The record-union., 1893-12-23
PUPGIC SCHOOL EXERCISES.
How the High School Students Enter
tanned Their Friends.
Programmes Rendered at Other Schools
in the Presence of Large
Audiences.

The High School held extremely inter
ssting exercises yesterday morning, pre-
vious to the commencement of the holi-
day vacation.
Principal Pond had prepared little
variation from the usual proceedings on
such occasions, the plan Of which had not
been laid before the pupils and they were
In the dark as to what was to come.
His idea is that a love of liberty should
be fostered and encouraged in the pupils;
that they should learn self-government
snd 10 appreciate the difference between
liberty and license. In furtherance Of
this idea he planned that in the school
assembly an organization of the pupils
should be formed, in which, among
other things, they should consider all
subjects OF interest to them as pupils and
mem bers of the school, and take the con-
sideration of them into their own hands
and by their own methods, subject, Of
course, to the final decision Of the teach
eTs, if necessary, but, except in such case,
free from supervision and direction. In
q word, they are to try the experiment OF
selfgOvernment as political body
would, and thus tit themselves for the
duties of citizenship which at some future
day must devolve upon them. The idea,
he believes, Is q thoroughly practical one.
In accordance with it, when the school
had assem- bled, Ernest Birdsall addressed
few remarks TO IL upon the necessity of
organization in this way and called for
nominations for temporary Chairman.
The parliamentary law class caught at
the idea and carried it out.
Mr.. Driver was chosen temporary
President and Mr.. Faris Secretary.
On nrHaraJ that
Chair appoint a committee of three on
Permanent Organization, and Messrs.
Richards, Reith and Dodge were ap-
pointed. In a short time they reported
to the effect that 1t was for the interest of
the school to have unity among Its mem-
bers, and that as propositions and mat
ters of interest properly belonging to
them, which had heretofore been left to
the teachers. would arise, it being proper
for the pupils to shoulder their own re-
sponsibiIities, it was the sense of the as
sembly that they should permanently
organize. The officers should be: Driver,
President; Arnold, Nice-President;
Philips, Secretary, and Wehrbass, As
sistant Secretary.
The report was adopted and the perma-
nent officers took their places.
The President called on the Secretary
to announce the programme, which was
as follows: Piano solo. Miss Nellie Har-
ris; what to Read" essay, by Miss
Rachel Chappell; american Aris-
tocracy," essay, by Eugene Welty; instru-
mental quartet, by Miss Blossom Wilsey
and Messrs. Stickney, Heilbron and
Clifford; Talk on Machinery" Wallace
Renwick; Talk on Water" Alvin E.
Hornlein; piano solo, Miss Annie Schaw;
essay on Compulsory Education j. II.
Arnold; Talk on Astronomy" James
Eby; piano solo, Miss Wilsey; essay on
Labor Unions," w. Hof; cornet solo,
George Clifford; prophecy, 1.-The Class OF
'94,'' Miss Ida Flemming.
The programme developed the fact that
the essays and talks were strictly con-
fined TO what had been subjects of study
by the class, and to the ground gone over,
and showed that they had stored up the
instruction received. They would really
have done credit to older heads.
The prophecy Of the future class of '94,
however, was of course OF q different
nature, abounding in felicitous and laugh
able illusions to both the prOclivities and
the pet aversions OF the members, and
elected much fun. 1t was also shown by
the musical part of the programme that
the school contains some young musi-
clans of great promise, who are likely to
be heard of later.
The girls had also a surprise in store,
and after the conclusion of the pro-
gramme, Miss Merkley, on their behalf,
presented to the football team an ele-
gantly-embroidere banner, made by the
girls Of the school, with few appropri-
ate remarks. Manager Carroll received
it with neat reply, on behalf of the
boys.
The assembly then adjourned till the
Friday preceding Washington's birth
day, 1894.