team concluded their season with a record of 6 wins and 3 losses, and the junior varsity team ended their season with an impressive 7-0 record.

Captioned television made its debut in March, 1980.

With the assistance of a telecaption adapter, hearing-impaired television viewers were able to watch 16 hours of captioned programs on television weekly. In 1987, over 156 hours oftelevision programs were captioned, and over 700 videotapes of movies containing captions were available to the hearing-impaired people.

Robert Cline set a new school track record for the 100 yard dash. He ran the event in :10.1 seconds to erase a former mark of :10.3 held by 1975 graduate Randy Prezioso.

1978 alumaus WesHawkins was the captain of the USA soccer team which participated in the Western Hemisphere Playoffs for the 1981 World Games for the Deaf. The games took place February 13-17, 1980 at the Comite Olimpico Mexicano Villa, Mexico City, site of the 1976 Olympics. The USA team lost the opening match to Mexico and then beat Australia. In the final game, Mexico beat Australia to represent the Western Hemisphere in the 1981 World Games for the Deaf at Cologne, West Germany.

May Day 1980 was another success. The Parents’ Association netted $7100 from raffle tickets and bazaar sales. A cast of 72 actors and dancers took part in the May Day program, “The Prince and the Pauper,” and Susan Hunter was crowned the May Queen.

Dr. Robert Scanlon, Pennsylvania Secretary visited the school on May 21st to see some classes.

of

Education,

Commencement exercises for 33 students were held on Thursday, June 5, 1980 with Dr. Edward Schatz as the speaker. Dr. Schatz, who was the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Carnegie Mellon University, talked to the graduates about ”Learning and Excellence.” Dr. Jack Birch, WPSD Board President, awarded diplomas to: James Anderson Richard Begley

Mark Knipple Charles Koontz

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Arthur Bork James Brown Shelly Clark Robert Kline John Cooper Michael Davies Nancy Dewitt John Dodson Scott Duessel Theodore Felix MarsbA Finnigan Rex Fink Latricia Higgins Susan Hunter Craig Kemmerer

Diane Lanyi Scon Oliverio Thomas Prechtl Daniel Pritz Richard Putt Bernard Rolewitz Judy Sargent Marilyn Simich Jeffrey Smith lanice Snyder Frank Sobina Thomas Stephenson Linda Tajc Linda Wilfong

Staff not returning for the 1980-1981 school year included classroom teacher Jane Almasy, who retired after 23 years; classroom aide Margaret Ozark, who retired after several years of service; Director of Services for Children Pam Herward, who accepted a similiar position at the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf; Ruth Ann (Rinehart) Adams; Maro Avakian; Dyhan Cassie; Cecelia (Amorose) Clemente; Barbara Fox; Martha Goslin; Helen Kulish; LaDora Rose; Sandra Rossi; Jackie Walter; and Caryl Wolff.

Deborah Fell, who had been a classroom teacher this past year, was named to replace Pam Herward as the Director of Services for Children, starting in June, 1980.

1980- 1981 The Task Force on Education of the Deaf, formed in August, 1979 at the request of Director, Bureau of Special Education and represented by WPSD Assistant Superintendent James Salem and WPSD Teacher RuthLudivico, concluded a two-year study and presented its recommendations for program placement and delivery of services to hearing-impaired children to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The report, which was edited by Mr. Salem and two other Task Force members, included the Pennsylvania Matrix for Educational Placement of Hearing Impaired Students.

Through a grant from the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, 21 telecaption adapters were purchased for televisions located throughout the school. Three additional telecaption adapters were received as gifts, including one from the Greater Pittsburgh Deaf Lions Club and one from the WQED station in Pittsburgh. Closed captions, which are subtitles seen on television with a telecaption adapter, have been on television on a regular basis only since 1979.

An ad hoc committee consisting of members of WPSD administrative and support teams met over the summer of 1981 to improve student behaviors and attitudes. As a result, a new Code of Student

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Conduct outlining student rights and responsibilities was developed, the student dress code was changed, and a series of school-wide themes aimed at improving student behavior and attitude was adopted for the 1980-1981 school year. The efforts paid off with much success.

Miss Ann Couzens was appointed to replace Dr. Robert Stewart as Director of Special Studies. Holder of a bachelor’s degree from Marymount College and a master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh, Miss Conzens had been employed as a teacher at WPSD since 1973. New staff members for the 19801981 school year included Carole Aurilio, Marian Banas, Abbylee Baumbardt, Linda Becker, Linda Blankenbuehler, Rebecca Curran, Gayle Dobbs, Kay Christner, Joseph Goodman, Jo Graziano, Sara Haber, Gloria Hartnett, Patricia Horsman, Amalia Hyams, Anita Iurlano, Patricia Kerns, Judy Kester, Rebecca Kohler, Mary Beth Kramer, Carol Miller, Mary Mowl, Barbara Mycyk, James Mycyk, Mary Scanlan, Thomas Seager, Lyn Siverman, Sally Stone, June Watt, John Whigham, Linda Yedlicka, and Margaret Yocum.

Helen Craig, Research Director at WPSD, was appointed to the Executive Committee of the Pennsylvania Public Television Network. She had been a member of the Commission since 1976.

One of her first feats as a member of the Executive Cornmittee was to have PPTN air a live statewide program, “Call the Governor,” with sign language interpreters.

The fall sports program saw WPSD soccer teams completing the 1980- 1981 season with poor won-lost records. The varsity team went 4-9-1, and the junior varsity and freshman teams were winless with one tie apiece. The girls’ team won three while losing four. The girls’ tennis team turned in a 3 win and 4 loss record.

Elizabeth Key, who taught craft and handwork to girls at WPSD for many years and retired from teaching in June, 1957, died on October 21, 1980. Wilford “Jack” Starkey, a WPSD employee in the maintenance department for 21 years, died on December 27 after an illness of three months.

Betty Braun, a teacher at WPSD since 1956, retired in December, 1980.

She was one of the first teachers trained in the Verbotonal Method. The Professional Association honored her with a party in the home of Eleanor Magyar. Other resignations that took place during the year included that of Beau Brinker, Michael Panchak, and Joan Wylie.

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Basketball star Mark Stopchick led WPSD to a 11-12 record and a championship in the 1981 Invitational Tournament at WPSD. Mark closed his career with over 1500 points, the most ever by a basketball player at WPSD. The junior varsity squad compiled a 5-13 record that year.

The boys’ wrestling team went 1-10, defeating only Sewickley Academy. The girls’ varsity and junior varsity basketball teams turned in records of 1-4 and 2-5, respectively.

The spring sports program at WPSD included girls’ varsity volleyball which had a record of 3 wins and 5 losses; girls’ junior varsity volleyball which won 6 and lost 2; girls’ softball with 6 victories against 2 losses; girls’ track which participated in only scrimmages against other schools; and boys’ track which won only one out of 8 meets.

Mr. Alex Zelinski resigned from April 2, 1981 after four years of service.

the

Board

of

Trustees

on

About 50 students from the Special Studies Department at WPSD participated in the Special Olympics held at John Linton Junior High School in Penn Hills on May 16th. This was the frst time our students participated in this activity.

“Heidi” was the theme at the 1981 May Day program.

Marci Sheppeck was crowned the May Queen, and her brother, Danny, was the bearer of the crown.

Dr. Neal Musmanno, former Deputy Secretary sylvania Department of Education, was the speaker tion exercises for WPSD Class of 1981. Dr. Edward of WPSD Board of Trustees, presented diplomas to members.

Ellen Baker Suzanne Bono Elizabeth Boop Christopher Boyd Russell Brumbaugh Robert Brzezicki Lori Chernisky Cynthia Cominotti Andrew Courtney Patricia Dewitt Brian Farah Steven Fochtman Scott Franklin Sharon Hunter Roy Kirkwood Debbie Kline

Thomas Kosakowski Mark Malatestinic Lori McDonald David Morelli Jeffrey Pavlik Marci Sheppeck Daniel Speal Mark Stopchick Ophelia Thomas Paul Thompson Barbara Trozzo Donna Ulmer Jeffrey Watson Vicki Watts Barbara Whyel

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The total students—207 and 90 were the state of school year.

enrollment in the 1980-1981 school year was 390 boys and 183 girls of which 300 were residential day students. A total of $4,691,000 was needed from Pennsylvania to balance the budget for the 1980-1981

Frances O’Loughlin, school dentist for many years, retired in June, 1981 and was replaced by Ralph Kemerer, D.M.D. who has a private practice in the Shadyside area of the city of Pittsburgh.

