Annual report, 1918 December 31

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FIFTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
- GEORGIA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF
CAVE SPRING, GEORGIA
DECEMBER 31,1918

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT OF.THE BOARD

To His Excellency, Hugh Dorsey, Governor of Georgia:

Sir: We take real pleasure in presenting

for your consideration this the fifty-third an-

nual report of the Georgia School for the Deaf,

for despite the difficulties brought to us by the

War of the Nations and the epidemic of influ-

enza it has been a year of progress. The Prin-

cipal &nd the teachers and officers associated

with him have worked diligently and we are

gi'eatly pleased by the results attained by

them. Perfect harmony and mutual good will

seem to prevail, for there has not come to the

ears of any member of this Board the least

complaint or grievance from any source what-

ever during the year.

Weare transmitting the report made to us

by our executive, the Principal of the School.

It carries a statement of our financial con-

dition and discusses internal affairs of the

School. We commend this report to your con-

sideration. You will find that we have kept

expenses within the limits of our appropria-

tion. You will find also that we have made

improvement in the equipment of our print

shop and shoe shop, which are among the

trades taught to our boys.

.

Our crying needs now are a hospital and a

building for our primary pupils. We trust

that you will advise the legislature to make

grants for the construction of these buildings.

If only one can be built now we ask for the

hospital.

The Georgia School for the Deaf is a part

oJ our educational institutions, a very import-

ant part. Its special work is to transform the

deaf and dumb child into an adult who can

read, write, talk, read the lips of others, work efficiently at some trade, and so become a happy and useful citizen, A school which does this successfully must gratify the heart of every citizen. Such a school we hope to provide for the deaf children of Georgia.
Very respectfully,
W. J. GRIFFIN, President of the Board, J. W. TAYLOR, P. M. HAWES, WM. BRADFORD, H. C. ARNALL, W. F. CRUSSELr.E, R. E. DOUGLAS.
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL
To the Board of Trustees of the Georgia School for the Deaf:
Gentlemen: The law requires that I make to you an annual report of the affairs of the Georgia School for the Deaf. This is the fiftythird annual report which has been made by 'your Principals:. "."
Attendance
We have taught during the year 234 pupils, 185 white, 49 colored. Of the white pupils 98 are boys, 87 are girls. Of the colored pupils 27 are boys, 22 are girls. You will find attached to this report the names of each of these and the counties in which their parents live.
The war which involved us and all the other great nations of the world so profoundly affected the conditions Tn Georgia as to cause many of the parents to withdraw their oldest

Fifty-Third nnual Report of th Georgia School for the Deaf

children from school. The reason usually
assigned was that the draft had taken the laborers from the fields and that this lack could be in part supplied by the pupils attending our School. This resulted jn a small decrease in the total number of pupils in spite of the fact that we enrolled twenty-one (21) new pupils.

Financial Condition

The following is a statement of our expendi-

tures for 1918:

Salarie Wages

. $16,930.07 . 13,226.29

Extra Help Table Expenses

.

235.15

. 11,441.83

House Furnishings Drugs

.

907.24

.

289.67

Fuel (Coal) Lights Laundry Stationery and Postage School Livery and Travel Freight and Express

. 6,366.55

.

456.96

.

603.37

.

281.24

.

173.41

. 1,519.64

.

296.41

Building Material Barn Farm, Garden and Stock Tools and Implements

.

491.18

. 1,543.65

. 1,184.87

.

47.75

Sewing Department

. 1,201.61

Printing Department

.

324.67

Woodworking Department

.

10.75

Leatherworking Department .

517.15

Repairs and Carpenter Work .

406.90

Plumbing

.

246.37

Miscellaneous Account

.

642.42

$59,345.15
These figures show that we have lived in a way that does not exceed the limits of our annual appropriation, but there was an accumulated deficit of $5,358.92 last year due to the sudden rise of all supplies and wages in 1916 and 1917 for which our appropriation was made in 1915 and based on standards then prevailing. Toward the reduction of this old deficit we have $654.85 unexpended balance now in State treasury of appropriation for 1918 and $2,108.12 of collections in my office from various sources during 1918, a total of $2,762.97. This reduces the apparent deficit to $2,595.95. As we have on hand for use in 1919 coal which cost us this amount, it may be in truth stated that we have reduced the real deficit to zero.
Influenza
The influenza which ha been prevalent for

