The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-06-14
U'TAH'SGEM
University Commence
mGnt Exercises.
THE ROLL OF HONOR.
Joseph Francis MerriIl's Address,
"The Coming Teacher"
THE ROLL OF HONOR.
DIR. PARK TO THE GRADUATES
Eleven in the Normal Course and Three III the
Literary Course Marked Day in
the University's History.


morning by the friends, patrons, present
and former students of the Deseret univer-
sitv the occasion being the annual com
mencement exercises of this worthy edu-
,,.ational institution. The stage was
occupied by the graduates, the faculty, the
regents and anumber of prominent citizens,
among them Governor Thomas, Secretary
Sells. Hon. John r. Game, Commissioner OF
Schools Boreman, Chancellor o. F. Whit
new. and others, the orchestra and the uni
versity singing class.
The graduates. of whom there were
fourteen-eleven in the normal course and
three in the literary course-occupied seats
TO the right of the stage, the ladies arrayed
in the conventional white and looking as
sweet as one could wish, being ranged in
front while the sterner sex. clad for the
most part in black, made pleasing back
ground.
THE EXERCISES OPENED
nv DIR. Park, president of the faculty of the
university. calling the assemblage to order.
A selection by the orchestra followed, and
Chancellor Whitney offered the opening
prayer.
REGENT c. G.. RICHARDS
made the opening address. The last day of
school. he said, was an event in life that
could never be forgotten. One may live
until he is gray: one may travel every ma
ton of the earth; one may reach the highest
pinnacle of fame, but he will never forget
the day he graduated-the day he left
school To our teachers are we indebted
for our principal success in life. Such oc-
casions as these bring both pleasure and
sorrow. The professor and pupils who,
through years Of constant association have
learned to love eachIOther, separate. When
they meet again, it is as other PEG
pie meet. The pupils go forth to
meet and combat with the stern realities OF
life and in this combat the love that has
existed between them may be changed
somewhat. but the respect and esteem is al
WAYS there Each graduate has now won
for himself and herself the first battle of
life and having won the first prize we bid
him hope for the next Your course here
has given you resources that Will last as
long as life lasts: knowledge that will en-
able you to ill. if YOU cultivate it, any pO-
sition in life. You have only just com
menced. Life itself is merely great
school You are now prepared to engage
in the real study of life. You Will not be
able to solve all of it, If you select the
proper aVocatiOn You may make success
of il; but you must perseYere and without
egotism To the pupils who will return
we wish a pleasant vacation. To those
who are leaving the university we wish
them Godspeed in the journey OF life. IN
structing the young is one of the noblest
caIlings to which one can devote himself.
In that you have one of the
greatest fields in which to at
is only bounded by your abilities.
But YOU must lead, not fol ow.
You can only teach that which you
thoroughly understand, and let your lives
be shining examples such as your pupils
will desire to emulate.
To the president and professors of this
most worthy institution, the people of tab
owe a debt of gratitude for the grand re-
sults accomplished and shown here to-day,
and yearly in the month of June. Surely,
such a labor can never be forgotten and
cannot go unrewarded. In years to come,
tens of thousands will cherish the names
of the president and professors, and the
memory of the noble institution where
they were educated.
JOSEPH FRANCIS MERRILL,
of Richmond, Cache county, representing
the normal graduates, selected The Com
ing Teacher for his valedictOry address,
which was as follows:
The fleeing wings of time are just bearing ar
other academic year from our view into the
.ventful past and we have assembled here to-
day to commemorate its parting. Moreover as
normal graduates. we are 10 Ola aOleu 10 our
worthy teachers, take an affectionate leave Of
our fellow-students and say farewell to the de
serving institution that has been the cradle Of
our nOblest aspiratons-the birthplace OF our
The course of Study that We have completed
has acquainted us with the duties of the teach
er's profession: but II arouses wlthln us mingled
feelings of sorrow and sympathy when we see
how inperfectly these duties are discharged by
some who assume the office Of natures servants
in the training OF the immortal souls entrusted
ho5r
not in positive injury, in no material advantage
TO their pupils is fact TO every observer. In
stead OF directing their pupils
IN NATURES sILvERY PATHS
of development they often force them into
mazes of their own planning from which few
But we can attach no special blame to such
teachers for they are but following time hOnOred
maths in their educational work. Though they
may injure, they seek TO do good; though they
NAV DESTROY. they seek 10 build up
Bpt looki arising in majestic grandeur from
the dark clouds of the ole education Is the sun of
the new, pouring down, here and there his wei
come ravs which have already enabled some
teachers to see the great necessity Of radical
change in their educational course. stimulated
by those inspiring rays, they nave dared 10 step
from the weil-trodden paths OF faulty education
10 pursue the fruitful course Indicated by bet
tereducation. However, the change has only
commenced II is hard to turn from a long fol
lowed and well known way TO pursue a new and
uubeaten path. Many who make the attempt,
not being SutlclenLly enllBultHtu ny tHt rays OF
that appearing sun, may wander into troubled
and thorny courses.
But as those obScuflng CLOUDS roll away ana
the
SUN OF THE NEW EDUCATION
crows brighter. enlightening the public mind the
demands will increase for teachers who are in
deed competent to conduct their schools along
the silyered, but as yet INSTRUCTED way of the
new education This may lead US TO inquire
G.Vyhat will be the qualifications and the nature
of the work OF the coming teacher" To this
question shall essay 10 give brief answer.
That he will have knowledge OF the subjects
TO be taught is automatic; but the crude, ele-
mentary knowledge of some teachers Of to-day
will be supplantedb by the ready, accurate knOwl
edge Of the coming teacher. Master OF his sub
iects he will be indepe. d mt Of any text book.
Vet he will not require knowledge that he may
irnuart il TO his pupils, but that he may know
how TO guide their youthful feet skillfully in the
pursuit of knowledge, which they must acquire
bF personal effort.
nrenaration such as this would have been
ali snficient for the teacher Of the past; but il
would no more qualify the coming tcacher for
his profession than a knowledge OF paints and
brushes would qualify an artist for his. To at
tain the best results teacher must have a
knowledge of that with which he deals-the
nind-without which, Bayne says. He Is like
person undertaking to guide machine of eX-
ouisite capabilities, and the most delicate con
struction, without understanding its construc-
ton or the range of its capabilities" How easy
il is to understand that such an operator would
constantly commit hlundars resulting in seri
Gus OF perhaps irrep arabic, injuries - b ma
chine Then We can conceive that the path Of
such teacher
WOULD BE sTREwE WITH ERRORS,