Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-10-31
Blind Student at
Coe Ranks High

Cedar Rapids. Dot. si,--Not many
people who gain q collegee education
have the obstacles to overcome which
Ito In the pathway Of Grant Perrin, sor
Of Mr.. and Mrs. Willard Perrin. iis
South Thirteenth street. Grant Is to-
tally blind and yet he Is a sophomore
at Cos this fall and his grades are iar
above those OF the average care-fres
college student Born with very poor
syes Grants vision became poorer
and poorer until today he Is totuii'
blind. NJ.
His ambition carries him over OBJ
stncles which would seem to bar him
forever from the advantages OF a gooa
education. Grant was born Dec. y.
1897. at Charles City. but he attended
the state school for thu blind ut VIM
ton fer about ten years. In the sum-
mer Of 1913 he came to Coe summer
school to complete his entrance re-
cuirements. He entered as a fresh
man last fall, taking the SUBJECTS
which the ordinary freshman taxes
and In addition a course In piano. he
has kept up his musical work and now
Is taking piano under Prof. Clyde
Stephens and harmony under MISS
Louise Crawford. Grant plans now 70
make music his major subject and ne
will perhaps teach piano after ne
graduates from college. He can READ
music by the touch system OF appraised
notes which enables him to commit
the piece tc memory. IT,.
Uses Typewriter.
The blind student has system OF
taking notes which enables him to
recall the main points OF the recita-
ton period and he uses the typewriter
to pra,are his written lessons. HIS
work Is neatly and accurately done in
spite Of the handicap Of sightiess eyes.
His class room notes he takes by
punching holes In o piece Of card
board which he carries on board
with aiding attachment to enable
him to punch the holes accurately.
THIS is the point system and he Is
very expert with It..
Last winter Grant was taking eco
nounic history and II was the custom
for the professor to require some writ
ten work on topics which he assigned
at tho beginning Of the recitation
period. with only the general head
Ing Of the paragraph to call the ma
terial to his mind. Grant often wrote
more on his topic than the other
studsnts. He used his point system
t.t this. too. and when the papers
were read for general discussion he
would stand and read his cardboard
by holding 1t against his body aHd
running his sensitive finger tips over
the sheet.
Studies With Parents. -
He prepares his studies with tho
aid of his parents, His father or
mother reads the text OF the lesson
while Grant absorbs it and one can
easily ina ginesthe difficulty Of study
ing French by such system. but his
grades in that language have been ex-
ceilent. His work In English last
year under Miss Ethel outland was
exceptional zE =
Grant is able to get about the
campus from class to class without
much trouble, altho hts fellow stu
dents are quick to help him because
the time for changing classesais very
short. II is no uncommon sight to. see
Grant on the arm Of q fellow student
walking rapidly from one class to an
other. And always the blind boy has
smile and q hearty ..'Th@nk you" for
anyone who helps him. -
Grants spirit retgns supreme and
he does not allow his misfortune 10
spoil his life or the lives OF others.
The inspiration which his splendid eff
forts give to the students at Coe can
hardly be computed. Grant is always
ready 10 aid all the college activities.
He subscribes to :he school news
paper, the annual, and Is always pres
emit at debates and public programs.