Abbylee Baumhardt, Rebecca Curran, Anthony DiMenno, Patricia Horsman, Susan Huck, Judy Kester, Margaret Laird, Sandra Nair, Robert Neisworth, Ruth Richardson, Thomas Seager, Glenn Shannon, Sharon (Siglow) Shoemaker, and Lyn Silverman decided not to return to WPSD for the 1981 - 1982 school year.

The 24th Triennial Reunion of the WPSD Alumni Association was held on the school campus during the weekend of June 26-28, 1981. Over 300 people attended the reunion activities which began with a reception hosted by Harold and Mary Mowl on Friday evening and ended with a picnic lunch on Sunday afternoon. The Saturday night banquet was held at the Monroeville Marriott.

WPSD was well represented at the “Deaf Olympic Games” held in Cologne, West Germany in July, 1981. Robert Cline, a graduate in the Class of 1980 and a track star, won a gold medal as a member of the USA 4x100 meter relay team. Darrin Majocha, WPSD sophomore, was a member of the USA waterpolo team which finished 5th in the international competition. Staff members Mary Ann Schaefer and Henry Walls traveled to Cologne to watch the Games.

1981 - 1982 WPSD welcomed the following persons to the staff for the 1981-1982 school year: Joyce DeGennaro, Kenneth Engles, Rosalie Farber, John Foust, Betty Hornick, Marie Iurlano, Wayne Kelly, Kathy Ledbetter, Maria Lonnett, Kim Morgret, Nancy Painter, Kevin Saunders, Sally Schott, and William Smith. Caryl Chapman and Donna Fonzi joined the staff in the spring of the same year.

The school was saddened by four deaths which took place between August and October, 1981. Twelve year old student Raymond Stevwing was struck and killed by a train near his home on August 27, 1981. Opal Wells, a teacher at WPSD for 23 years before her retirement in June, 1970, passed away on August 1,

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1981 after a short hospitalization. James Macklin, who taught at WPSD from 1927 to 1961, died September 18,1981. Marie Gildea, a retired teacher from WPSD, died at the age of 94 on October 14, 1981.

Dr. Ira London, President of WPSD Parents’ Association, presented Dr. Craig with a check for $9,200 at their fall business meeting. The proceeds were used for a large number of special projects around the school.

After struggling to a 3-9 record in the regular season, the boys’ varsity soccer team came alive to win the annual invitational tournament, defeating Elizabeth Forward High School and Hazelwood Club. The junior varsity team posted a record of 3 wins, 4 losses, and 1 tie. The girls’ soccer team finished the season with 2 wins, 7 losses, and 1 tie; the girls’ tennis team won 2 and lost 6.

A reception was held in the home of Dr. and Mrs. Craig in honor of Carl Hursh and Aloysius Briski who retired at the end of 1981. Carl Hursh was a teacher in the Boys’ Vocational Department for 26 years, and Lou Briski was the groundskeeper for nearly 19 years.

John Wilson, Business Manager at WPSD for the past 8 years, resigned over the Christmas holidays to accept a position with Classic Industries, Inc. in Latrobe, Pa. He was elected to serve on the Board of Trustees in September, 1982. George Ayres was hired from the Port Authority of Allegheny County to replace Mr. Wilson in the Business Office.

In a roundup of the 1981-1982 winter sports at WPSD, the girls’ varsity basketball team compiled a season record of 1 win and 8 losses; the girls’ junior varsity team broke out even, winning 4 and losing 4 games; the girls’ varsity volleyball team won 5 and lost 4 matches; the boys’ wrestling squad put together a record of 5-12, a second place finish at the triangular meet held at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf and a last place finish at the WPSD Invitational Tournament; and the boys’ varsity basketball team won 14 out of 23 games and were the champions in the annual WPSD Invitational Basketball Tournament.

The 1982 Conference of the American Verbotonal Society was held on the WPSD campus Friday and Saturday, April 23 and 24. The conference which had for its theme, “Yesterday’s Accom-

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. plishments, Today’s Endeavors, and Tomorrow’s Projections,” attracted a variety of presenters, including WPSD’s Rose Farber, Lois Davies, Cindy Douglass, and Helen Craig. In the summer that followed, ten WPSD teachers, including Marian Banas, Linda Blankenbuehler, Lois Davies, Susan Eberhardt, Donna Groves, Gloria Hartnett, Patricia Hawk, Marlane Parr, Linda Yedlicka, and Peggy Yocum, registered for a Verbotonal Sumrner Workshop sponsored jointly by the Institute of Aural Rehabilitation, University of Tennessee, and the American Verbotonal Society. The workshop sessions were held at WPSD. The parents of Stephen Eberle, who had been battling the Pittsburgh Public School to keep him enrolled at WPSD, received word in the spring of 1982 that the Federal District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania had entered an Order finding that WPSD was the “appropriate” placement for Stephen. The Court’s order guaranteed Stephen’s placement at WPSD through the end of the 1982-1983 school year. The Eberles, who had been involved in this placement dispute since 1976, received $1000 from the Parents’ Association for their legal fees.

In spring sports, the boys’ track team ended their season with 1 win and 5 1osses, the girls’ track team posted a record of 5 wins and 4 losses, and the girls’ softball team recorded 4 wins against 7 losses.

Jodi Hawkins was crowned as the 1982 May Queen by Marci Sheppeck, queen in 1981. More than 1000 people were on hand to see the crowning and the pageant that followed.

Commencement exercises for 19 seniors in the Class of 1982 were held on June 10, with Dr. Gary Makuch, Director of Pennsylvania Bureau of Special Education, as the speaker. WPSD Board of Trustees President Jack Birch presented diplomas to: Amber Bastin Russell Beeghly Scott Berdy Barry Bergman Frederick Butler Persheil Coleman Karen Craven Terry Diehl Steven Finland Alan Fisher

Jodi Hawkins Juanita Klapak Jeffrey Kovatch Thomas Maiolie John Melchert Terry Pavlack Michaelene Smith William Stockdill Lori Wade

The enrollment for the 1981-1982 school year was 364 students. The operating budget for that year amounted to $4,877,000.

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10th Superintendent of the North Dakota School for the Deaf on July 1, 1982. Dr. Holman had been with WPSD for eleven years, first as the Director of the Middle School and then as the Principal.

His wife, Rose was a teacher in the Elementary Department.

Dr. James Gallagher resigned from Board June 16, 1982. He rejoined the Board in March, 1985.

membership

on

Twelve staff members retired at the close of the 1981-1982 school year. Rosemary Burke retired after 35 years of service at WPSD. She taught in the Primary Department until 1954 when she was named the director of that department. With the opening of Aanarde in 1956, she became director of both departments. She held both positions until 1979 when the Primary Department was absorbed into the Elementary Department. Wesley Dickson, a 1948 graduate of WPSD, retired after more than 27 years of service as the printing teacher. He had also served as a basketball coach, class advisor and yearbook advisor. Other retirees included: Ruth Curry (25 years as teacher), Helen Mortland (19 years as houseparent), Mary Koenig (18 years as teacher), Mary Newman (17 years as secretary), Gertrude Nichols (17 years as secretary), Ann Cheplic (16 years as houseparent), Barbara Reid (15 years as houseparent), Ellen Troiano (14 years as teacher), Edith Hilgenberg (12 years as houseparent), and Lucille Cavrak (7 years as houseparent). Other staff members not returning for the 1982-1983 school year included Kathy Bowers, Sara Haber, Rose Holman, Maria Iurlano, Barbara Mycyk, Debbie Whitten Shaw, Mary Scanlan, Sally Stone, and Lynda Wright.

1982-1983 Several former staff members passed away during the summer of 1982. Phoebe Oehler, who taught at WPSD from 1922 to 1966, died suddenly on August 6th. Louise Lee, rhythm teacher from 1934 to 1960 and then a teacher in Primary until 1964, passed away on August 18th. Howard McElroy, a member of the maintenance staff from 1925 to 1968 also passed away during the summer.

