Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1877-06-14
Graduating Ceremonies
OF the Glass or "a.
A Banquet, Speeches and q General
utilization.

II any Of our citizens do not appre-
ciate the true value of our City Pub
lie schools it is because they do not
know what the schools are. 1t is only
a few years since the old rickety
building was supp.anted by the pres
emit commodious and graceful struc-
tnre. When the new building was
completed our citizens pointed to it
with pride, but it is doubtful whether
they appreciated the fact that its
elegant proportions and splendid
appointments were wholly valueless
unless it had in ii a well disciplined,
and practically conducted school.
They now have the best right in the
world to congratulate themselves
that the good building Is occupied
by a good school. The advance Of
the schools to their present degree
of perfection has been gradual, but
the aim has been sure. and the result
Is highly gratifying. The work that
has been done is efficient, and the
training Of the children, and pupils
will bear the closest scrutiny. In
using these wholesale terms of ap-
probation we state what we have
learned from personal observation
during the closing examinations and
exercises Of this year. Our report Of
the examinations which was printed
last week was necessarily brief, as the
examinations were then in progress.
We desire to supplement that report
by a general statement as to the
efficiency OF the classes which we
had the pleasure of hearing. There
are some pupils In some Of the pri-
mary departments who appear old
enough to be much higher up in
grade. They have in some cases
only attended school for a short
time, in other cases they have been
kept back because they are frequent
ly out of school and hence unable to
keep up the connection OF studies,
and in other cases they are too dull
or indolent to advance. We OBJ
served, on the contrary, some very
young pupils In the higher grades,
to which they have advanced by
reason Of q certain kind Of precocity,
which has enabled them to master
lessons with remarkably small efforts.
From our observation we are quite
confident that the grading Of pupils
has been justly made. Our only
criticism being that possibly a few
Of the most brilliant youngsters haye
been advanced too rapidly. Not
that we doubt the quality Of their
scholarship which warrants their
advancement, but such efforts are
generally at the expense Of the
physical system, and Of what avail
Is all learning IL thereby health is
broken, and the young man or wo-
man must enter life a physical
wreck? The teachers of the public
schools cannot be too strongly i'm
pressed with the idea that it Is best
to make haste slowly, and see to 1t
that in no case shall the mental adj
vance at the least expense to the
physical.
We may mention that among the
most interesting examinations was
Mr.. Bailey's class in grammar and
map drawing. Map drawing has
been taught to high degree Of per-
lection, and it is truly astonishing to
see with what rapidity and accpra-
cy they are sketched on the board.
This class In Mr.. Bailey's room
sketchsd a map of Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois and Kentucky in less than
ten minutes. pointing or cities etc.,
with great precision. Examinations
In geography throughout the vari-
usgrades were good; also in arithme-
tic. Il will be impossible to give
further reports concerning examina-
lions, moro than to say that in all
the departments they were good,
there being no evidence that any
"cramming" had been done with a
view to making a fine showing on
this occasion.
The graduating class had its class
exercises on Friday, June, Sth.
Glass day was observed after the
manner Of colleges to some extent.
there being during the afternoon
series of serio- burIesque ceremonies.
The rain prevented the performance
from taking place In the school
grounds as was the original inten-
ton. The class consisted of seven
ladies and one gentleman, and it was
quite amusing to see the ladies take
a hand in the planting of the class
tree. They welded the pick-axe
and spade in a manner that showed
them to be willing, il not expert.
The excavation was finally compile
ted, and the class records being en-
closed in an oblong box were deposit
ted in the bottom. The tree Ga fine
little maple, which will die this
Summer il not specially cared for)
was then put into position. and the
earth scientifically" heaped over
the roots. The class then repaired to
the chapel where the ceremony OF
public introduction was performed.