River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-06-11

women, and that the example of the
United States is being followed in
European countries. Ii is the excep-
tion rather than the rule now TO find
higher institutions Of learning closed
to women. Oberlin college we the
first To offer equal advantages to men
and women. Horace Mann contribut-
ed much To the cause of coeducation
in this country. Now that women
enjoy equal privileges with men in
education, a grand and glorious future
awaits the human race.
Miss Bessie l.. Rounseyell delivered
an Grafton on "Our High School, and
also the Valedictory. She stated that
in as much as she had completed the
course of study offered in the High
School, she wished to leave a lasting
| testimony to those who would come
after her and TO her fellow citizens of
the high grade of work which she
knew was being done in the High
School. She said that it was not the
purpose of a High School to provide
professional training of any kind, but
to give to all who desired to avail
themselves of its privileges, an
academic training which would enable
| them TO take up any trade, or enter
upon the studies of any profession
with skill and efficiency. She showed
that our High School is rapidly coming
to the front as one of the leading
High Schools in the State, aud that
| il is accredited to all the courses of
study except one, by our State Uni
versity. There are many improve
ments yet which need to be made in
order that our II gh School may be-
come all that is desired, but with the
hearty support of the citizens, it is
sure to become an institution of
which our city can be proud. Miss
Rounsevell's valedictory was touch
ing tribute of esteem and respect for
her teachers, her classmates, and the
school board, clothed in most delicate
/ and beautiful language.
Mr. Haugan, on behalf of the Board
of Education, presented each grad
uate with diploma.
Professor Wilson addressed the
class in the language following:
CLASS ADDRESS.
M YOUNG FriendS:-In a few re-
| marks which | made to the graduating
| class last year, | tried to show the
| imperative need of thorough prepa
ration for successful career in any
calling in life. All that was said on
| that occasion, l would repeat with
| even greater emphasis and with a
| stronger conviction than ever of its
| truthfulness, after another years
| experience in the busy duties of life.
For the present, however, i desire
| to call your attention to another sub
| ject which appears TO me TO be of
vital importance to the happiness and
| well-being of young people like
yourselves, and to the cause of educa-
| tiOn. | want to call your attention
| TO the great value of education in
| itself, independent of the commercial
| value too generally attached TO it. /
| would not have you suppose that
J education in general, and your educa-
| tion in particular, does not have a
| commercial value: it does have a COM
4 mercial value, bu. wish to emphasize
| to you the value of an education in
| itself.
| Many young people seek an educa-
ton for the sole purpose of obtaining
| wealth, social position, and freedom
from manual labor.
| Many fond parent, ambitious that
| his son may be free from the drudgery
Il Of tl,a form fha Chnn ar the Store
layishly be slows upon him two
| thousand dollar education, when in
reality he is only fifty cent boy.
/ Many young girl diligently pursues
her studies with the hope Of getting
an education which will free her from
| the ordinary household duties and
/ common affairs of life.
| John Ruskin once said Il receive
many letters from parents respecting
| the education of their children. In
the mass of these letters | am always
struck by the precedence which the
idea of position in life takes above
all other thoughts in the parents
minds. The education betting such
and such station an lJe,-this is the
phrase, this the object, always. They
never seek an education good in itself;
but, an education which shall keep a
Il
| shall enable him to ring with con-
fidence the visitors bell at double
belled doors: which shall result
ultimately in the establishment OF a
double-belled door to his own house,
i'm a word. which shall lead to advance
ment i'm life:-this we pray for on bent
knees. and this is all we pray for.
Indeed, among the ideas most pre-
yalent and effective, and that
which is put forward as the fittest
stimulus to youthful exertion,-is
this of advancement OF life"
Iwould not for one moment attempt
to check your youthful ambition,
and thereby cause you to occupy a
lower place in life than you are capable
of occupying. You owe it TO yourselves,
to your friends, and TO your country,
to get the most out OF your lives
possible. / simply wantyou and those
| who may follow you, to understand
that an education is something more
than a means to Advancement in
life-to the attainment of wealth and
social position.
| Ii our public schools do not give to
the young people who are trained in
them, a nobler and truer conception
of an education, they fail in their
purpose, and they become a menace
to our established social organization
rather than its bulwark.
If you have completed the course OF
study offered in our Public School
with the expectation of being freed
from the humber tasks OF ur fellow
citizens. you will be woefully dis
appointed. and you will fall TAR short
OF returning TO the community and
the State services equal TO the care
and expense bestowed upon you. You
have not been given an education free
of cost that you may become physicians
or school teachers, and thus avoid
what many consider the drudgery of
work. ] trust that by diligence and
honest effort your labor of whatever
kind will be rewarded with good
financial returns: expect 30 find you
in the future standing on higher
social plane than you ever could have
reached had you neglected the
opportunities offered you in the Public
School: | know that you will be more
public spirited and more capable of
performing the duties of free citizens,
because you have completed the course
of study in our High School. But the
one thing which i esteem above all
others in your education and which
/ would have YOU understand and
value most highly, is your fitness TO
live in your social environment and