A Verbotonal workshop for 6 people, three of whom were from South America, was held at WPSD from June 21 to July 2. A feature article describing how the method works appeared in the July 6, 1982 edition of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

During the summer of 1982, as part of its long range planning effort, WPSD closed the dormitory in the Primary Building that

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. housed elementary boys and adjusted the dormitory staffing pattern to prepare for the anticipated decreases in residential enrollment after June, 1984 and June, 1985. The Language Lab moved from the third floor of the Main Building into the Primary dormitory after renovations wore made.

Joining the WPSD staff for the 1982-1983 school year were: Christy Baker, Linda Critchlow, Barbara Daye, Barry Fell, Wesley Hawkins, Sandy Kayner, Monica Moore, Kathleen Murphy, Sheree Peery, Philip Romito, Robert Wells, and Jane Ann Williams. Raymond Cornuet joined the school staff in March, 1983.

Donna Groves assumed supervision of the Nursery School program at Aanarde, in addition to her position as Director of the Elementary School. Miss Groves has been a teacher at WPSD and a supervising teacher at the New Mexico School for the Deaf. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s from the University of Mexico and has done postmaster’s work at the University of Southern California. Miss Groves replaced RosemaryBurke who retired at the close of 1981-1982 school year.

At the end of September, 1982, Dr. Stewart Karn left WPSD to join the Pittsburgh law firm of Meyer, Darragh, Buckler, Bebenek, and Eck. Employed at WPSD since 1969, he was a vocational counselor, director of the vocational department, and legal consultant. Dr.Karn was replaced by Mark Camillo who had been a teacher and materials adapter.

Rosemary Garrity, teacher since 1967 and later teacher for reading and language in the Upper School, duties of Administrative Assistant. Mrs. Garrity, who in Deaf Education from the University of Pittsburgh, is the “Partners in Reading” newsletter for parents.

a consulting assumed the has a M.Ed. the editor of

Susan Eberhardt was chosen to be the consulting teacher in the Elementary Department; Kersti Hammermeister became the Social Studies consulting teacher in the Upper School; Lois Davies was named the speech consulting teacher; and Carol Swift assumed the position of consulting teacher for the Vocational Department.

Thomas McMullin was appointed Director of Vocational Department, replacing Mark Camillo who resigned to work for the Secret Service for the United States Treasury Department. Mr. McMullin, who continued to be the Director of the General Program, has been a member

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. of the WPSD faculty since 1969. He holds a bachelor’s degree from La Salle College and a master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

The boys’ varsity soccer team ended the season with a championship in the annual invitational tournament, defeating Sacred Heart High School and North Catholic High School. These two victories improved the team record to 8 wins and 7 losses for the year.

Another highlight of the season was a trip to Buffalo, New York for soccer games against St. Mary’s School for the Deaf, losing 3-1, and New York School for the Deaf at Rome, winning 10-1. The junior varsity team put together a record of 1 win and 5 losses, and the freshman team went winless after 10 games.

The girls’ fall sports program included soccer and tennis. The soccer team played .500 ball, winning 4 and losing 4. The victories came against Winchester Thurston, a private school for girls, and against Clarion-Limestone. The tennis team defeated Vincentian twice to post a 2 win- 7 loss record.

Edmund F. Clippinger, who supervised WPSD’s facilites operations department for 22 years before his retirement in June, 1978, died on November 24, 1982. He was a well-known Edgewood resident for more than 25 years.

Loree Rager tendered his resignation as a teacher in November, 1982. Nancy Klasterka, classroom teacher, and June Watt, school nurse, did not return to work at WPSD after the Christmas holiday.

Through five grants which were approved during the early months in 1983, computer technology and awareness spread to almost every corner of the WPSD campus. Texas Instruments 99/4A microcomputers were set up for children aged 3 - 12 in the Preschool, Elementary Resource Center, and Library Reading Room.

Two Apple //e computers were installed in the Upper School to offer experience with alternative problem-solving approaches to other students. Another Apple //e computer was set up in the Speech Lab to generate facsimilie lips found in the “LIPS” program which was field-tested at WPSD. Two Superphones with a cable connection were also acquired to help students learn day-to-day communication skills. The last grant made possible the purchase of a WANG Offfice Information System for the Business Education dassroom.

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The basketball teams at WPSD put together dismal records for the 1982- 1983 season, despite strong performances at the Central States Schools for the Deaf tournament in Jacksonville, Illinois and the annual invitational tournament at WPSD. The boys’ varsity team ended the season with 4 wins against 20 losses. After losing to Illinois Deaf, 49 to 29, in the first game of the CSSD tournament, the boys went on to win the consolation championship by beating Ohio Deaf, 80-40, and Kansas Deaf, 43-41. In the WPSD invitational, they lost two thrillers, first to Sacred Heart, 71 to 62, and then to St. Bart’s, 65 to 63. The girls’ varsity team compiled a season record of 3 wins and 10 losses. At the CSSD tournament, they lost to Illinois Deaf, 42-41, in the first game, won the second game against Wisconsin Deaf, 43-32, and lost the consolation game to Indiana Deaf, 39-37.

The boys’ varsity wrestling team won 5 out of 12 meets in the 1982- 1983 campaign. They emerged as victors in the triangular meet at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf. The tournament at WPSD hosted Yough High School, Swissvale High School, and MSSD; WPSD and MSSD tied for the third place. In other sports, the girls’ varsity volleyball team put together a record of 2 wins, 4 losses, and 1 tie.

John Stanton, woodshop teacher at WPSD from 1930 until his retirement in 1968, passed away on March 23. He was best remembered for his outstanding contributions to the boy scout program at WPSD, serving as scoutmaster and member on the Board of Commissions for the East Borough Council. He was a recipient of the Silver Beaver, scouting’s highest honor. His wife, Margaret (Piel) Stanton, who taught at WPSD for 40 years before retiring in 1967, survived him.

Twelve school records and every personal record were broken by the Lady Lions during their track season. This feat enabled the girls to earn a lot of points in the meets against other schools—the highest in one meet was 64 points; the lowest, 32 points. Despite strong individual performance, their season record was 1 win against 7 losses, the sole victim being St. Mary’s School for the Deaf. The boys’ track team completed the season with a 2-7 record; they also defeated St. Mary’s School for the Deaf, 70-66. The girls’ softball team finished the season with a 5 win, 1 1oss, and 2 tied record.

A

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. departments presented “A Mother Goose Fantasy” for a crowd of over 1000 parents and friends. Senior Lindi Sue Hoffman was crowned the May Queen.

Dr. Gary Holman, former Academic Principal at WPSD, was the speaker for the 1983 graduation exercises on June 9, 1983. His talk centered on “Your Future - Who Is In Control?” Afterwards, the Class of 1983 was presented to Board President Dr. Edward Schatz for conferring of diplomas; there were 28 members.

Timothy Aaron Laura Baxter Ann Brannigan Brent Caylor Lisa D’Andrea Arleen Davis Sherri Franklin Angela Frerotte Andrea Greve Christopher Heininger Lindi Sue Hoffman Joseph Hogans Deneen Hunter Kenneth Killian

Donna Klisiewicz Darrin Majocha Timothy McElhaney Michael Moder Patrick Morgan Jon Muscaro Donald Novella Elizabeth Pleskovitch Robert Scott Robison Debra Ross Joseph Schupbach Laurie Sienkiel Gloria Spik Robin Dawn Starin

The enrollment for the 1982-1983 school year was 356 students, 270 residential and 86 day.

Cecelia Johnson and Harold Mowl, Sr., directors of dormitory life for boys, retired in June, 1983 after putting in 36 years and 20 years respectively. They were honored at a reception at the home of Dr. and Mrs. William Craig; the students held a recognition dinner for them and dedicated the 1983 yearbook in their honor; and the dormitory staff took them out to a retirement dinner at Tivoli’s in Penn Hills. Also retiring at that time was Gertrude Hanes, who had been on a leave of absence after more than 25 years as a science teacher and science consulting teacher; Foster Hopper, a maintenance worker for 32 years; and Marguerite Dixon, who had been a teacher at Aanarde for a long time. Caryl Chapman, Mary Beth Kramer, and Sara Jane Manbeck did not return for the 1983-1984 school year.

