Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-07-04
HTGH sCH0oL COMMENCEMENT

HIGH SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT.
ME- coLIrNss SERMON ON suNDAY-rHE ExER-
cIsEs or THE GRADUATING CLASS ON MONDAY
EyEN1NG-THE ESSAYS AND EXPLANATIONS
GOOD SHOWING ron THE RESULTS or rHE
TRAINING IN Our PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Last Sunday afternoon marked new de-
parture in the exercises attending the close
Of the High school year and tho graduation
from the school Of the class which has com
pleted tho prescribed course Of four years
study. In accordance with notice previously
given special religious services we're held in
the Baptist church at 3 O'Clock, and Rev. W.
II. Collins, a member OF the school board
preached a. sermon before the graduating
class. The body Of the church was occupied
by the pupils Of the High and Grammar
schools, the graduating class of 10 members
occupying seats in front, and large number
Of the parents and friends OF the young peo-
pie were present.
The service opened with an organ volunta-
ry and selection by the choir Rev. +. L.
Tower pastor of the church, then read from
the Sth chapter Of Proverbs and prayer was
offered by Row S. M. Orothors Of the Unita.
rian church. The baccalaureate sermon fol-
lowed
IteV. w. n. COIIins's sermon.
Mr.. Collins prefaced his sermon with the
following remarks:
The present occasion may be called "a new depart
urc' NJ far the educational interests Of the town
are concerned. IL is believed 70 be Il movement in
the right direction, AZ giving more dignity and i'm
portance 10 the closing exercises OF our public
schools, and tho graduation Of their highest class.
There are many reasons why the duty Of inaugur-
atiug such a movement Is very acceptable. As O
elu1en' clergyman, and member Of the board Of
educatoni am deeply Interested In everything con
corning both the temporal and spiritual good Of al
living IN this place, where have been called TO
else the duties Of the sacred ministry and where al
So together with my hOnored colleagues, have been
chosen TO an the important and responsible office Of
a supervisor Of public education Next to the duties
Of my sacred calling, among the people committed 10
my charge, are the welfare and interests Of the chill
dren and youth, who are now passing through that
period Of mental training necessary for them, IN
der that they may be fitted for such duties profcs
sons aud clllngs as their future may demand.
The text announced was found in job 2stb
chapter, verses 10Th and 2Sth, in connection
with chapter 22d, verso 9Th, of the book of
Proverbs
"whore shall wisdom be found and where is the
place Of Understandings Unto mum he said, Behold,
the fear Of the Lord that is wisdom aud to depart
Train mp child In the way he should 90 and when
/ he ie old be viii not depart from it,"
Reference was made to the general charac-
ter Of the two books from which the texts
were taken The book Of Job taught very
clearly that religion (which consists in com
munion with God and doing right" OF all
the books Of the Old Testament the book Of
the Proverbs is the most directly educational
in its aim. The special theme to which at
1 tention was called in the discourse was the
proper training of the young. The words
taken from the book Of Proverbs. Train up
child in the way he should 90 and when he
is old he will not depart from it," may be
given broad and modern Interpretation.
The way be should go" literally means "ac
cordng to the tenor of his way, " that is. the
path especially fitted to the individual char
acter. plea was made for the special study
OF each child's aptitudes and disposition by
the teacher. The teacher must know more
than books, he must be in sympathy with his
pupils. He must develop and encourage
their special talents. Without this there is
no real education. 1t is because all this is
necessary that the work of a teacher calls for
the very highest endowment 1t is one of
the most honorable csllings to which one can
| give himself. To rightly educate is to draw
out all that is good and TO repress all that is
/ evil in the character Ii is to form habits of
study, application aud observation and 10
arouse all the dormant faculties. 1t is not
| intended that the teacher should say. II will
| make this child clergyman or a lawyer or a
! physician, but that he is to watch the men
tai development of each pupil and to encour-
/ age it in those lines where it most promises
usefulness.
INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION.
| Under this heading Mr. Collins spoke as
/ follows
It is 10 be hoped that the time is not very far dis
tant when industrial education, in connection with
that Of the cultivation Of the Intellectual movers will
receive the attention 1t 50 well deserves. It should
by no means be confined to institutions which are re-
formniory in their nature The benefits to be derived
from It woud be manifold. SIT would dignity labor
! ana diminish crime. 1t would tho improve
ment Of all manufactures and couducc TO The social
elevation Of the producing classes. In It would be
found correction Of what be considered as an
our dag viz At
! u j. disgrace for one TO learn a trade such a
thought evidently did not enter thu mind 81 one who
may be called the greatest among all Christian schul-
ars, since the great apostle to Gentes through
throughout the world, considered It no disgrace 10
labor With his hands and 70 minister TO the necessi
ties not only OF himself, but also Of those who we're
with him. We read IN the book Of the Acts Of the
holy apostles that after leaving Athens ST. Paul visit
ed Corinth, and finding there certain dew named
AquA, with his wife Priscilla, because he was Of
the aame craft be abode with them and wrought: for
by their occupation they were tent-nakers."
While In particulars the methods of education
alnohg the Jews resembed those which afterwards
prevailed among the Greeks vet many who were
scholars Amoug the former nation acquired their sub
sistence mainly by the Of some art or hapd
craft. II was not considered derogEtory FOR = stu
dent OF distinguished talent to engage in manual IA
DOR and IN TINS respect like opinion shared by
our own ancestors. While would not uuderyalue
in the least the acquisition Of liberal education to
be entered upon after the preparatory studies arc
completed, nor the great usefulness and importance
OF professional life for those may be lifted for
IT, still It should be remembered that knovedge ~
the mechanical arts Is necessary for L large pr0Dor
ton Of mankind; aud that 90 important a mater
should receive its Just and proper acknowledgment
II We examine the educational methods OF otheT
countries than our own, and especially that Of Ger
many, We shall discover that this has been done and
moreover, that the Introduction Of Industrial duea
ton has not at all nterfered with the cultivation Of
the mental powers and faculties since in the point
OF intellectual culture Germany found TO be IN the
highest rank. Great assistance is rendered there hv
the government for the promotion OF both primary
and secondary education and the technical and high
schools are ranked with the universities. In the year
1871 we're founded what known as academies Of !
industry, while those Of architecture date from the
year lI9s There are mining academies those Of for.
cstry and agriculture There are also umernus soci
cites and unions, some being of exclusively scien-
uhc Character while others designed the pop
ular diffusion OF useful knowledge Ample proysiou
Is also made for scientific collections Of an kinds in
almost all places Of any importance either AZ the
public expense through private uruihcenco Iyido
Ency. Brit. 9th Ed. Art 6ernanyJ >''1'
There are those who arc disposed 10 nI1rify our |
system OF public education as it exists There |
are also others, among whom may be foupd mon Of !
high intellectual training and superior literary attain
mentsi who are by no means unaware Of its inner
fectons and upon the principle that it is Sometimes
wen TO sec ourselves As others us recalling the
Latin saying 'fds est Gb h0ste d0cerr We produce
little OF their testimony, aud it will also apear that
even among ourselves, as representing the system
there are not few prominent educators who apree
with them but are not discouraged by the facts in |
the case since every human system must OF necessi.
~ be imperfect With these latter let Us strive each
aud every one IN our several positions OF influence
70 remedy the evil and to remove the cause OF cen
A recent number Of the North American R.,5o.,
contains an article from the pen OF Massachusetts
Clergy nan severely critcising method The late
wendell Phillips once said that We strive only for
superficial culture and that We obtain" His words
are these; II claim that this Kind Of education in
Jures the boy girl In at least three ays First tbe
able only by forgetting what thev have leaned
and beginning again, TO earn their davis bread. it
the second place 1t il earned reluctantly third there
If no ambition for perfection aroused
In recent Year Book Of Education this subiect "a
iuly treated and the opinions Of those who arr well
quAhhed TO discuss therein freely given the
following are examples. The Chancellor ~ the SUI
cuse university while denying with considerable en-.
pnAsis the strong aud sweeping assertions OF Mr.
fhlllpsi yet asks, why should girl be allowed 10
graduate from, or even go into a high school without
showing both the theory and practice OF the prepara
ton Of food aud clothing for family and indeed el
that could wei be taught In school that housekeepe
ana nurse should know? Indeed, the eements Of
INDUSTRY, ana OF morality, and Of genuine religion
some other things "often taught"
In an address delivered before the state education
al convention Of California, the superintendent CEN
tended for moro technical education in the common
schools in these words; II hold Il 70 be a correct