The record-union., 1897-07-17
COMMENC CEMENT EXERCISES
THOSE OF THE HIGH SCHOOL
HELD AT THE THEATER.
An Interesting Address Delivered
by Prof. Clapp of the UNI
versity of California.

The commencement exercises OF the
class of '97, Sacramento High School'
We're held in the Metropolitan Ihedter
yesterday afternoon, and large audi
ence, composed chiefly of friends ana
relatives of the pupils, was present
The stage was literally one mass Oh
greenery and flowers, and when the
curtain rolled up the graduating class
was disclosed seated upon the stage,
the lasses being given the places Oh
vantage.
At the close of the invocation Pro-
fessor Pond introduced Professor Il. q.
CIapp of the University of California,
who delivered an address replete with
good advice. not only to the graduates,
but to all interested in the matter OF
education.
Professor Clapp said California has
much to be proud of, and is noted for
the beauties of its scenery, as well as
for its wealth and prosperity. The time
viii come. he continued, when 1T Will
be noted. and justly noted, in educa-
tfonal circles, not because of the COM
mon school system nor because of the
State University, but because each
school in the State is part of the great
wheel of education, brought to an ex-
act system, progressing along the same
lines toward the same end.
other States, the speaker said, have
similar educational facilities, but none
are making more rapid progress than
this He had, he said, visited many of
Il e High Schools in the State, and in
every instance he found the teachers
and pupils working together harmon
iously for the advancement of all. In
Connecticut, the former home of the
speaker, several of the large cities are
splendidly equipped with schools, but
in other localities, he said. the schools
We're fifty years behind the times, the
teachers being incompetent, and the
schools without system. Here he said,
uniformity is the rule, ana he small
country school is not far behind that
of the city.
The High Schools of California, the
speaker said, are full of promise, and
will in the future be perfect. They
are the peoples colleges, the univer-
sity being for the few. 1t is true, he
said, that those few are rapidly becom-
ing an army, but if the 2,200 pupils
who now attend the university be
hNubitu III lilt l0lulc z TIE I1iSil hoIhCOA
will still be the place where the mass
of young people finish their education.
The High School is truly the peoples s
college. 1t is a practical school for
practical people, and as such must keep
near to the people.
Still. the speaker argued, the work of
the school must point to something
understanding to elevate the pu-
degrading vices of life. In an entirely
practical school nothing would be
taught but physical training, book
keeping, shorthand, typewriting and
mathematics. In such a. case mankind
would retrograde. These, the Professor
said, are not the only things to be
taught. The pupils should be taught
that the almighty dollar is not the
only thing to be striven for-the
broader faculties should be strength
ened and the rest win follow. The
aim should be to help the young mind
TO understand the world in which it
lives. and to do this. history and math-
ematics must be taught but these, he
said are not all. In spite of all knowl-
edge of chemistry and physics, the
druggist must compound medicines and
the plumber lay gas pipe, still the ad-
vantage of knowing the principles on
which they work is incalculable.
Professor Clapp next devoted short
time to the study of Greek and Latin.
and explained that neither could be en-
tirely dispensed with in the High
School. He warned parents to consider
before they allowed their children to
finish their education without some
knowledge of the languages which
We're the roots Of English literature
and letters. Character and training of
teachers, the speaker contended, are of
the most vital importance to edu-
cational institutions, and in California
he found them all that can be ex-
pected. They have learned the lesson
that there is no such thing as stand
ing still, and the moment they cease to
go forward they go backward To be
good teachers they must be good stu
dents. The spirit of study is contagious,
and if pupils realize that their teach
ers are learners they soon catch the
impulse and seek for themselves.
If the tenure of office of teachers was
a score of years instead of a year or
4 term. the speaker thought. the re-
suits would be better. 1t is not right
to allow the teachers position to be
jeopardized by political factions or re-
ligious creed, and the first town in
California which declares against such
a course viii hold an envious position.
Turning to the graduating class the
Professor congratulated the members
collectively on having finished their
work. He explained that the knowl-
edge acquired was the one possession
of which they could not be deprived,
and denominated it the keystone with
which to open the treasures of the
world. provided the possessors kept
working and advancing. He explained
that nine times in ten the man who
rises does so by indomitable ambition
and hard work
He advised them to go to work and
stay with it. II they found position