Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-24
THE HIGH SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT.
Interesting Exercises at the National Thea
ter Last Night.

The commencement exercises Of the Washing-
ton High School are always interesting. The
exercises held last night at the National Theater
in connection with the graduation Of the class
of 1892 will go down among the most notable
events in the history Of the school. The thea
ter il is almost needless to say, was crowded.
On the stage were seated Secretary Noble,
Commissioners Ross and Douglass, Rev. DIR.
Elliot, Superintendent Powell, Principal Paul
and Trustee John T. Mitchell. An effective
background was formed of six tiers Of young
lady graduates, all dressed in white, relieved at
the top by a fringe of two rows of young men
dressed in black. Over the stage and hanging
from the proscenium arch was q large floral
SCROLL bearing upon it in white roses the in
scription Nv. II. s., '92." The Marine Band
opened the exercises with several choice selec-
tons.
Rev. DIR. Shipper asked divine blessing and
Commissioner Douglass, the presiding officer
OF the evening, introduced Commissioner Ross,
who. on account of his long connection with the
public schools of Washington, had been selected
to deliver the introductory address. Commits
sioner Ross was greeted with storms Of applause
as he advanced to the center Of the stage.
COMMISSIONER ROSS ADDRESS.
Commissioner Ross said:
''There is probably no public event which in
terests more homes in the District Of Columbia
than the annual graduating exercises of the
Washington High School. To the graduates it
is an event of the highest dignity and import
ance. To many of them it is the end of scho-
lastic training. They 60 from this step to en-
ter upon the active duties of life, and they may
rest assured that they will carry with them the
best wishes of all who are in any way connected
with the public schools Of the District Their
future career will be watched with interest,
with the fond belief that they will always re-
member that they have in their keeping to a
certain extent the good name and standing OF
the Washington High School. They are the
fragrant flowers of work years of public school
cultivation. and when they become men and
women and take the place of those who are now
upon the stage of action we trust them to stand
by and defend that public school system. This
is also an occasion of great interest to the ac-
complished principal and to his able assistants.
To them it is the beginning Of well-earned
vacation. With the finished Capitol Hill High
School building the new school year will open
with better High School accommodations than
the District ever had before. That they and all
of the faithful officers and teachers Of the pubic
schools NAV return to their duties refreshed
and invigorated for the next years laborious
duties il our earnest wish.
The year now closing has been the most sue
cessfui in the history of the schools. This is
Congress in giving us new school houses and
needed appropriations for teachers.
To intelligent and able school board,
which. without salary or emolument Of any
kind, has carefully guarded the interests of the
schools.
To the superintendent. supervising principal
and principals, the efficient officers who have
directed and guided the little army of
teachers into the highest degrees Of the art OF
teaching.
Lastly but not least, this success is due to the
Woodworking. poorly paid teachers. As a
class the public school teachers Of the District
of Columbia are intellectual and cultured and
capable of fulfilling the duties of any rank or
station in life. All of them have worked to-
gether tremendously and the result has been
success
The new features of instruction, for which
the trustees and superintendent have worked SO
diligently. have been especially successful. By
the manual training system the boys are taught
the use of tools with wood and iron. The
girls are taught to cook and to sew.
These features of school life are agreeable to
the pupils themselves, furnishing relaxation
from severer school tasks, and it is believed
that the instruction given will be Of great prac-
teal benefit in many ways.
This year witnessed the first class Of gradu-
ates from the business school. This is some
thing almost peculiar to this District.
Besides an excellent English course Of study
the pupils are Taught and become proficient in
bookkeeping. telegraphy, typewriting and ste
biography. In other words, the graduates Of
this school are ready to 60 forth and earn q
livelihood.
Citizens Of Washington, we invoke your in
terest in these schools. We beg you to visit
them and to inspect their workings.
1t is not claimed that they are perfect; few
human institutions are perfect. We invite
criticism intended for the benefit OF the schools.
We deprecate criticism based on actual hostility
and intended to cripple and destroy the schools,
for next to the church itself the public school
is the greatest agency for good. Our form Of
presupposes intelligence as its basis.
1t is cheaper to build schools and school
houses than to build reformatories and prisons.
So 1 close with the request, stand by the pub
lie schools.
Mr. Herbert G. Ogden, jr., was the orator Of
the graduating class and his speech was well
composed and effectively delivered.
SECRETARY MOBILES ADDRESS.
He was followed by Secretary Noble, who,
after comphmenting the Commissioners, teach
ers and pupils. referred to the beautiful sight
before him as an evidence of the greatness Of
the system of public education which places SO
many blessings before all. Thirteen million
children in the United States. he said, were
being benefited By public education, and in re-
turn the country received its share of the
eminent was education. Public education was
no charity. no gift bestowed through a sense Of
necessity. but something that raised a COM
munity and a nation to the highest plane Of
civilization.
In the course Of his remarks the Secretary
said: 'Does any one imagine that our govern
ment could today control the people Of a whole
continent of forty-four states and five terri
tories without the telegraph and the printing
press? Does any one imagine that without en-
hghtenment among the people, rendering
these instruments for the transmission and dif-
fusion Of knowledge Immediately available,
such help would be sufficient? And most of all
il cannot be doubted that the bond Of q common
language. a common education and home life
with intelligent and intellectual parents binds
the far distant portions Of our Union with
stronger. though invisible bonds, than the wires
that split the air the iron way on which our
commerce flies. The education that We have is
manifold. 1t does, indeed. secure reasonably
well the full and harmonious development Of
1T is the preparation Of the individual for re-
ciprocsl union with society-the prepara-
ton of the individual SO that he can help his
fellow men and in return receive and appropri-
ate their help. But it should have another re-
suit the most desirable for an American citi-
zen-character and independence of character;
an appreciation of the obligations of citizenship;
an obedience to law and all con-
stituted authority, but sacred re-
gard for the rights of each ones self.
The American youth should be taught and be
expected to practice, as a habit OF life, the