Several changes took place on the Board of Trustees during the 1982 - 1983 school year. Mr. Joel Aronson, Mr. James Campbell, and Mr. John N. Wilson were elected to Board membership at the September meeting. In June, 1983, Mr. John Campbell and Mrs. Eleanor Stuckeman retired from the Board of Trustees after contributing 20 years and 6 years respectively. Mr. Harold Meyer declined to be re-elected to the Board after serving 30 years.

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The school was saddened by the passing of employee Dorothy Dolembo, who served WPSD as a registrar, receptionist, and an accountant in the Business Office. She died on June 27, 1983.

1983- 1984 Barbara Gualtieri, Lori McClintock, Nancy Rute, Stephen Rute, Joan Sanford, and Ellen Young were added to the staff for the 1983-1984 school year. Linda Blankenbuehler resigned in October, 1983, and Abbylee Baumhardt was hired on a temporary basis to finish the school year for her. Lisa Kunkelman joined the staff in the spring of 1984, replacing Lori McClintock in the Front Office. For various reasons, Amalia Hyams, William Keene, and Madalyn Moser also did not finish the year at WPSD. The Board of Trustees welcomed Mr. Ross Farber as a new member on September 14, 1983. Mr. Farber is a parent of a student enrolled at WPSD, and his wife is one of the nurses at the school infirmary.

A supplement was added to the school curriculum in the 1983-1984 school year. “Instrumental Enrichment,” an extensive 2 or 3 year program for the development of cognitive skills in adolescent and young adults, was introduced in selected classes after Ada Sapko and Dianne Mitchell received training at a workshop at Teachers’ College, Columbia University. “IE” has been used in several schools around the country, including Model Secondary School for the Deaf in Washington, DC, California School for the Deaf at Berkeley, and Maryland School for the Deaf in Frederick, and the results with deaf students were reported to be very positive.

The fall sports program featured soccer for boys and soccer and tennis for girls. The boys’ varsity team finished with a record of 5-7-1 and were the co-champions at the invitational tournament at WPSD; the junior varsity team went 1-1-1; and the freshman team finished at 1-8. The girls’ varsity soccer team recorded three wins against two losses. The girls’ varsity tennis team went winless after 5 meets.

Bernard Bragg, world renowned deaf mime, entertained WPSD students at two assemblies on Friday, November 11, 1983. He stayed the weekend in Pittsburgh to give a Saturday morning workshop on “Dynamics of Communication” to deaf people and

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. professionals in the field of deatness and a Saturday night performance to the public at the Soldiers and Sailors Hall in Oakland.

Harold Mowl, Jr. and James Salem visited the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf campus on November 17 and 18. They talked to parents of secondary students about program options available at WPSD. PSD had recently been reorganized. Citing declining enrollment and high costs to maintain their Mt. Airy campus, they eliminated their high school program and moved to a smaller facility. Several PSD students who lived close enough to commute on weekends were enrolled at WPSD for the 1984-1985 school year.

Sheree Peery and her avocational class in cooking tied for first place with Upper St. Clair High School at the County Wide Nutritious Bread Bake-Off held at Hampton High School in December, 1983. Fifty nine students from 11 schools baked 18 breads at the contest. WPSD girls who won for their delicious shredded wheat bread included KathyBrown, DonnaMcKrush, Maureen Mravintz, and Karen Weissert.

The Eastern States Creative Arts Festival, sponsored by the Center on Deafness of Illinois, held its award ceremonies on the WPSD campus on February 25, 1984. TawndaJohnson, a senior student at WPSD, was honored as the top prize winner in the painting and drawing division at the banquet held in the Main Dining Room. Her entry, a painting of light bulbs, won first place in the Eastern Festival and was also judged as the most unique. The painting eventually won second place in the National Festival and again was named as the most unique of all art entries.

The girls’basketball team closed out another successful season, compiling an outstanding record of 8 wins and 4 losses. The girls competed in a tri-school meet in Columbus, Ohio, where they beat both the Ohio and Illinois Schools for the Deaf.

Charles Rubisch, standout basketball player at WPSD, was named Pittsburgh Press Player of the Week on January 13, 1984. In a game against St. Bartholomew on Tuesday of that week, Chuckie scored 29 points in a 57-55 loss to go over 1,000 career points and earned himself the distinction of being named Player of the Week.

The varsity team ended the season with a mark of 11 wins and 13 losses.

In other sports, the boys’ junior varsity basketball team won 5

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. and lost 12 games, and the freshman team won 3 out of 7 games.

The boys’ varsity wrestling team completed its season with a 2-11-1 record, a fifth place finish at the Central States Schools for the Deaf tournament, and a last place finish in the WPSD Invitational Tournament. The girls’ varsity volleyball team ended a perfect season, winning all its six matches.

Ten houseparents including Christy Baker, Raymond Cornuet, Kenneth Engles, Donna Fonzi, Wesley Hawkins, Nettie Johnson, Sandra Kayner, Kim Morgret, Kathy Murphy, and Kevin Saunders received houseparent certification from the Conference of Executives of American Schools for the Deaf (CEASD) in Spring, 1984, bring the total houseparents certified to 23 out of 35. They were enrolled in a training program in conjunction with Mt. Aloysius Junior College prior to receiving CEASD certification; classes were “Communication with the Deaf” taught by James Salem, “Psychosocial Aspects of Deafness” taught by Harold Mowl, Jr., and “Activities and Recreation for Deaf Children” taught by Janice Neleigh.

Mr. Henry Chalfant, Mr. George Blair, and Mr. C. Holmes Wolfe retired from WPSD Board of Trustees in the Spring of 1984 and were honored at the spring quarterly meeting of the Board. Mr. Chalfant was on the Board for 52 years and served as a member of the Executive Committee from 1934 tol936 and from 1978 until his retirement. His father and grandfather also served on the WPSD Board of Trustees. Mr. Blair, who was unable to attend the spring meeting, served as a Board member for 31 years, 14 of which were on the Executive Committee. Mr. Wolfe became a Board member in 1963 and was a member of the Executive Committee for 2 years. Mr. J. Sherman McLaughlin was elected to the Board membership at the spring meeting.

The boys’ track team ended their season with a 3-7 mark. The girls’ softball team finished with a 3-4 record, and the girls’ track team managed only one victory in five meets.

Jules Verne’s “Around the World in Eighty Days” was the theme of May Day 1984. There was a variety of dances included in the program: Breakdance, Phillipine Pole Dance, Greek Circle Dance, and American Square Dance. Tawnda Johnson was crowned the May Queen.

On June 8, the Quota Club of Southwestern Pennsylvania presented Superintendent Craig with a check to purchase a 15 passenger 1984 Dodge Maxiwagon. This represented a successful three year project in which the Quota members solicited businesses

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Dr. Harry Lang, 1965 WPSD alumnus and Professor and Chairperson of the Physics Learning Center at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, delivered the commencement address to the Class of 1984 on June 14, 1984. Forty-seven seniors took part in the graduation exercises.

Randi Anderson Bruce Anthony Daniel Bookleiner Arnold Bowser Joel Carr Thomas Carr Cindy Clymire Paula Comunale Tina Crum Nancy Dysard Robert Fisher Sheila Fleisher Jeffrey Grigsby Mary Ann Grossi Anthony Haibach Holly Harris Denise Harriton Patricia Haskins Nancy Herald William Hoffman Dale Holliday Tracy Hromanik Tawnda Johnson Jeffrey Julius

Patricia Klingler Earl Knight Maureen Mahon Barbara Mathis Lisa McKinney Deborah Moore Robert Morgret Frank Patterson Pamela Pinkerton Lajuana Pope Jean Raposo Frederick Roadarmel Angel Robinson George Sharp Brian Sheeder Daniel Shively Timothy Stark Shane Thomson August Toth Delores Tournay Harry Wagner Karen Weissert Linda Deneen Welsh

Eight staff members retired in June, 1984. The Health Center lost Dr. Mark E. Williamson, physician for 26 years, and Grace Devroude, nurse for 14, the last 6 of which were as the Health Center supervisor. The preschool program at Aanarde lost Louise Hodder, teacher’s aide for 16 years, and Helen Wagner, teacher’s aide for 14 years. The Special Studies Department lost Mary Anast, teacher for 29 years, and Dorothy Schwartzman, language tutor and previously a houseparent who was here off and on for 25 years.

