The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-06-24
NORMAL GRADUATES
COMMENCEMENT ExERCIsEs
ATTRACT A CROWD
PROSPECTIVE PEDAeoeuEs
A Veteran Educator Defines a Sound
Mind in a Short Address.
Diplomas Conferred

The normal school auditorium was
crowded to suffocatlon last evening at the
commencement exercises of the class of
1898. The aisles and space around the walls
was filled with people who stood during the
lengthy program and many were turned
away who could not wedge themselves in
far enough to hear the speakers. The stage
was tastefully decorated with flowers, but
the size of the class and the crowded audi
ence did not give much room for effective
display. The class was seated in tiers on
the stage. fifty-eght in the regular course.
eighteen kindergartners and fourteen Of the
winter graduates. The ladies were all
gowned in white and were SO largely in the
majority that the seven gentlemen did not
make much impression among the fluffy
drapery of the prospective school ma ANS.
Three of the young men who would have
graduated enlisted with the volunteers.
The invocation was pronounced by Rev.
r. s. Cantine, and the program was inter-
spersed with eight musical numbers by the
school orchestra and students. Miss Clara
Macumber read a thesis on 1.-The Esthetic
Training of Children; Miss Agnes Ward,
symbolic Education; Miss Alma Barnett,
Grammar In Grades" The themes were
all pedagogical and technical and as such
were too long for a miscellaneous audi
ence.
President Martin Kellogg Of the state
university made a short address, taking as
his subject IA Sound Mind" Professor
Kellogg has an epigrammatc method Of
condenslng great deal Of truth in small
space of time and paper. "A sound mind"
he said, must have healthy vitality and
should be as vivacious and full Of life as
ripping water and the song of birds. A
sound mind must be active and vigorous
and must see things in their right proper
tions. In nothing is this failure to Judge
things correctly more apparent than In
mems estimates Of themselves. The major
ity magnify themselves out of their right
proportions, though there are few dis
trustful souls who put themselves in the
background who are really qualified for
leadership"
another qualification of a sound mind
Is common sense. and that can be cultivated
by taking pains. Self-control is of the ut
most Importance to every one. The sound
mind must be growing mind, and there is
no time limit to mental growth If the body
is vigorous. Mind individually and collect
lively outbasts natter and for growth We
must give the mind some conscious mental
discipline"
The speaker closed by making practi-
cal applica ton of the truths stated to the
occasion, and gave valuable suggestions to
the graduates, who are all prospective
teachers.
President Edward G. Pierce conferred the
diplomas in pertinent address. al
though fifteen classes have graduated since
the school was organized" he said, "this is
memorable occasion, because 1t is one Of
the largest that has ever gone out of the
institution the first one completing the four
years course, and because the kindergarten
training class is SO largely represented"
The speaker noted the value OF the Nor
NAL school in education, and outlined the
history of Normal schools, their growth In
numbers and the changes in the curriculum
which was formerly of an academic char
acter, but has gradually grown to the
consideration of mind deveopment.
In comforting the degrees, President Pierce
impressed upon the members of the class
their responsibility as teachers. and in clos
ing said:
1.-THE work is before you. We expect you
to be priests Of the living God-teachers Of
truth-nolders OF men. If your influence
does not make for righteousness; II you
simply teach as those do who have not been
trained for special work; If you consider
scholarship above character, the mental
above the moral and spiritual; If you do
not exercise an uplifting force on your pu-
pills by the strength Of your own PERSONAL
ity, then, indeed, win the Normal school
have failed in its mission, which should be
to educate true teachers. But we have faith
in the school; we have faith In you and In
the hope Of this high faith, we as faculty
have recommended YOU to our board Of
trustees and through them to the people
of our state, as in all respects worthy to
undertake the important work to which you
are pledged"
The exercises closed with selections by
the Glee club and orchestra.
Ehoucd His Wife