Evening star., 1898-06-21
READY TO TEACH
Commencement Exercises of the
Washington Normal School.
DR.. Lane MAKES THE ADDRESS
Remarks by Prof. Powell and List
Of Graduates.
PRESENT TO MRS. MYERS


The commencement exercises of the
Washington Normal School of the District
of Columbia public school system took
place at 10 o'clock this morning at the
Franklin School building, forty-seven yount
ladies receiving diplomas that evidence g
completion of many years of hard study
and a fitness to become leaders of the little
children. OF the large class graduated q
majority of them will become identified al
once with the schools of the capital city
while those not so fortunate will probably
become identified with private institutions
of learning. All have been trained with
a view of their fitEess in either respect.
The Normal hall on the third floor of the
Franklin building was most eaborately
decorated, the woman's tasteful hand being
apparent in every fold of the many Ameri-
can flags grouped on the side walls and in
the twining of smilax and clinging vines
about the chandeliers and pillars. Palms
and potted plants gave effect to the bowery
appearance of the scene. The large au-
ditorium was completely filled with the
friends and relatives of the graduates and
officials of the school system. President
j. w. Whelpley and Mr.. Jesse II. Wilson
Were present as representatives of the
board of school trustees. Prof. j. w. Pow
ell, superintendent of schools. presided as
sisted by Mrs. l. G.. Myers. principal of the
Normal school. Dr. f. r. Lane. supervisor;
principal; c. s Clark and other officials
of the schools were seated on the front
row. The pretty graduates, daintily
gowned in white, sat in body to the right
of the platform.
Opening Exercises.
The exercises of the morning were opened
with an address by Superintendent q
Schools ]. W. Powell, who expressed the
appreciation of the normal school for the
large attendance. Mr.. Powell told briefly
of the work of the normal scholars, saying
that their teachers worked with them hard
SenSibly. without show, striving ever Il
train them to lead others in after years
The endeavor is not alone to make the
young women competent To earn a living;
but to take the SiX-year-old children from
the crowded houses of the city. teach them
and bring them up in all that is right, lay
ing the foundation for bright and useful
life.
The philosophy of all education. Prof
Powell declared, is that the child shall bc
so trained that he will like TO learn. And
once the child likes to learn" he said, ''he
ceases to wish to do evil"
The young ladies of the graduating class
rendered concerted musical selection that
was much enjoyed and warmly applauded
MISS Lena freeman directed.
DR.. Lanes Address.
Prof. Powell introduced DIR. F. r. Lane
director of the Washington high schools.
who made the address to the graduatinc
class. DIR. Lane said it was privilege to
see the great teaching body rejuvenated
and VitaliZed by the addition of so much
youth and beauty and energy and high re-
sources.
N1riSh TO
DR.. Lane, upon individuality in your work
the unis of your profe ssion." He then point
ed out the great teachers of the world
Buddha, Plato, Socrates, and the greatest OF
all, Jesus Christ. With these bright exam
pies before them the teachers of today ell
ter the ranks with bowed heads and rever-
ential. The speaker cited these examples
10 give some conception of the lofty nobil-
lty of the teachers work.
DIR. Lane then spoke of the methods of
teaching in vogue today as against those of
previous years and decades. improved
methCdS have made possible more difficult
tasks for the children at an earlier age
and nowadays the child at the end of his
first year in school does more than smell
three or four-letter words and scrawl his
name Today at the end of his first year
the child reads easily, and writes and spells
every word in his school vocabulary
In conclusion the speaker declared that
one cannot overestimate the value to the
world of the teacher. 1t is impossible tc
fully understand the teachers influence fol
good or Ill on the little souls that are to be
nodded in their hands. Everything de.
pcnds upon the individuality of the teacher
what she does. what she thinks, what she
ls-the unis OF her profession. Dr. Lanes
final advice was: 80 cultivate yourself
that your work may be glorious"
Supervising Principal G. S. Clark of tho
first division was introduced and made 6
short address, which was principally SCUM
adNlce 10 the young women. He wished tC
impress upon them the sacredness of theil
calling and the responsibility that wout
III after years rest upon each of them. He
urged them to teach broadness kindness
and to strive on increasingly through
storm and trouble to finally achieve the
success that should be theirs.
The Graduates.
Another vocal selection by the class fol
lowed Mr.. Clark's address, and Mr. Jesse
II. Wilson, chairman OF the High Schoo
committee of the board of school trustees
was introduced TO present the diplomas, OIL
''tickets-of-leave," as Prof. Powell termed
them Yhe graduates were as follows:
Misses Edna Baier, Mae Baker Julia Ball
Miriam Bangs, Edna Bell, Alice Berry
Landon Blackford, Emma Bowen, Bella
Brooks. Katherine Bryan, Laura Bryson
Ellie Bundick, Lillian Carpenter, Inez Ca
rUsi, Ella Clapp, Alice Clarke. Marcella
Eckels, Josephine Fernald, Debbie Gard
ner. Ethel Glenn, Alma Goodman, Mabel
Grahame. Alma Hendry, Christine Holz-
berg. Ella House, Geneva Johnston, Ray
kaufman, Annie La Porte. Mamie Lowry
Florence Lyddane, Eta Matthews, Nettie
Maurer. Cora Mccoy, Emma McKenna
Minnie Meyers. Media Moore, Elizabeth
OH&ra. Beulah Price, Ida Priest, Helen
Richmond. Grace Senior, Mary Sullivan
Ethel Tracy. Clara Trow, Victoria Watts
Esther Woodward. Sadie Yoekel.
There was much enthusiasm when the
graduates presented Mrs. Myers, the prin-
cipal of their school, with an immense bou-
quet of beautiful flowers