Gayle Dobbs, Rebecca Kohler Johnson, Kim Morgret, Christine O’Hara, and Margaret Yocum resigned their positions at WPSD in June, 1984.

The school year closed out in June with an enrollment of 335 students—182 boys and 153 girls of which 254 were residential and 81 were day students. The school incurred a total expense of about $5,341,000 for their education.

1984- 1985 New staff appointments for the 1984-1985 school year included Leslie

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Buannic, Dr. James Gleason, Terry Matthews, Marilyn Messina, and Robert Turnbull. There were some changes that took effect in September, 1984: KathrynSgourakis became the Head Nurse at the Infirmary; upon the resignation of Ann Mazzotta, Thomas McMullin was appointed Director of Special Studies; Rosemary Garrity was named to replace Thomas McMullin in the General Program; Karen Biddle and Arlene Lucas became consulting teachers in their departments.

Between 1983 and 1985, eight WPSD teachers were awarded �Technology Grants for Special Education� by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

These grants provided teachers with Apple //e microcomputer systems, Epson printers, graphics tablets, word processing and graphics software packages for their classrooms. Linda Becker, Linda Burik, Lois Davies, Gerry Malmberg, James Mycyk, Sylvia Wilson, Suzanne Wilkinson, and Linda Yedlicka were the awardees.

Instrumental Enrichment (IE), a mediated learning approach centered around a series of paper and pencil exercises developed by Dr. Reuven Feuerstein in 1978 and used in over 4000 schools worldwide, was incorporated in some Upper School classes in the 1983- 1984 school year and expanded to Special Studies and Elementary classes in 1984-1985.

Ada Sapko, Upper School Director, and Dianne Mitchell participated in an introductory IE workshops held in NewYorkCity. Two workshops held on the WPSD campus in May and October of 1984 prepared additional teachers to use IE with their students.

In the Alumni reunion held at WPSD in June, 1984, the members passed a resolution to publish a quarterly newsletter. The first issue was printed in October, 1984 with Harold Mowl, Jr. as the editor. In other Alumni business, they voted to donate money to WPSD for a new panel sign to be erected in front of WPSD. Elizabeth Pollard was elected President for the next three years.

A feature article about the library appeared in the Fall 1984 issue of the Western Pennsylvanian. Written by WPSD librarian Mary Ann Schaefer, she traced the growth of the library program at WPSD from about 40 books in 1879 to over 16,800 volumes in 1984. A wide variety of library resources are available to the teachers, too. There is a professional library which houses 2,175 volumes and a large number of professional journals. Pennsylvania Resources and Information Center for Special Education (PRISE)

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. is another resource available to the school faculty—it has access to computer data bases for information in a variety of things such as instructional techniques and curriculum trends.

For the fifth time in eight years, WPSD concluded its soccer season with a championship in the invitational soccer tournament.

WPSD bested Sacred Heart, 1 - 0, in the preliminary round and North Catholic, 3-1, in the championship round. These two victories brought WPSD’s soccer season record to 7 wins and 91osses. In other sports, the girls’ soccer team went winless, losing four and tying one. The girls’ tennis team also went winless, losing all its eight matches. The boys’ freshman soccer team won one, lost eight, and tied one.

Anita Iurlano, teacher in the Special Studies Department, resigned in December, 1984 to enroll in the Leadership Training Program at the California State University in Northridge. Raymond Cornuet did not return as a Boys’ Dormitory houseparent after the Christmas holiday.

Led by Coach Linda Burik, the girls’ varsity basketball team experienced a very successful season with 9 wins and 9 1osses.

Victories were registered over Ellis School, Greater Works Academy, Faith Community Christian School, Ohio School for the Deaf, Winchester Thurston School, Beaver Valley Christian School, and Portersville Christian School. Junior standout player Tamara Majocha set the school scoring record with 35 points in a 65-48 loss at Ellis School. The junior varsity team posted a record of 2 wins and 8 losses.

The boys’ varsity basketball team concluded its season with a 13-11 mark and a second place finish in the annual invitational basketball tournament at WPSD. The season highlight came in the first round tournament game between St. Sylvester and WPSD when Charles Rubisch became the first WPSD player ever to score 2000 career points. He closed out his career at WPSD the next night with a total of 2032 points. Earlier in the season, he broke the old record of 1512 points held by Mark Stopchick. The junior varsity squad won 9 and lost 10; and the freshman team won 2 and lost 5. The wrestling team posted a record of 2 wins and 12 losses in the 1984-1985 school year.

Beginning with an in-service workshop in February, 1985, all teachers and department directors went into a cooperative venture to revise the school curriculum to satisfy new Department of

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Education guidelines. Under the guidance of Dr. Helen Craig, the old curriculum was changed into a Planned Course format which consisted of four criteria—objectives, content, expected levels of achievement, and evaluation. The new curriculum went into use in the fall of 1987.

On May 10, 1985, Superintendent William Craig announced the appointment of Harold Mowl, Jr. to the position of Principal at WPSD. The new assignment was in addition to his responsibilities as Dean of Students. In his expanded role, Dr. Mowl, along with Department Directors and Deans, coordinates the academic, vocational, recreational, and dormitory programs of the school. Dr. Mowl has been employed at WPSD since February, 1968 in a variety of positions: dormitory houseparent, classroom teacher, consulting teacher of the Upper School mathematics department, Dean of Boys, and Dean of Students. Dr. Mowl, upon receiving his Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of Pittsburgh in July, 1985, became the second graduate of WPSD to receive a doctorate.

In spring sports, the boys’ track team compiled a season record of 3 wins and 5 losses; the girls’track team fmished with a record of 1 win and 4 losses; and the girls’ softball team posted a record of 4 wins and 5 losses.

Art Kruger, Sports Editor of the “NAD Broadcaster,” announced the selection of Charles Rubisch as the National Deaf Prep Player of the Year. First WPSD player ever to be chosen for that honor, Charles was recognized for his numerous contributions to the sports program at WPSD. Suzanne Stopchick reigned over the 1985 May Day Festival.

Twenty four other seniors served in her court. Together with over 800 people who visited WPSD on May Day, they enjoyed the pageant, “Beauty and the Beast.”

The entire school community was saddened by the death of Upper School Director Ada Sapko on June 4, 1985. Ada Mundinger Sapko began to teach at WPSD in the fall of 1953. She left in 1955 to work at the Lutheran School for the Deaf in Detroit. After two years, she moved to the Millneck School for the Deaf in New York City. In 1960, she returned to WPSD as a mathematics teacher.

Mrs. Sapko was appointed Dean of Girls in 1967 and became Dean of Students in 1974. In 1979, she assumed the responsibilities of the Upper School Director. A memorial service was held in the school

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. auditorium on June 7 for Upper School students, teachers and other staff members.

During the first week in June, students in the 6th, 8th, and 11th grades were busy writing competency examinations for the first time. The competency examinations, devised by the school faculty under the direction of Harold Mowl, Jr., was part of a school-wide effort to test students’ competencies in certain subject areas for appropriate diploma awards or class placements. These examinations were reviewed and revised in the next three years.

Dr. Frieda Hammermeister, Professor and Coordinator of the Program in Hearing Impairment at the University of Pittsburgh, spoke at the commencement exercises on June 13. Fifty-eight seniors, who made up the largest graduating class ever, received diplomas from WPSD Board President Edward Schatz.

Ronald Beck Alice Beichner Toni Jo Biega Darryl Bolt Murray Bowman Lynne Bowser Katherine Brown Leonard Brown Dennis Carney Warren Cochran Scott Collar Norman Collins Dana Deller Robert Essex Scott Farber Mark Farrior Cynthia Finnegan Thomas Fleming Patrick Garofalo Darren Grady Tanya Grant Leman Harman Frank Hoepfer Daniel Huber William Huffmyer Monica Jay Melissa Jones Dennis Kelly James Kuhns

Theodore Kuminkoski Lisa Mallory Nancy Martin Donna McKrush Jacqueline Mitchell Kimberly Moody Maureen Mravintz Daniel Mulvey John Murray Dale Neimiller Timothy Pacatte Todd Pope Darla Radich Lynn Richards John Robinson Charles Rubisch Barbara Scott Amy Shuey Renay Smith Suzanne Stopchick Stephanie Thomas Tracy Toye Brenda Tressler Carol Tudek Kenneth Vantassel Jack Widmann John Williams Paul Woiton Thomas Woodner

With 105 students graduated in the past two years, the enrollment declined from 356 students in the 1982-1983 school year to 255 students in the 1985 - 1986 school year. Superintendent William Craig and Assistant Superintendent James Salem, in their long range planning report, showed that the school’s enrollment had stabilized and will continue to be around 225-250 students.