nearly a year in our country attacked our pupils and teachers with the opening of our fall term in September. There were seventy-three cases and two deaths before we were able to eradicate it, which we succeeded in doing by November 1st. Our physician and the trained nurses assisting him put us under lasting obligation by their arduous labors during the weeks of this dreadful pestilence.
Death of Miss Allen
It was during the prevalence of influenza in our ~chool that Miss Anna West Allen, who was one of our most devoted and efficient teachers died. She had devoted her life since her graduation at Gallaudet College entirely to the Georgia School for the Deaf. No teacher ever worked more faithfully, and as the result of her work, which was in the manual department, there are many adult deaf now in this State who can read their newspapers and their Bible and write their own letter and keep their own accounts.
Progress
I am submitting herewith the report made to me by the heads of most of our departments. These will prove to you the continuance of all the activities heretofore undertaken for our pupils. A fact not disclosed by these report should be noticed as marking an advance in the efficiency of our School during the year ] 918. I refer to the installation of a linotype and accessories which when added to what we had already in our print shop give us an equipment for the teaching of the printers' trade that leaves very little to be desired. I refer also to the installation of a Landis shoe repairing machine and accessories which give us an excellent equipment for training our pupils in modern methods of shoe repairing.
Buildings Needed
The two things yet needed by us as to equipment are a primary building and a hospital. The former would cost about $30,000, the latter $10,000. I suggest that this year we attempt to procure from the legi lature only the hospital.
Advance Proposed
There are also two things needed by us as a part of our educational process, if the Georgia
chool for the Deaf is to keep pace with the most advanced methods. These are to provide a special teacher in tone and rhythm work for all pupils and a special teacher for those pupils who have residual hearing sufficient with

ifty-Third Annual Report of the Georgia S hool for tha Deaf

the aid of acousticons to be taught just as a larger degree of intelligence and foresight

hearing children usually are. The equipment and a greater capacity for dealing justly and

required would be a piano and an acousticon prudently than the principalship of a School

.for each member of the auricular class. You such as this which undertakes, as stated, to

will find in the report of our a sistant principal provide both a good home and a wise educa-

an appeal for these provisions. I most heartily tion for two hundred youths who are deprived

concur in this desire and trust that you will of 'that sense which more than all others is



permit u to take this forward step.

Officers and Teachers

needed for their development into moral and responsible citizens. The tones of the human voice, \\'hich is never heard by our pupils, have

I trust that we can lay just claim to having a moral force above that of the words that are



properly cared for our pupils during the year uttered. The management of the home along

1918 both as to the home and education. All lines that promote health and happiness and

the officers and teachers have faithfully striven habits of order and neatness and rectitude is

to this end. I commend them all heartily to by far more important to the welfare of the

your favorable consideration.

child and more more difficult to attain than

We have done our utmost to secure for the that part of the education which is done in the

service of the deaf children of Georgia the school rooms where the child lives less than

be t trained teachers to be found in the United one-fourth of the hours he is awake while at-

States. Owing to the immense demand for tending school. Because this is true errors of

workers for the federal government the management, sometimes grave errors, will be

School for the' Deaf in all the states suffered made when the Principal is doing his best.

losses from the ranks of the teaching depart- Some of these errors the Principal himself will

ment by reason of resignation. Our School detect as he sees bad results that are past; but

was no exception. We have lost two teachers this is far easier to do than to see results that

by resignation whose places we have not been are future. I am comforted by the belief, how-

able to fill.

ever, that there does not exist a Board of

I am glad to bear testimony to the fullest co- Trustees of any institution surer to forgive the

operation with me on the part of our assistant faults and appreciate the virtues of the execu-

principal, Miss Nettie McDaniel, who has sus- tive chosen by them than you who receive this

tained her previous standard of high efficiency report. I am especially impressed by the

in directing the work of the teachers. I am unanimity with which you accord to me the

glad to believe that she will devote her whole full exercise of my discretion in the selection

life to the sen ice of our School.

of the officers and teachers who are under my

Harmony

dlrection. Though there is no law or by-law here as exists in some states which prohibits a

It is with the highest degree of pleasure member of a board from seeking to influence

that I state to you there is well nigh perfect the appointments made by the executive, you

hal"mony in and between all the departments have adopted this principle in your practice.

that go to make up the intricate mechanism As you have endowed me with full power to

of our School. An institution which provides act the full responsibility for results is on me.

both a home and an education for two hun- If alter all is done you can approve these re-

dred pupils calls into existence all the agencies sults, I shall go to my end a happy man.

that care for the body and the mind and the moral of the growing youth. These agencies are 0 multifarious and involve so much techni-

Respectfully, J. C. HARRIS.

cal knowledge and so many kinds of ervice

and so many points of personal contact of offic-

ials with one another that they become a complex so delicate that successful results' are very hard to obtain. One perverse or insubordinate

REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

officer may turn things all awry and cause dis-

tress and disaster.

