Jan 16 2009
Myron Uhlberg: School Visit
Part Two: Myron’s visit to the Ohio School for the Deaf 
The spring of 2006 finally brought Myron back to Ohio. On the afternoon of May 16, I picked Myron up at the airport and brought him to his hotel. The next two days would be busy ones.
Day One of Myron’s visit was filled with presentations to OSD’s students. There were three groups: elementary, middle school, and high school. Myron entertained all of the students equally with magic tricks, slides of old photos, and stories of his childhood with his deaf parents. The students also laughed when Myron showed them his name sign and explained its origin: his initials “MU” sounding like “moo” inspired his mother to give him the sign for “cow.” Throughout the rest of his visit, students who passed Myron greeted him with his name sign, the sign for “cow,” with some of them uttering, “Mooooo.” Although Myron took advantage of the sign language interpreter for most of his presentation, he did open by signing for himself. Students as well as deaf staff really seemed to appreciate and enjoy the level of direct communication with an author who could sign–not to mention Myron’s open, friendly manner.
Possibly the most engaging part of Myron’s presentation was his demonstration of making a newspaper printer’s hat. He built suspense as he stopped at various points to show his progress. As he worked, he recounted how he, as a boy, had watched and waited eagerly for his father’s hands to fold the newspaper this way and that until they finally placed on Myron’s head a perfectly-creased printer’s hat.
Myron later commented that seeing the students interacting with each other gave him insight into what it might have been like for his parents attending deaf residential schools decades ago.
Myron spent the morning of Day Two visiting classes in the Alice Cogswell Center, OSD’s preschool. With the older students in ACC, Myron read his book “The Printer” to the class. The children were fascinated, and having the author himself read the story in their native American Sign Language was surely a treat. Afterwards, Myron made newspaper hats for each of the children. With the younger students, Myron performed his magic tricks, which the children loved! Myron was enchanted by the tiny, signing hands.
Myron spent the rest of Day Two with my co-teacher Mary Ellen Cox, student teacher Shana Baker, and our middle school language arts classes. The morning group of sixth and seventh graders learned to fold printer’s hats of their own. They loved their special time to interact with the Printer’s Son, as did their teachers!
The afternoon class of seventh and eighth graders also enjoyed learning to make printer’s hats. They were treated to a reading of “The Printer” in sign language by Myron as well. The memories of their visit with the Printer’s Son surely will last a lifetime.
After making hats and finishing the story, two students took Myron aside for a videotaped interview. They asked about Myron’s childhood in Brooklyn and his second career as a writer. One student in particular found inspiration in meeting and interviewing Myron, who has become a mentor to the young, aspiring author.
Although the elementary students did not get class visits with Myron, they did enjoy making their own printer’s hats. Having met Myron in person made the story of “The Printer” come alive for them.
At the end of Day Two, Myron spent time chatting with students and staff in OSD’s library. He also autographed copies of his books for many people. Myron’s stories based on his experiences growing up with deaf parents touch OSD’s deaf students and staff in a way not many books can. Having the author himself visit and share the story behind the stories enriches the reading and re-reading of Myron’s books.
One ACC student watched as Myron made him his very own newspaper printer’s hat after autographing his copy of The Printer. The young man’s deaf parents would read to him again and again while he would look at the pages of the story and sign, “Fire! Fire!” Middle school students also brought books for Myron to sign. They will treasure their copies of stories by their friend “Moo.”
Myron met many staff members during his book signing in the library. Some were deaf themselves; others were CODAs (Children of Deaf Adults) like Myron. They shared their personal stories, which were similar and different at the same time.
Myron also met OSD’s printer, printing teacher Ray. Ray took Myron on a brief tour of OSD’s print shop, showing him both the modern and the antiquated machinery there. The two regaled the “old days” of black ink and linotype machines. Ray presented Myron with a gift of a composing stick with metal type pieces spelling out “Myron Uhlberg.”
Myron spent a few spare moments perusing the historical items on display in OSD’s administration building lobby. He particularly loved the plaster sculpture of the manual alphabet. There were also antique TTYs, outdated hearing aids, black-and-white photos of former students, and long-retired sports uniforms. The nostalgic displays again stirred Myron’s memories of his beloved parents.
During his stay, Myron also had a chance to become a part of OSD’s documented history: the school’s annual “family” photo was taken on the afternoon of May 17. The framed photos from each year hang on the walls of the school cafeteria. It seems official that Myron is a part of the OSD family now!
On Myron’s last evening in Columbus, Ohio, Mary Ellen and Ron Cox hosted a small dinner party to honor the visiting author. Several staff members from OSD–hearing and deaf–came to the Cox home, some with their spouses and children. Mary Ellen had promised and delivered the best Italian meatballs Myron had ever tasted. Amidst the plentiful food and drink, stories abounded. Myron chatted with individuals, alternating listening intently with talking or signing enthusiastically. Soon folks gathered around the table with Myron appropriately serving as the center of attention. Laughter erupted as he told the story of a parent-teacher conference at which he, as a young and mischievous boy, interpreted–or rather, “misinterpreted” until his father ordered him to “tell it straight.” Tears welled up for many as Myron recounted the disrespect and discrimination his deaf parents faced in the community, such as sales clerks who ignorantly referred to his father as “the dummy.”
That evening and throughout his entire visit, Myron touched the hearts of all he met. He connected with the youngest to the oldest by the power of stories, whether shared in English or American Sign Language. His time at the Ohio School to the Deaf was precious and long to be remembered fondly.