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Five staff members retired at the close of the 1984-1985 school year. They included Harriett Snyder, an art teacher for 20 years; Rose McKelvey, secretary for 17 years; Mary Christulides, assistant librarian for 17 years; Ruth Ludivico, teacher in the Upper School for 16 years; and Elizabeth Young, teacher in preschool and Special Studies for 12 years. Patricia Kerns, Nancy Livorio, Maria Lonnett, and Cindy Potter resigned their positions at WPSD in June 1985.

Three members of the Board of Trustees retired during the 1984-1985 school year. The Honorable Hugh C. Boyle was elected to the Board in 1951, serving for 34 years. Mr. George R. Craig retired after 29 years of service, 11 of which he served on the Executive Committee. Mr. Thomas P. Eddy completed 21 years on the Board prior to his retirement.

SuperintendentWilliamCraig and ResearchDirector Helen Craig were the recipients of the prestigious Community Service Citation for 1985 from the Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolarynology. They were recognized particularly for their work on Project EARS at WPSD which increased awareness of the effects of middle ear infections in severely and profoundly deaf children. The award was made at the annual convention banquet on June 22, 1985 at the Bedford Springs Hotel.

1985- 1986 Dr. Elaine Moore returned to WPSD as the Upper School Director, replacing Mrs. Ada Sapko who passed away on June 4, 1985. Dr. Moore was a teacher in the Primary Department from 1970 to 1974.

Another new staff member is Susan Link, secretary to Principal and Dean of Students Harold Mowl, Jr. Cheryl Noschese joined the staff in January, 1986, replacing Kevin Saunders who resigned to work at the Mellon Bank. Robert Kropp became the new horticulturist at WPSD in winter 1986.

During the summer of 1985, the Elementary Department moved to the Main Building, vacating the old Primary Building for renovation to house the new Center On Deafness. The move marked the first time since the Main Building was remodeled after the fire in 1899 that all academic classes were held in the Main Building.

History was made in September meeting of the WPSD Board of Trustees when Rodney Danco was elected to board membership.

Mr. Danco, from the Class of 1965, became the first deaf person ever to serve on the Board of Trustees at WPSD. He is the Vice

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President of Finance at Danco Tool and Mold Company in Phoenixville, Pa. Also elected to the Board of Trustees during the 1985-1986 school year was Judge William L. Standish.

On September 30, 1985, at the urging of WPSD administration, Representative RonaldCowell (34th District, Edgewood and Wilkinsburg) introduced into Pennsylvania State Legislature House Bill 1693, designating the three schools for the deaf in Pennsylvania —WPSD, Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, and Scranton State School for the Deaf—as regional resource centers for hearing impairment. A sister bill, Senate Bill 1038, had been introduced into the legislature. On Friday, November 22 a subcommittee of the Pennsylvania State House Committee on Education met at WPSD to discuss this proposed legislation. Although much support was lent

by WPSD staff, parents, alumni and friends, the bills died when the legislature concluded its business after the 1986 election.

At the fall meeting of the Parents’ Association, Superintendent Craig was presented with a check for $6846.50 to be used for various student projects. With the money, the School purchased two Apple //e computers, an Apple monitor, a Buddy Bike, and a set of new wall maps. Some funds were used to support Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) Program; academic, vocational, sports and avocational awards; and a parent education program.

Through sponsorship of Senator Joseph Rocks from Philadelphia, four WPSD students received a unique working and learning experience when they served as pages in the state capitol. Seniors Melissa Watson and Harry Fisher and sophomores Wendy Payne and Alan Majocha, selected on the basis of their grade point averages, spent three days during the week of October 21 interacting with the regular Senate pages and learning the legislative process.

WPSD students fared well in the fall sports during the 19851986 school year. The boys’ varsity soccer team posted a record of 11 wins, 5 losses, and 2 ties and brought home the WPSD invitational tournament championship. The freshman boys went 1 8, being victorious over only Springdale High School. The girls’ varsity volleyball team won 5 and lost 6 and came in second in the WPSD invitational volleyball tournament. The junior varsity squad turned in a record of 6 wins and 3 losses. The girls’tennis team went winless after 6 matches.

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Copyright 1987 WPSD All rights reversed. was initiated at WPSD in the fall of 1985. Supported by a one-year Library Services and Construction Act grant, new career reading materials, computer software about careers, and an Apple //e computer were added to the Library, and funds were made available for presentations by local and national deaf persons to serve as role models for the students. Forty-five high school students met once a week to explore their skills and goals, postsecondary opportunities, job categories and requirements, and the process of seeking and retaining a job. The presenters who came to WPSD to talk to the students about making educated career decisions included Rodney Danco, WPSD Class of 1965; Thomas Kuszaj, WPSD Class of 1965; Elizabeth (Sparks) Pollard, WPSD Class of 1956; Jack Gannon; Dr. Harry Lang, WPSD Class of 1965; Scott Recht, WPSD Class of 1975; KarenBrickett, WPSD Class of 1970; MaryLou Novitsky, WPSD Class of 1974; Andrew Kovach, WPSD Class of 1973; and Dr. Victor Galloway.

A Career Day was held at WPSD for the Upper School students on December 4, 1985. Concentrating on opportunities for employment rather than on schools which provide training, Principal Harold Mowl, Jr. and Vocational Evaluator Barry Fell invited a group of successful WPSD graduates, parents and friends to speak about a wide variety of vocational experiences. Following individual presentations, the guests were available for consultation with students interested in particular fields of employment.

Eunice Maples retired in December, 1985 after eighteen years of service. She first came in 1967 as secretary to James Salem, then Dean of Students, and in 1972, took the position of Payroll Clerk/General Accounting in the Business Office. Leslie Buannic replaced Mrs. Maples.

A short history tracing the rapid growth and use of telecommunications devices for the deaf (TDDs) appeared in the Winter, 1986 issue of the Western Pennsylvanian. The growth of TDDs for use by staff and students at WPSD has been rapid, too. When the old teletypewriters from Western Union were made available to the deaf in the Pittsburgh area in mid-1970s, WPSD, through the generosity of the Greater Pittsburgh Deaf Lions Club, acquired a few units for use in the dormitories and selected offices. Communication technology improved in the 1980s, and more portable, electronic units replaced the old teletypewriters in the WPSD offices. More units were purchased in the fall of 1986, and at the latest count there are about twenty-five TDDs placed throughout

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For the first time, WPSD offered a program of mini-workshops to parents of our students in several central locations across the western part of the state as well as at the school. The workshop sessions covered topics related to deafness and raising a deaf child and was intended to provide information about deafness that will help parents feel more confident parenting their deaf children. The topics included reading and language development of deaf children, possible vocations for deaf people, socioemotional development of deaf children, speech and speechreading for deaf children, and communication techniques and technological/assistive devices for deaf people. The program was made possible with funds from the Parents’ Association and was coordinated by HaroldMowl,Jr. Staff members who presented the workshops included Rosemary Garrity, Paul Loera, Barry Fell, Thomas McMullin, Lois Davies, Marian Becker, and Harold Mowl. Gregg Bowers and Connie Stepien served as interpreters.

In a roundup of the winter sports program at WPSD, the boys’ varsity basketball team finished with a record of 7 wins and 17 losses and a third place finish in the WPSD invitational basketball tournament. The girls’ varsity team concluded their season with a 7-12 mark and a second place finish in the WPSD invitational basketball tournament. The boys’ wrestling team unable to win any meets, posting a 0-9-1 record.

The 1986 boys’ track team completed a very successful season with a record of 5-1 and a second place finish at the Kiski Prep triangular meet. The girls’ team went winless after six meets, and the girls’ softball team posted a record of 4 wins, 2 losses, and 1 tie.

