The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-06-03
nRAnnArIoN DAY.


Mating exercises in our High schools.
Comparatively few High school princi-
pals or teachers fully approve them,
while the more intelligent part of the
community feels their unwholesomeness,
if not their discredit, to the school sys-
tenn.
And vet everybody feels that some
ceremony of the kind is fitting and de-
sirable. A class of young people who
have persevered in completing long
course of study have done a commenda-
BILE and valuable thing both for them
selves and the StaJe, and they deserve
some mark of public recognition and con-
graduation. The community owes it to it.
self to signalize the event in a way show
ing that it appreciates the benefit 1T has
received and the honor which is done 1t.
A Young man or woman, who has gone
through a course of school training,
ought to be quite different person from
what he or she would have been without
such training. The difference ought to
be a distinct gain to the State in the line
of increased strength to moral character,
of clearer mental perception and OF
broadened and more intelligent sympa-
thies in all matters that concern the pub
lie good. Admitting to the full the
shortcomings of our schools, public and
private, the presumption is so strong,
even if the evidence is not clear, that
they contribute decided increment TO
the sum total of public morality and IN
telligence, it would be very unwlse 10
withhold the stimulus and encourage
ment furnished by these public honors
and salutations, to say nothing from
personal point of view of the ceremony
of the graduates and their parents and
friends.
But in what shall the exercises con-
sist? A vulgar display of dresses and
bouquets has been and is too conspicu-
Gus a figure, and Notwithstanding occa-
sional words of protest or condemnation
from School Boards or other sources the
display has not sensibly diminished.
For this teachers and principals are not
responsible. 1t is due to low grade OF
taste in the community, which not only
tolerates but seems to enjoy such an os-
tentatious show of dress on these occa-
sions in spite of its inappropriatness
and of the hardship or modification 1T
causes in so many cases where money,
personal attractions or flattering friends
are not abundant. 1t it futile for teach
ers or school authorities to array them
selves against the fashion. A change
will come only when the taste and senti-
ment of the community change. To
bring about this change is mission to
which every sensible woman ought to
apply herself. Regard for the proprle-
ties of an occasion, is a lesson that our
school girls ought to learn, and particu-
larly when the sensibilities are involved
of worthy classmates whose bouquet
giving friends are comparatively few and
who cannot lavish time or expense on
their dresses without an unwarranted
strain on parental strength and means.
What part shall the graduates actually
take in the exercises is a question en-
tirely within the province of the school
authorities to answer, but 1t is perplex-
ing one. In the first place, as 1T seems
to us, it ought to be understood on all
hands that these exercises are purely
commemorative and honorary, that they
are not at all, or at least in very remote
degree, typical or representative OF the
work done during the school course
When an exhibit of manual work can be
made, or where philosophical expert
ments can be repeated and explained by
the pupils. something representative il
presented to the audience. But the or
binary graduating essay indicates nothing
uate and the vicarious literary merit o.
the teacher. To expect the average boy
or girl graduate to present an essay con
tanning anything but commonplace o.
quotations, is unreasonable, yes, absurd
At that age the average mortal is moi
original or witty, nor is he wise unless
in his own conceit. But teachers are
not satisfied, nor is the public, to hav'
ESSAYS read on such occasions containing
nothing but platitutes. So what is to bt
done? The universal desire is for GER
emony of some kind to celebrate TIN
occasion, and it is a very natural ant
proper feeling that the graduates should
be the chief actors as they are the cente
of interest. But in their own strength
to discharge creditably the part usual.
given to them, they are quite unable
not necessarily because of any defect o
remissness, but simply from immaturity
They have not reached the age when re
Elections of intrinsic interest or weigh
can be expected from any of them, evel
if it was not certain that the majority o
them, by Natures parsimony, never will
reach that time. There is the dilemma
In the second place, as will be readil
admitted, these exercises ought to b
strictly honest and genuine; they ough
to be Just what they pretend to be an
nothing else. No scales exist for tellin
how much, by way of improvement
teacher may weave into the tame essa
of a graduate before reaching the poin
where honesty would cry, This essa
should not be allowed to pass as tn
product of the reputed author" Blu
it is safe to say that in nine cases OF tel
graduating essays are amended and EN-
bellished beyond this point. If the fac
were not so palpable and notorious, tn
immortality of the matter would be tial
rant but everyone understands the Gus
tom, and SO it is perpetuated as invol'
ing a fiction that seems necessary, if nc
harmless.
In its effect upon the character of OF
young people such a performance mui
be hurtful. 1t contributes to a 10
moral tone in the individual and in I'll
community. Some way of avoiding 1T
greatly to be desired, but a fully sati
factory substitute has not not yet bee
devised.
The old-time fashion of having decl
nation selections is out of vogue, thong
in many, if not all important points it
to be preferred to the present. III
method of having an appropriate az
dress from an able speaker, while Il
graduates are given due prominence {
the platform, IN the music and whatev
exercises they can do themselves credi
is occasionally adopted, and in some i
stances with the absurd ACCOMPANYING
of "baccalaureate sermon" But asst
I 4