Mr. J. C. Harris, Principal:

Principal's Office

Dear Sir: As we look back over the past two

I question whether there be any office in the and a half years we note so much progress in

state who 'e succe sful administration requires the home anq industrial life of the pupils that

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Fifty-Third nnnal Report of the Georgia School for th Deaf

its influence for good is felt in the literary department. The pupils have a higher standard
of living and more of a purpose in life. The past year's work has been greatly
handicapped by the frequent epidemics that have invaded the School-measles and chicken-pox during the spring term and influenza from the first week of School until Thanksgiving. The demoralization from this was felt until the Christmas holidays, especially so because of the death of one teacher, which
caused the crowding of classes. War conditions brought about a demand for
deaf boys to assist on farms and in shops con-
nected with the cantonments. A number of the older boys dropped out of School for a year.
The number of pupils enrolled during the fall term is much less than u ual. Had the expected number entered we would have been greatly embarrassed over their di position in the class room, since we were unable to fill all the vacancies in the faculty on account of so many teachers taking up war work.
Because of the above named conditions you will find that the classes are not so well graded as heretofore.
At the close of the fall term it was deemed wise to send home the class of five beginning pupils in order to release a teacher for a class in a more congested quarter.
Th e enrollment for the past year was one hundred and eighty-five-ninety-eight (98) boys and eighty-seven (87) girls, grouped into sixteen classes in the spring term and thirteen in the fall term. Twenty-one (21) new pupils were enrolled in the fall term. Three of these were returned home on account of their youth, one for eye treatment, and another for mental deficiency.
In the spring term Misses Mary Elizabeth McKinney anrl Rose Alcorn declined re-appointment to accept positions in other State School. Miss McKinney had been with us four years and had endeared herself to us and her pupils. Late in the summer Miss Margaret Hann resigned to accept a government position but later went to the Oregon State School at an increase in salary.
This School has been honored during the year by haYing had selected from its faculty three of our most capable teachers for positions that carried honors with them.
Miss Alice Alcorn, a valued teacher here for ten years, accepted the position as Head Teacher in the Washington State School.
Miss Susan H. Norris, a teacher of the high-

est type, wa called by Lieutenant-Colonel Charles W. Richard on of the Division of Physical Recon truction for Injured Soldiers, to teach lip-reading to deafened soldiers at Base Hospital o. 11, Cape ~ay, N. J.
In December Miss Vivian Tilly was asked by Dr. Caroline A. Yale to become a member of the faculty of Clarke School, Northampton, Mass. There is no higher compliment that can be paid a teacher of the deaf than this. Miss Tilly felt honor bound to keep her contract here, but through you, who saw the wisdom of her accepting the offer, she was made to feel comfortable in breaking her contract at this season of the year and accepting the position. Miss Tilly was capable of teaching in any department and we cannot measure our loss. She is to be congratulated on being a member of the faculty at Clarke School-the leading training school in the United States and the school to which all schools look as their guide.
Three teachers were engaged during the : ummel' months-Miss Corinne DeBerry, of the Mystic Oral School, Miss Anita Wells, of the Montana School, and Miss Charlie Elmore, trained at Clarke School. In December we secured the services of Miss McCauley, trained at Clarke School.
In October the School suffered a severe loss in the death of one of its most valued teachers, Miss Anna West Allen, who was at one time a. pupil' for two years in this School. From here she entered Gallaudet College. After completing her cour e there she was engaged as a teacher here. Her years of service shed much. light in the minds and hearts of many deaf children who truly miss her.
There have been no changes in the methods of instruction from former years but we hope that in the fall term we may introduce tone, rhythm and auricular wcrk. For this purpose we will need teachers specially trained. Also instruments necessary to this training will be needed. This work is being adopted in Schools all over the United States and this School should not delay longer.
Through you I wish to express to the teachers my appreciation for their untiring efforts in behalf of the pupils.
I wish to expre s to you my appreciation for your very helpful attitude toward the work in the literary department. Your encouragement along all lines gives us great inspiration and we all feel most gratful to you.
Respectfully,
ETTIE McDANIEL, A istant Prinepal.