Senior Marlene Hannold was crowned May Queen at the May Day Festival held on May 23. For the first time in 26 years, heavy rain forced the program off the Boys’ Field and into the Boys’ Gym. George Postlethwait and Valerie Somogyi were the winners of the Most Valuable Athlete awards this year. This prestigious award, which began in 1965 and has been given every year since, honors the best male athlete and the best female athlete in the sports program at WPSD. The table on the following page lists all the winners of this award since 1965.

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Ronald Cowell, member of the House of Representatives, was the speaker at the graduation ceremonies held in the Auditorium on Thursday, June 12. After his message to the Class of 1986.

Principal Harold Mowl, Jr. presented the graduating seniors to WPSD Board President Edward Schatz who awarded diplomas to them.

Tina Beck John Blackwell Ronald Bombara Shelly Bulick Yvonne Clancy Leroy Clay Candace Courtemanche Scott Craig Harry Fisher Thomas Grosch William Gummo Marlene Hannold Daniel Hileman David Hoffman

John Kachik Jeffrey Kuhns Lisa Majocha Wendy Murphy George Postlethwait Theresa Ryan Ronald Sander Gregory Sebastian Lynn Snowden Lori Spiering Melissa Watson Theodore Williams Terri Wolinski SheilaYori

Bernice Baker, Henry Walls and Sylvia Wilson retired at the close of the 1985-1986 school year. Sylvia Wilson put in 29 years as a teacher in the Elementary and Special Studies Departments; HenryWalls was a houseparent in the Boys’ Dormitory for 13 years; and BerniceBaker served as a nurse’s aide for 10 years. Janice Ciotti, Debbie (Grotth) Husar, Virginia Leech, Kathleen Murphy, and Miriam Telleck resigned at the close of the 19851986 school year.

A total of 243 students were served during the 1985-1986 school year, and the budget required for their education and maintenance totaled nearly 5.6 million dollars, reported Board President Dr. Edward Schatz in the 1985 - 1986 Annual Report.

MOST OUTSTANDING ATHLETES MALE 1965Dale Ford 1966Harry Lewis JamesMaher 1967Joseph Michiline 1968Michael Chuto 1969Daniel McElwain 1970Alan Shaulis 1971David Glenn 1972 1973Gary Butlin 1974Dennis Mancini

FEMALE 1965Walla Franer 1966Sharon Maines 1967Vivian Ivory 1968Geraldine Klapak 1969Dara Overmoyer 1970Rita Mowl 1971Shirley Maines Richard Aust 1972 Sandra Paul 1973Kathryn Miksich 1974Lynda Pelton

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1975Randy Prezioso 1976Wesley Hawkins 1977Wesley Hawkins 1978Jay McLaughlin 1979Robert Cline 1980Theodore Felix 1981Alan Fisher 1982Alan Fisher 1983Michael Moder 1984Charles Rubisch 1985Charles Rubisch 1986George Postlethwait

1975Paula Tajc 1976Andrea Kovach 1977Sandra Veltri 1978 Judith Sargent 1979 Suzanne Bono 1980 Barbara Trozzo 1981Barbara Trozzo 1982Jodi Hawkins 1983Tawnda Johnson 1984Tamara Majocha 1985Tamara Majocha 1986Valerie Somogyi

1986-1987 The Center On Deafness at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf began operations in September, 1986 after several years of consideration by the school administration, the Long Range Planning Committee, and the Board of Trustees. Reacting to governmental influences imbedded in Public Law 94-142, declining enrollment at WPSD, and public attitude towards residential schools, James Salem, assistant superintendent at WPSD, wrote in the 1981 Long Range Planning Report, “The decision, made by the Board of Trustees to no longer operate a school for the deaf in the traditional sense, must be carefully considered, taking into account all relevant factors.� He suggested some options for diversification: research facility in dealness, prep school/junior college for the deaf, rehabilitation facility for the deaf, private/tuition-charged school for the deaf, evaluation and counseling center for the deaf, center for emotionally disturbed deaf, and materials/curriculum development center for deaf education. The same suggestions were included again in the 1982 Long Range Planning Report.

A proposal to add a resource center component to WPSD was a part of the 1983, 1984, and 1985 Long Range Planning Reports.

The concept introduced in the original report and refined in subsequent reports encompassed the following programs: career assessment and vocational evaluation; psycho-social evaluation and follow-up; communication evaluation and follow-up; infant evaluation/parent-infant education and support; transitional training, adult education and guidance; program for socially and emotionally disturbed; program for multiply handicapped; professional training/demonstration/dissemination services; and research and demonstration. The proposal was presented to the Board of Trustees in January, 1985 and endorsed by them in March, 1985.

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By action of the Board of Trustees, the Primary Building was designated to house the Center On Deafness. During the 19851986 school year, the large rooms on the second floor were remodeled into classrooms, offices, and bedrooms; the classrooms on the first floor were changed into offices and evaluation areas; and an elevator was installed.

By September, 1986 several programs were in operation at the Center On Deafness. Four students were enrolled in the Transitional Program. Liaison was established with the Western Pennsylvania Deaf Senior Citizens group. Penn Text, a news information service for deaf television viewers, was incorporated. Personal counselling services became available to deaf adults in several counties.

Rosemary Garrity, WPSD administrative assistant, was named the start-up coordinator for the center programs, and she also assumed the directorship of the Transitional Program. Paul Loera became the Director of Mental Health Services at the Center On Deafness.

Patricia Pahre, Carol Riser, Stephen Rute, and Diana Saunders were added to the Center On Deafness staff on a full-time basis.

PRESIDENTS, VICE PRESIDENTS AND BOARD MEMBERS 1871 - 1987 PRESIDENTS Rev. J. G. Brown, D.D. Alexander Bradley Rev. J. G. Brown, D.D. John B. Jackson J. Charles Wilson

1871-1885 1885-1889 1889-1904 1904-1908 1908-1941

Rees T. Scully John R. McCune Richard D. Edwards Dr. Jack W. Birch Dr. Edward R. Schatz

1941-1958 1958-1972 1972-1976 1976-1982 1982-

VICE PRESIDENTS James Kelly Hon. J. K. Moorhead Alexander Bradley Alexander Nimick P. Harvey Miller John B. Jackson J. Charles Wilson Albert H. Childs

1871-1882 1883-1884 1884-1885 1886-1898 1899-1903 1903-1904 1904-1909 1909-1921

John Z. Speer John R. McCune John Gilfillan Richard D. Edwards William A. Gordon John C. Campbell Dr. Jack Matthews

1922-1927 1927-1958 1958-1959 1959-1972 1972-1977 1978-1982 1982-

SECRETARIES John R. McCune John B. Jackson

1871-1874 1874-1880

Lloyd W. Smith Martin N. Ballard

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1913-1923 1923-1949

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W. J. Sawyer John B. Jackson John R. McCune Edward E. Duff

1880 1881 1881-1899 1899-1907 1907-1913

Beverly R. Shriver Joseph G. Horne John Gilfillan Francis B. Nimick, Jr.

1949-1959 1959-1966 1966-1978 1978-

TREASURERS B. L. Fahnestock John R. McCune Robert S. Smith John R. McCune Lloyd W. Smith

1871-1874 1874- 1888 1888-1905 1905-1923 1923- 1945

Charles L. McCune John Gilfillan Henry Chalfant, Jr. Lawrence R. Lenarz

1945-1975 1975-1980 1980-1982 1982-

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Rev. J. G. Brown, D.D. Ex-Officio John B. Jackson James P. Hanna P. Harvey Miller Robert M. Tindle, M.D. J. Charles Wilson Thomas H. Lane A. H. Childs Edward E. Duff A. B. Shepherd William L. Jones Frank B. Nimick John Z. Speer Harry Wilson Alfred G. Kay Joseph Horne Martin N. Ballard William P. Barker Allen S. Davison Rees T. Scully Henry Chalfant, Jr. W. N. Dambach Samual A. Taylor H. D. James William F. Hoffman

1871-1885 1889-1904 1876-1904 1876-1887 1880-1903 1887-1894 1894-1909 1903-1907 1904-1919 1908-1913 1909-1912 1912-1916 1916-1919 1912-1919 1919-1933 1919-1923 1919-1923 1923-1933 1923-1944 1933-1934 1933-1941 1934-1936 1936-1955 1941-1950 1943-1957 1948-1955

John R. McCune Joseph G. Horne William Stirling George McKee Blair Harold E. Meyer Richard D. Edwards Rees T. Scully Dr. Jack W. Birch Joseph G. Horne Robert A. Rundle George Roth Craig William A. Gordon George D. Lockhart John C. Campbell Dr. John T. Dickinson Francis B. Nimick, Jr. C. Holmes Wolfe, Jr. Henry Chalfant, Jr. Dr. Jack Matthews Dr. Edward R. Schatz Eleanore Stuckeman Dr. Caryl Kline Andrew Sebastian Lawrence R. Lenarz John N. Wilson, Jr.

