River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-03-06

Report OF Oral OfaduaIlon EAerclses
held at Esdaile, Friday Feb. 2S, 80:
The exercises opened with a song by
members of the school and others, follow
ed by recitation entitled "0pening AID.
dress" by Maud Gillespie of the Esdaile
school. Next was reading and grammar
by the graduating class conducted by G.
]. Brewer The recitation was made
quite interesting and the Supt. gave the
members of the class some excellent ad.
vice in regard to reading. A short rest
was taken after which a selection en-
titled Zone Month at School" by Mary
Miller of the Esdaile school, was rem
dered. Arithmetic was then taken VI
and the graduates drilled in oral work OF
a very practical nature by the Supt
Next followed a selection from Long
fellow, THE Bridge" by May Rossman
of the Esdaile school, and a recitation
"The Three Kings" by Miss Hawkinson
of the Forest Home" school. The noon
interlnission was then taken.
Dinner was provided by few of the
citizens of Esdaile and vicinity and serv-
ed in the recitation room of the school
house.
The afternoon exercises opened with
singing. Supt. Brewer then conducted
the recitation in civil government. He
gave very interesting talk to the class
after which S. L. Irvine conducted the
recitation in spelling; then Mr.. Brewer
followed with orth9py. A short rest was
taken and the exercises re-Opened with a
recitation entitled "The Rattle of the
Bones" by Louisa Miller of the Esdaile
school, followed by geography and his
tory conducted by the Supt. The exami.
nation in these branches was good and
Mr.. Brewer made quite a number OF
pertinent remarks on the manner Of
studying the above subjects,
The graduating class consisted of six
pupils, as follows: Miss Maggie Thoms
aged 10 wears. of the Forest Home
school; Mr.. Burke, age about 20 years, OF
the Diamond Bluff village school; Stan
ley CHECKER, age 10 years, of Dist. No. 2
town of Isabelle; Misses Louisa Miller
age Is years, May Rossman, age Is years
Emma Gillespie, age Is years, of the Els
dale village school.
After finishing the subjects geography
and history, Supt. Brewer gave the grad
yates an interesting talk which contained
many valuable suggestions in regard to
their future course of study. He re-
marked that if he thought for moment
that any one of the class would STOP
studying, thinking that the diploma was
sufficient, he should not grant it; he
trusted that each one would continue
the work of getting an education and
strive to do the very best he or she was
capable of doing, then he took pleasure
in granting the same.
The diplomas were then conferred up.
on the members of the class named
above.
Then followed recitations by pupils
of the Esdaile school as follows: "Snow-
fakes" Annie Olson; Strikes" Arthur
Mewhorter; Midsummer" Emma Oh
son; "Look Within" Emma Gillespie
The exercises were closed by singing
"God Be With You Till We Meet
Again"
The work passed off very pleasantly
and will be remembered by those who
were present. About forty-five persons
in all were in attendance.
These oral graduation exercises should
grow in favor as they will certainly create
great enthusiasm throughout the county
both with the pupils and their parents.
1t will surely stimulate the pupils who
have not yet graduated to obtain a com
mon school diploma, thereby creating a
desire for study. We hope they will be
continued in the future.
In conclusion, allow me to thank all
those who so kindly assisted me in carry
ing out the program and who furnished
the material for the dinner.
5. L. IRVINE,
Teacher in Esdaile village school.