Eli L. (left) makes his way back to his seat with a piece of cake while Christian B. waits for Administrative Specialist Cathy Williams to cut him a piece.
Eli L. (left) makes his way back to his seat with a piece of cake while Christian B. waits for Administrative Specialist Cathy Williams to cut him a piece.
The North Carolina School for the Deaf filled the auditorium with excited students on Thursday, less than two hours before they left for spring break, for an hour of school history, skits, and the best part — cake.
Elementary schooler Carter S. smiled wide after reminding the superintendent that spring break was only an hour away.
JACOB CHRISTOPHER / THE PAPER
Classes from every grade level celebrated Founder’s Day, recounting the story of Samuel McDowell Tate and Edwin McGee Goodwin, the men who lobbied for the state’s funding toward a deaf school in Morganton back in 1891.
Goodwin went on to become the superintendent, once the school opened, in 1894.
Dr. Kristin Todd signs to guests visiting for the celebration.
JACOB CHRISTOPHER / THE PAPER
“We celebrate every year because it’s important to deaf history and for our students to know,” current Superintendent Dr. Kristin Todd said. “The process when there’s something you care about or something important to you, how you advocate, how you pull resources and make a case — basically how things work in our state.”
Dean of Education Dr. Jordan Wright clarified that a lot of what the students performed skits on isn’t part of their normal studies.
“There’s no curriculum for NC deaf history,” Wright explained. “That’s something we have to design on our own, based on their cultural history.”
The superintendent’s house, next to NCSD, will have new displays once renovations are finished.
JACOB CHRISTOPHER / THE PAPER
Todd pointed out that the superintendent’s house, which is being renovated now, was the former museum. When renovations are finished in about a year and a half, the museum will host new displays cultivated by the school’s staff and board members.
As part of the celebrations, the high schoolers performed a skit, commemorating the goals of the first superintendent, carrying photos of Goodwin and an antique chalkboard onto the stage.
Senior Rivka V. stands behind the podium, impersonating the first superintendent, Edwin Goodwin.
JACOB CHRISTOPHER / THE PAPER
Rivka V., a senior at NCSD, dressed in a tie and donned a fake beard to tell the students the importance of the school’s purpose.
“You may not have chosen this school, but life has chosen it for you,” the pseudo-Goodwin said. “One day, each of you will leave this classroom. Not today, but someday. When you do, no one will ask you what desk you sat in. … They will ask who did you become, and that answer is being written right now.”
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
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