1951-1958 1955-1966 1956-1957 1957-1971 1957-1976 1958-1976 1959-1961 19661969-1973 1971-1973 1973-1984 1973-1977 1973-1976 1974-1983 1977-1978 1978 1978-1980 1978-1983 198019801980-1983 1982198219821983-1986

BOARD MEMBERS Charter Members James 1. Bennett George Black Alexander Bradley Rev. J. G. Brown, D.D. John W. Chalfant John H. Dalzell R. H. Davis Joseph Dilworth Hon. Thomas Ewing B. L. Fahenstock

1871-1884 1871-1872 1871-1899 1871-1904 1871-1881 1871-1880 1871-1880 1871-1885 1871-1897 1871-1888

Joseph H. Hill William Holmes B. F. Jones James Kelly James Laughlin Henry Lloyd John R. McCune Hon. James P. Sterrett Alexander Nimick William Phillips

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1871-1884 1871-1878 1871-1889 1871-1882 1871-1882 1871-1879 1871-1888 1871-1894 1871-1898 1871-1874

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J. P. Fleming Hon. Moses Hampton James P. Hanna John Harper

1871-1885 1871-1878 1871-1898 1871-1891

Hon. J. P. Moorhead William Thaw John Wilson

1871-1884 1871-1885 1871-1878

Isaac Jones John B. Jackson Malcolm Hay John Moorhead Charles J. Clark P. Harvey Miller William J. Sawyer R. S. McCague Robert M. Tindle, M.D. James Park, Jr. Joseph Walton William Carr Henry A. Laughlin David McK. Lloyd M. DeWees Wood John W. Chalfant Charles R. Dilworth John G. Holmes W. J. Moorhead William Thaw, Jr. Frank S. Bissel Samual Wilson Hon. John H. Bailey Robert S. Smith A. H. Childs Charles E. Speer William Mullins Thomas H. Lane J. Charles Wilson William J. Sawyer Durbin Horne William McConway H. S. A. Stewart William R. Thompson Cyrus S. Gray J. A. Lippincott, M.D. John R. McCune, Jr. Robert E. Stewart Henry Chalfant Thomas P. Day W. Howard Nimick David B. Oliver Thomas M. Armstrong J. J. Donnell James H. Lockhart

1873-1878 1874-1908 1878-1885 1878-1880 1879-1899 1879-1903 1879-1884 1880- 1892 1880-1895 1881-1893 1882-1892 1883-1888 1883-1922 1884-1919 1884-1899 1885-1898 1885-1897 1885-1904 1885-1908 1885-1892 1887-1890 1887-1891 1888-1897 1888-1912 1889-1921 1889-1905 1890-1893 1891-1907 1892-1941 1893-1900 1894-1916 1894-1924 1894-1922 1894-1906 1897-1918 1897-1907 1897-1923 1898-1910 1899-1928 1899-1899 1899-1927 1899-1934 1900-1908 1900-1917 1900-1938

E. Bruce Hill R. V. Bingay George D. Edwards James E. Hindman Rees T. Scully Allen S. Davison John C. Hill George C. Watt E. C. Bothwell Henry Chalfant, Jr. H. D. James C. E. Willock Albert Curry W. N. Dambach William A. Gordon Samual A. Taylor Hon. James H. Gray Beverly R. Shriver Maitland A. Wilson Charles Lockhart Hon. Samuel J. McKim Charles L. McCune Roscoe Seybold Allen S. Davison C. Snowdon Richards John Gilfillan William F. Hoffman L. H. Wilcox Joseph G. Horne Dr. Kenneth M. Day Richard D. Edwards John G. Frazer, Jr. Hon. Hugh C. Boyle Robert M. Fisher George McKee Blair John H. Henshaw Dr. John A. Hutchenson Harold E. Meyer William Stirling George Roth Craig Spencer R. Hackett Francis B. Nimick, Jr. Frederick W. Okie Robert Rundle Albert H. Burchfield, lll

1926-1959 1927-1936 1928-1934 1928-1962 1928-1961 1929-1937 1929-1949 1930- 1931 1932-1936 1932-1983 1932-1957 1932-1947 1935-1949 1935-1955 1935-1977 1936-1950 1936-1943 1937-1973 1937-1953 1938-1963 1938-1953 1945-1975 1946-1950 1947-1954 1947-1972 1947-1980 1947-1955 1948-1961 1949-1966 1949-1968 1951-1986 1951-1986 1951-1985 1951-1960 1953-1984 1953-1959 1953-1957 1953-1983 1954-1957 1955-1984 1955-1973 19571959-1962 1959-1973 1961-

Hon. J. D. Shafer Benjamin Thaw D. Leet Wilson Hon. Robert S. Frazer John Z. Speer Edward E. Duff

1901-1926 1903-1924 1904-1916 1905-1936 1906-1927 1907-1913

Jack E. McGregor John C. Campbell C. Holmes Wolfe, Jr. Thomas P. Eddy Edward A. Brown Dr. Raymond E. Jordan

1963-1970 1963-1983 1963-1984 1963-1984 1963-1965 1964-1969

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C. D. Armstrong H. Lee Mason, Jr. John D. Lyon Reuben Miller Wilson A. Shaw William Jones A. B. Shepherd R. B. Mellon Lloyd W. Smith James C. Burt, M.D. Joseph Horne Frank B. Nimick Harry Wilson Nathaniel Holmes Alfred G. Kay John W. Lloyd William E. Evans Martin N. Ballard William P. Barker John R. McCune, Jr. Henry Haas Edward McCrady D. W. McNaugher Edwin Z. Smith

1908-1935 1908-1950 1908-1924 1908-1909 1908-1928 1909-1916 1909-1912 1912-1932 1913-1950 1914-1952 1916-1948 1916-1924 1917-1946 1918-1929 1919-1932 1920-1932 1922-1936 1923-1944 1923-1944 1923-1972 1924-1926 1924-1927 1924-1943 1924-1944

Dr. Jack W. Birch Joseph G. Horne Dr. Sam B. Craig Dr. John T. Dickinson George Lockhart Lester A. Hamburg Dr. Edward R. Schatz Eleanore R. Stuckeman Lawrence R. Lenarz Alex Zelinski Andrew Sebastian Dr. Jack Matthews Dr. James Gallagher Dr. Caryl Kline Laura Kesel Dr. Sylvan Stool Joel Aronson James Campbell John N. Wilson Jr. J. Sherman McLaughlin Dr. James Gallagher Rodney Danco William L. Standish Dr. Mark Friedman

19651967-1976 19701970 1978 1973-1976 1973-1976 19741977-1983 19771977-1981 197819781979-1982 197919791979198219821982-1986 19841985198619861986-

——o—— SUPERINTENDENTS The title was principal until 1902, when it was changed to superintendent.

James H. Logan, M.A. J. A. McWhorter Thomas Maclntire, Ph.D. Rev. J. G. Brown, D.D. William N. Burt, Ph.D. A. C. Manning, M.A., LL.D., L.H.D. Sam B. Craig, M.A., M.A. inEd., Litt.D. William N. Craig, Ph.D.

1876-1880 1881-1883 1883-1885 1885-1889 1889-1921 1921-1946 1946-1969 1969-

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It is the policy of the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and the Center On Deafness not to discriminate in its programs of education, employment, and all other activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or handicap. Any complaints of discrimination should be directed to: Mr. George Ayres, Compliance Offcer, Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, 300 Swissvale Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15218.

Telephone: (412) 371-7000.

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