The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-27
BE OF THE PLAIN PEOPLE
PROF. GRIFFITH's ADVICE TO
TRAINING SCHOOL GRADUATES.
Sixth Commencement of the Institu-
The school Orchestra.

Industrial Training School, held in the audi
forum of the school last night. The audi
forum was crowded with the families and
friends of the graduates, and they were
much impressed with the simplicity and in
terestingness of the occasion. Mabel White,
the valedictorian of the class, performed
| the task assigned to her in a sweet and
graceful way, and impressed the large au-
dience with the good work that is accom-
plished by the school. No little enjoyment
was received from the numbers rendered by
the /. 7. S. orchestra, under the efficient
leadership of Prof. Emerich, principal
OF the school An address on the topic, "The
| School of Experience" by Prof. E. +. Grit
! fifth. was commended for its sound COM
mon sense and wholesomeness. Prof Grit
| fifth struck the keynote of the educational
! system. Instead of urging the graduates to
/ strive for a higher education than they
| have already obtained-in a collegiate
| sense-he urged that they acquire the
broadest knowledge, the knowledge to
which all true scholastic education tends,
| that is to be- obtained only by living the
! life and mingling with the common peo-
| pie"
! 1t was an impressive moment to the large
| audience when the /. T. S. orchestra struck
up lively march and the class of twenty
| seven tHlSNeu lnS
| down the center aisle to the stage, a young
! lady leading the procession. Behind her
marched a young man and back of him a
| lady, so alternating until the last one was
on the stage. The graduates stood to-
gether until the last one was before the
proper seat, when they were seated stimuli
/ taneously AS the procession marched to
the stage there was much craning of necks,
and as the graduates were seated there was
| an outburst of spontaneous applause as the
pretty picture was formed The young
ladies were dressed in white, carried great
/ punches of roses and some wore flowers
| in their hair. The young men were dressed
! in black. On the stage they formed a pretty
tabeau The graduates sat in three long
rows of chairs, each row toward the rear
being elevated above the one in front There
was background of verdure and the sides
of tha stage were banked with tall palms
Following the class Rev. Joseph A. Milburn
| Henry Russo, president of the School Board,
| Prof Goss superintendent OF the public
schools, and Prof Griffith found seats
| Prof Emerich presided not only over the
music, but over the exercises as well. The
/ orchestra played, as an overture, a selec-
! ton from the Bohemian Girl" Mr. Mil
| burn made the Invocation, after which there
| was piano duet by Misses Lillian Poehler
| and Minnie BueJ'1ler Their rendition of Il
!
4 full and they were roundly applauded. After
/ Prof GrifIith's address, the orchestra rem
dered the Roman March" -Mendelssohn
! Then came the valedictory address by Miss
White, after which there was violin solo,
/ Souvenir de Wieniawski,' Haesche, by
! Otto Letter. Miss Lillian Adam accompany
| ing him. Their efforts We're encouragingly
| received. Mr.. Russo presented the diplomas,
and the evening closed with Stars and
Stripes Forever Sousa, by the |. I. S.
FREE SPEECH THE EDUCATOR.
| At the beginning of his talk Professor
! Griffith spoke of the great development in
educational enterprises in this State, con-
trasting the conditions that now exist with
! those in the early days of the State. Our
notion Of what the state may do to promote
| the happiness of the people, said he,
grows broader each year, but we are not
falling into paternalism True education
never leads anybody away from the people.
Among the common men are those of high
| est intellect The typical man of the masses
is distinguished for simplicity and faith in
mankind. While there are some things he
can learn from these graduates. there are
many things he can teach them"
There are two kinds of education, he said,
the education obtained from books in the
| high schools, academies, colleges and uni
versities, and the education that is obtained
by living the life of the world. These two
must commingle if the school education is
to accomplish the highest and best purpose.
There are pedantic teachers who are
learned only in the school of books, he said,
and these are like she old fable Of the peas
in the pods, who thought the whole world
was green. while green is a pleasing coll
or said he, there are others just as pleas
ing
Too many teachers move in a small sphere
and forget the real ends of education, he
said. Listening to lectures, sermons and
| reading books do not constitute real culture
late himself with life. Education is not
knowledge of grammar, history, Latin,
Greek
Because some so believe" he continued,
education, and especially higher educa-
ton, has been so brought into contempt that
the college man must show cause why ne
should not be taken as joke. This fact
causes the man of the masses to say, You
are pedantic,' and this is too frequently
met with the retort You are clown, I'M
couth. uncultivated.' The great textbook
for the education of experience IS free
speech. Every public school should edu-
cate its pupils in talk debate and inter-
change of ideas. A great deal of history
ing societies. from which great lawyers and
statesmen have received the impetus that
has directed their future life. ] like to see
a fighting parson, one who breaches within
few centuries of his time. Some philos-
opher discovers the Roentgen rays. This is
flashed all over the country, ana scores OF
men who never heard of him before at once
begin embelishng his discovery. Whether
it be through the press, the pulpit or In
everyday talk, free speech becomes the
great educator
He spoke of the need of apprenticeship.
pointing his hearers 10 the advantage of
going out and observing by what toll the
skllful have acquired their ability to do
something. The speaker expressed great
faith in the common people. me man OF
the masses has a clear vision when looking
at moral questions and the speaker said
! that he knew no better advice than to urge
| those in doubt on some moral principle to
! turn to the plain people for guidance. THE
! people can be trusted with the gravest re-
| sponsibilities," said he. ANY man who be-
! lieves a few men can run the government
! better than the people will bear watching.
The instinct of the common man is uner-
! ring He pointed back to the history of
| patriotism, unseldshness and manhood of
| those men from which this generation
! springs.
Higher education is important" said he,
/ in concluding, "and | suppose there are
! those here who would wish me to urge 1t
! upon the graduates. yet believe my duty
1 is TO point them to that education which
they may get by going amongst and study
! ing the masses Although the education
they have acquired seems for the moment
to partition them from the plain people,
as their view broadens 1t will bring them
back again" A list of the graduates is as
| follows:
Emma, Barnhart Ruth Beebe, Irwin Ber-
! termann, Howard Bruce, Carrie Hartmann,
Lulu Hobart Charles Nagel, Edna Orbison,
| Martha Pedlow, Lillian Poehler, Harry
Reed, Roy Rinehart, George Schley. EN-
NETT Higgins, Harry Jacobs, Katie Kiefer,
| Otto Letter, Isaac Marks, Clara AatZke,
| Emily Monroe, Katie Shaw, Charles Shirk,
| Shirley Steele, Allan Vestal, Bessie White,
Freda Huebner and Mabei White.
-e-~-@----
ODD MATCH-STICK TRICKS.