Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-06-14
Sketch Of an Augusta School Teacher.

Sketch Of an Augusta School Teacher.
NOW PRINCIPAL OF THE ARKANSAS DEAF
MUTE INSTITUTE.
The National Exponent Of Chicago
printed last week views of the handsome
buildings of the Arkansas Deaf Mute lnsti-
tute at Little Rock, and with them it gives
a portrait and sketch of the Principal, MI
Frank B. Yates. 1t says:
s'Mr. Yates was born on the 18th OF DC
tober, 1868. at Greenville, Augusta county.
Va, his family moving when he was quite
small to Arbor Hill in the same county and
State, where he spent his early days and
received his common school education. At
an early age he began life "a clerk in a cloth
ing store in Staunton, Va; but, finding
the occupation not his calling, he entered
the Staunton Military Academy, with the
determination Of making law his profess
sion. In 1881 Capt. Thomss S. Doyle,
Principal of the Virginia Institute, became
acquainted with him and secured him for
the position of supervisors of the boys at
that school, allowing him time to pursue
his studies at the academy. Capt. Doyle
learned of Prof. Yates through his friend,
Capt. H. L. Hoover, Principal of the
Stanton Academy, to whom he wrote
asking that one of his young men be recon-
mended to him for the above position.
This proved the turning point OF Prof.
Yates life; for, year later, at the age of
10 he was appointed a teacher of the deaf.
He proved to be an apt sign-maker and an
earnest and faithful teacher, and in the
course of years was promoted from class to
class until he stood at the head. Thus he
acquired experience as supervisor and a
teacher of all grades in a school for the
deaf.
"While teaching, he spent several Of his
summer vacations employed in a hotel and
in two of the famous health resorts of Vir-
ginia, managing one Of them, and thus be-
came experienced as steward of a large
place like public institution for the deaf
''In 1892 when Prof. F. d. Clark was
called to Michigan, Prof. Y ates was recon-
mended as fine man for the pr1ncipalship
Of this school, and was duly appointed,
taking charge the LIST of December, 1892, at
the early age of % years.
HE has thus far proven to be one of the
most progressive principals the institute
has ever had. Under him the number of
pupils, within two years, has increased
nearly go per cent, OF from $50 to POP. The
number Of literary teachers has been in
creased from to IA, and tailoring, carpen-
tering, painting and engraving have been
added to the Industrial department of the
institute.
s'Prof. Yates is young man Of fine Gull
ture and possesses a most entertaining and
attractive manner. During his short stay
in Arkansas he has made hosts of friends.
He is fine lobbyist and his convincing talk
induced the late legislature to appropriate
an ample sum of money for the maintenance
OF the school for the next two years.
''From the legislature Of two years ago
he succeeded in getting SIS, 900 for the erec
ton of a new chapel building, besides 81 900
for repairs and $4,000 for an addition to
the colored school. From the late legisla-
ture he secured Sc, 900 for the erection of
an industrial building, $4,000 for additions
to the boys and girls dormitories, $4,000
for a hospital cottage and 81 900 for an adj
dition to the laundry. He also secured an
increased appropriation for the salaries of
his teachers, a fund to send advanced pu-
pills of this school to attend Gallaudet Col
lege, and has had the term of the pupils of
the schools extended from to 10 years,
with privilege of adding years to the
term Of any deserving pupil.
''Prof. Yates believes in what is knowp
as the combined system of instructing the
deaf, and separate division for the oral
and the sign classes in school. Where
the oral method is the best he wants it
there, and vice versa for the sign-manual
method. He believes in having in his
school both speaking and deaf teachers.
He has no preference between them as to
grades. He says results are the Thing. and
that good teacher is a good teacher wheth
Ell deaf Oh hearing. At present he has a
semi-mute at the head of the classes and is
determined to keep him there as long as he
shows proficiency.
PROF. Yates has not had the opportunity
to make himself much known to the pro-
fession, but will make his appearance at
Flint, Mich, this summer, and there begin
his career among the principals and super
intendents Of the Schools
The First Return Of the New Assessment
in Augusta.
The Argus publishes the following fig
urges Of the new assessment in the first
district in this county from which a return
has been made. Assessor Geo. P. Light
ner of Riverheads, is the first of the six
making the reinstatement to bring in his
books. We give the result of his work and
show the real estate basis for taxation in
his district.