The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-07-30
GRADUATING EXERCISES OF THE LAW
RENEE HIGH SCHOOL.

EDITOR TRUE NoRTHERNER:
During our attendance upon these exercises,
which were to us both entertaining and profta-
BILE, few thoughts came to mind which, as they
concern schools IN general, we wish permission
to give to the readers OF your paper.
First, the general character OF the entertain
ment was pure throughout, and consequently
elevatipg in its tendency. Nothing sensational,
nothing to laugh at, and vet the large audience
was held and interested for two hours without
effort or apparent WEAKNESS, and feeling OF
general satisfaction seemed 10 prevail as they
quietly dispersed. AS We looked upon them we
could but think how much better for education
to set IN motion current which will bear them
toward nober attainmeDts than for any reason
to let down the standard OF purity and excel
lence, and thus give them helping hand down
ward. In these days, when the rage is for OPP
crates and theatricals, it costs man something
to be true TO his convictions OF what s best, but
1t pays. Z" AS we SOW we shall reap Such
stand taken by any school recommends 1t to the
patronage Of the best citizens OF the surround
ing country. In this GROWING work, which is
the resul; of years OF persevering labor and Sc
we're mental discipline, we saw much that gave
promise Of future usefulness. There were many
practical ideas, interspersed wit the sentmen-
tai, which, il followed up, will place each of the
ten among the great army Of busy workers that
are helping to make the world better for their
having lived in it. When one Of the number
was Intercepted as to what she was going to
do with her education, the reply was, :" 1 am 60
ing to use it," That Is the idea exactly. An
education which is gotten merely for ornament
is Of little value TO its possessor or TO the world
but work it into the bone and muscle OF our
being and it not only sodifies but embelishes
and makes it power wherever
known.
Among the number was one who had spent
only the last year in a school room. All the
other studies had been mastered at home under
the supervision OF her parents. In converse
ton with the mother, we learned that they not
only attended to the special studies Of their
children, but that they created and nonrished
taste for pure literature and general informa-
ton by supplying them with the best OF books
and papers, the reading OF which was in com
mon during the evening hours. The mother
said: IL always stop and tell my child what it
wants to know" We call attention to this idea
Of home education because so many are de-
barred from giving their children just the kind
Of school privileges that they DESIRE and have
not yet got hold Of the fact that scarcely any
school can take the place Of the home for sew
eral Of the first years OF the child's life. How
n contrast with this is the practice OF many
parents OF providing questionable amusements
q place OF books and great pains taking in
educating them for false social life instead OF
efforts to make useful men and women OF them.
Many homes Of true education multiply all over
he land
To Prof. Mills was given the work OF putting
IN the top stone of the structure, and whose
inishing stroke was given in the quotation that
it was better to be right than to be king or
queen, but invisible yet visible was the work of
very teacher under whose hand each had pass
d." II to one class OF teachers more than an
'tber belongs the structure thus erected, the
oundaton-layers have 1t. II their work has
,een well done il will stand. In contradist:nc-
ion to present public sentiment, we believe
With Mrs. Emma Willard, that the best OF all
possible things to be taught is moral goodness.
{ the foundation is laid IN the heart the work
Will stand and grow stronger throughout all
lme and through neyer-endipg eternity.
We cannot better close this article than by
living an extract from the recent graduating
ssay of Prof. Burkhead, of Oberlin college, who i
'as the first principal OF the Lawrence school, a
Many callnss may justly claim to be learn q
d, and to be professions, and at the head OF 9
hese stands the calling OF the true teacher ,
othiDg on earth has attractions to him like the
by OF training himself and Others to all manli- 5
ass and goodness. He is inspired with the n
bought that he is working for eternity. The
rue teacher does not forget that he is making b
len for the great conflict OF lfe where "the sur
ivsl OF the fittest" obtains Love and sympa-
BY are the prevailing forces with which he d
lies. He reads human nature, prevents what r.
wrong, encourages what Is good. He is a :,
'ue friend, companion and guide to the Young d
is example is worthy Of imitation. With faith II
God, faith in himself, faith In mankind and 4.
nth in the immutable law Of things he walks
1umphantly onward and upward in Astounding &
sefulness"
ANNA ABRAMS.