The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-06-05
The Graded schools

Last week completed the examinations
of the graduating class in the Benning-
ton High school. Miss Maud Wheeler
and Miss Edith Dewey are entitled 10
graduate in the higher academic or the
years course, the former winning the
valedictOry honor by an average stand
ing of 94.53 per cent, and the latter the
salutatOry by an average standing of
90.S7 per cent. These young ladies have
completed their work and passed all
their examinations; there is no doubt
about that. Each has a record of seven
teen subjects. This looks something
like restoration of the old-time value
to High School diplomas. Last year, it
will be remembered, that students were
offered for graduation who had COM
pleted but four High School branches
and much unjust feeling was raised
against the superintendent and trustees
because they had the courage TO refuse
graduation to students who had not even
half completed course of study. IL
the present graduating class is a small
one it is the natural and necessary re-
suit of graduating large classes in 1888
and 1889 without any adequate prepare
ton, together with what was shown
against the work in the High School last
year.
Our High School diploma was, years
ago, high and honorable one and it is
coming to be so again. The school is
coming up. Last year there were no
graduates. This year there are two.
Next year-the first class to pass through
the High School under Mr.. Davis-there
will be by present indications class of
ten members. Some of the class of '92
will take part in the graduating exer-
cises this year, and that will give the
public some opportunity of studying the
ability and promise of future classes
and the prize speaking will give them an
opportunity to study the qualifications
of the members of '93 and '94.
The following students, as a special
honor, have been appointed to take part
with the graduates OIL Friday evening of
commencement week:
Graduates - Maud Martha Wheeler,
Edith Martha Dewey.
Undergraduates, honor appointments
Mabel Hitchcock, '93; Florence Hol-
den, '93; Melissa Morse, '92; Clarence
Niles, '92; Hattie Wilcox, '93.
On Wednesday evening there will be
prize speaking In the hall by students
IRON various departments of the school.
Out of some twenty-six competitors the
following have thus far been appointed
to take part: %.
Audrfa Bowen, Charles Bennett, Alice
Gibson, Clarence Niles, Bertha Jewett,
John Seymour, Maud Miller, Lyman
Tombs, Daisy Morse, Melissa Morse,
Thomas Venable, Nellie Patchin, Wills
White, Hattie Wilcox.
All of those appointed to speak with
the graduates have the right to speak
for the prize, providing they have diff
ferent selection for each occasion.
The prizes, two for the girls and two
for the boys, are donated by certain of
the trustees. There has been much in
terest in speaking in all parts of the
school during the entire year, and many
of the students have had considerable
training in elocution under the superin-
tendent, who has had several years ex-
perience in this department. The prize
contest will be held on Wednesday night
of commencement week, and inasmuch
as there will be three other school exhi-
billions in the hall that week, free to the
public, the trustees have decided to ask
small admission fee for the prize speak
ing. The money so obtained is to be
expended in starting reference library
for the use of students in the Grammar
and High School. The need Of refer
ence books in the school is very great,
and those who take an interest in the
prize contest in speaking will be glad of
this opportunity to assist in procuring
them. A full programme of the exer-
cises will be published next week.