Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-19
TO BE TEAC HE r S
Annual Commencement Exercises of the
Normal School.

Normal School
The annual commencement exercises of
the Normal School took place this morning
/ at 10 o'clock in one Of the large rooms at
the FRANKLIN building. On a raised platform
sat more than two score pretty girls clad
In dainty white summer gowns, presenting
picture of grace and beauty that one
does not often have a chance to see In a
crowd like this the presence of one dark
CARRIED young man was all the more notice
able. He was the only male member of
the class of "a from the school which
turns out the young teachers for the Dis
| trict
The exercises of commencement were
ra'her orief and of somewhat informal
character, but none the less attractive on
this account to the large audience of friends
and relatives of the graduates The room
was tastefully decorated with palms and
garlands of spring flowers and presented
very pleasant appearance. The program
consisted principally Of two addresses to the
graduates. which were full of good advice
! 70 the embryo teachers in their new field
Of usefulness.
The Graduating Class.
The members of the graduating class
were:
Anna Rebecca Williams, Charles Albert
johnson. Blanche Carroll BeaIl, Marie
Roberta Bailey. Carolyn Louise Jones.
Bertha Willis Gibson, Alice Butler. Flor
ence Hopkins Daisy Violet Cook, Mabel
henderson Swingle, Julia Foole Fernald,
Grace Lindsay Altschu, Annie. Rachel Will
Hanson. Addie Thompson Lyon, Mary
i-ackey. Mary Lois Sherman. Isabelle Tur-
kenton Katherine White Hobgood. Ada
May Williams. Maria Tavenner, Mary Ce-
ella Bresnahan. Maidee Schutter Ever.
Mary Adelaide Kelton, Florence Brown
Holmes, Emily Henrietta Rose, Margaret
Mary Carraher. Mary Holmes. Annie Ora
ham Getty, Fannie Mccullough Thomson.
Cora H. Pimper. Ivah Maude Bennett,
Florence Frederic LASER. Wilma willen-
bucher. Susie Beatrice Waters, Daisy Cath
crime Alwine, Lillian Augusta Ritten, Sarah
Lamborne, Nellie May Ossire, Ida Roselle
Garrett Sarah Musson, Daisy Elaine
Humphrey. Helen Mabele Alden, Marie
Gertrude Mahr. Mamie Smith. Bernice Aus
tin Stockbridse, Alice Pollok. Natalie Bald
win Huntington, Eunice Hartman WEIGH
anu Emma Gertrude Cook.
Superintendent Powell presided at the
commencement. and introduced the exer-
cses with few pleasant remarks He said
that this was the day that marked the close
OF period in which these young people have
done what is to them a really great WORK.
It was even more the day which begins
their larger ana more important laboIs.
He said that as they were all graduates OF
the high schools, ii was particularly appro-
principal OF that institution. DIR. f. r. Lane.
who always keeps a watchful eye on the
piogress of the young people who have
graduated under his care. DR.. Lanes ad-
dress was preceded by a piano solo by Mr..
Mayo.
DIR. Lanes Practical Address.
DIR. Lanes remarks to the class were full
of interest and would have been OF equal
value even to experienced teachers. He
dwelt upon the importance of the teachers
position in the world. and expressed the hope
and the confidence that his hearers would all
APPRECIATE it. too. In years gone by. he said
he had spoken OF character training as Of
more Importance than mere intellectual de-
velopment. This year. however, he would
speak OF the training along other lines that
vas particularly desirable for a teacher.
There were some things that he felt called
upon to warn them against In the first
place, he must tell them to beware of books
and to remember always that these are the
means to the goal, and not the END itself.
There is certain class of dreamers. DIR.
Lane said. to whom books are the be-all and
the end-all of existence. yet, after all, they
are only the implements by which the teach
er trains herself to lead the intellectual
growth of the community. He knew. him
self, of a woman in this town who Is way
Up in matters intellectual, to whom the Zen
da Vesta and all the doctrines of Buddhism
are as an open book. She Is well on toward
the limit OF human knowledge. but at the
same time her maid rules her household
ana she must needs stand helpless before the
impudence OF her coachman- Bronson Alcott
founded a philosophy, but ne was a ptiable
in provident and impractical man.
The question what becomes Of the pins !
in this world is as old as the hills. and yet
today we might follow II UP with another |
question as to what becomes of all the
valedictorians of the land. From their in
tellectual superiority one would expect |
them to lead in all branches OF the worl1, |
do hot know the humanity that Is all about |
them, and their ignorance In this more
than counterbalances their knowledge
along other lines. For the most part, they |
are unable to do anything OF value with |
what they really know. There is a great
difference to be noted between the present |
generation OF teachers and the past. There |
has been an equally great Improvement In |
their methods. In other days the teacher |
was usually referred TO as the school
marm," and there was just tinge OF re- |
proach in the term, because they were so /
narrow in their views and methods Their |
horizon was bounded by the four walls OF !
their school room, and their idea of their !
duty was to instill as many facts into the !
minds of the students as they could, re- |
CARELESS of everything else. |
How to Use Books.
ITO you members Of the class OF a."
continued DIR. Lane. Il would say again. use |
books. but use them as a means and not 1
as an end. Above all else, study the bus |
Ting energy of human life all about |
you. Know your business what |
ever 1t may be. and know 1t we'll |
If you are a teacher know how to |
teach, and teach to the best Of your ab.l- |
ity. Make careful study of each one Of /
the individual children entrusted to Your 4
care Make n study of his character his |
temperament and the tendencies that come |
from heredity. BY knowing each one of /
the children thoroughly and by under
standing each ones particular needs. You !
can soon do with that class easily and |
pleasantly more than you could ever ac-
ccmplish by all the severe discipline in the |
v orld."
Dr. Lanes little speech was received with |
the closest attention, especially by the !
class and was heartily applauded. At its |
conclusion Prof. Anton kaspar played de- |
lightfully OH the VIOLIN accompanied by |
MIR. May.
Principal Frcemnn'a Remarks
Another brief address to the graduates !
was delivered by Mr.. J. T. Freeman, one OF |
the supervising principals of the public |
schools. He told them that their success |
as teachers would depend largely upon |
their ability to comprehend the conditions /
with which they were surrounded, and to |
utilize the means at their disposal. Their |
duty was not simply to cram facts into the 4
mi Ind, fla.tr