The Gettysburg Times from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania • Page 6

PAGRSR THE GETTYSBURG TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1965 Christmas Card 7 Years Ago Launched Career Of HelpToMentallyRetardeo By ROBERT HOLTON NEW YORK (AP) Richard Weber remembers it as a "pitifully crude" Christmas card. But he says it changed his life. Weber--then a popular, young Jazz pianist was given the homemade card by a 15-year- old mentally retarded boy who admired his talents. "When that boy handed me the card, something inside me changed," Weber recalled. "I suddenly realized how self-centered my life was and I vowed to do something about it." That was seven years ago.

REVOLUTION IN EDUCATION Today, far from the small Illinois town where he was handed the card before giving a Christ mas recital in a mental institution, Weber has set into motion at Columbia Teachers College a revolution in the education of severely mentally retarded children. He devised a six-note method of instructing the mentally retarded in the playing of musical instruments, using letters on sheet music which correspond to letters pasted on the keys of a piano. "We're 100 per cent behind him," said Dr. Harry R. Wilson, chairman of the Music Education Department.

"This follow well might completely revolutionize the whole concept of teaching such children." CLASSES FOR RETARDED Weber, 38, began work on his system while music director for the schools of Yates City, 111. He had taken the post shortly after the Christmas card incident. Now he is working on his doctorate in music at Columbia and conducts regular weekly music classes for mentally re tarded children as part of his research for the degree. Among his is Peter Connolly, 12, who, up to several weeks ago, couldn't sit still at a piano, much less play a tune. "Today, Peter walks up to the piano or takes his clarinet in hand and he plays such tunes as 'Jingle 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little and many others," said the boy's widowed mother, Catherine Connolly.

BIGGEST BENEFIT "But it doesn't end there," she said. "Probably the biggest benefit for Peter is the fact that at long last he realizes he can do something. He feels needed and wanted among other people." Nicolia Maranez has been bringing her retarded son, Scorpio, 7, to Weber's classes for a month. "Scorpio is hyperactive," she said. "Until these lessons came along there was nothing that could hold his attention for over a few seconds." "Now, he is much different," she added.

"I don't say he is normal. He'll never be that with the brain damage he had at birth. But he's so much easier to manage and he gets a little something out of life now." THEY CAN LEARN Scorpio was among about a dozen youngsters gathered recently for a Saturday afternoon class under Weber. About 10 teachers at the school stood around the room as Weber put the youngsters through their paces. "You must realize," he said, "that up to now children like these were considered unteach- able.

They can't even clean themselves or talk much better than a mumble or grunt. "Yet, with this method I have Pictured with the Job's Daughters' emblem are the national and state officers who participated in the Job's Daughters Supreme Visitation held Saturday afternoon at the American Legion here. From left to right are Lee Ann Larson, grand guardian; Mrs. Mary Etta Wright, supreme guardian; Herbert Spong, associate supreme guardian, and Mrs. Jeanne 0.

Miller, associate grand guardian. Eight Pennsylvania Bethels were represented at the event. (Times photo) proved that they can learn if someone give them learning in little doses such as I do with only six notes of music." Under this system, Weber said, even a blind child could to p'ay simple tunes on a piano. Computer To Aid i i a Work ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -Beginning next March 1, a computer will go to work for the state police to aid in the capture of criminals and the recovery of stolen cars.

Supt. Arthur Cornelius Jr, says it will speed messages between state police stations anc to make this information available to troopers on patrol. Ga. (AP) JAc The FARRELL Mark XI Scries GG 637 21" diameter) 265 sq. in.

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The agency said, chemical analyses of samples from the meteorite "show that its chemical composition is. 88.67 per cent of iron, 927 per cent of nickel, and cobalt, phosphorus, silicon, sulphur, copper and other elements. Candidates Agree On Election Bet ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) Two supervisor candidates in the city's 10th Ward have agreed that the loser does the winner's family laundry for a month. Candidate Michael J.

Culhane, who has a wife and five children, offered to do the fami ly wash of incumbent Jeremiah F. Clifford, if Clifford is reelected. Clifford, who has a wife and six children, said: "I think Culhane is getting a break. I have only three children at home." ASKS MORE POWER WASHINGTON (AP) The Atomic Energy Commission is considering a proposal to permit increased power operations of the research reactor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Cambridge school now holds a license for operation at power levels up to two thermal megawatts.

It has asked for authority to boost this to five. PROSECUTOR ABSENT BALTIMORE, Md. (AP) -Patrolman Jerome Welsh had 21 traffic cases in court one day recently but he didn't appear and testify. Welsh had quit the force to become a plumber. The result: 15 absent, five acquitted, one fined $25--for driving without a license.

SOVIET URGES IMPROVEMENTS RED SHOPS By PRESON GROVER MOSCOW A The i of a new way of life for Smid factory managers and store operators was laid before Sn viet public Tuesday in il would stimulate home tolk foreign peoples to a fresher be lief in Communist successes. More than three pages of Pravda, the Soviet Communist party paper, were filled will) the new plan outlined by Prenuei Alexei Kosygm at the open ing session of the party Central Committee's fall meeting Monday. Kosygin said the Soviet Union could and should do a be tcr job with its factories, both to please the people who flock into presently unappealing stores and to convince newly liberated countries that the Communis's can show a better way than has been shown in the past. REVISION VITAL For the Soviet Union, revision and improvement is vital. Its rate of increase in industrial production has slowed down in recent years despite its discovery of some of the richest natural resources in the world.

Soviet workers according to the Communist of Find In Ancient Tomb NAl'U'lS, I a A The slu'lftoniml remains of a man aboiii 40 and a boy of about have been found, virtually intact, in tombs dating from the early till) Century BC. Prof. Bernardo Yohannowskl, acting superintendent of antiquities, announced the latest at the newly discovered neciopolK at Vlco Equense, near ancient Pompeii. He esti- nuted the dates ot the tombs. AID TO THAILAND BANGKOK, Thailand A -Thailand has received GO million million--in aid from the United States for construction of a network of highways in Communist-threatened northeastern Thailand, Deputy De- tcnse Mmis'er Dawee Chulasap says things should be the most eager toilers since by doctiine they own the places where they work.

But they continue to be far less productive, man for man, than workers in the West who work for the free enterprise system so much abused here. The new plan outlined by Kosygin is aimed at encouraging both workers and factory bosses to produce goods that will sell both at home and abroad. If they succeed, they will get mort pay, more vacation, better homes and shorter hours. Men's Quilted Ski Jackets Heavy Nylon outer-shell, quilted Dacron filled for warmth, and DEEP PILE NYLON LINED for extra warmth. Two zippered side pockets and a hidden hood.

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