The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-06-24

lished gentleman must be able to ride
q horse, to swim, and to shoot with DOW
and arrow. For more than 500 years, a
classical training, as it is termed, that
is, a knowledge of Greek, Latin and
mathematics, has been indispensable to
admission into the most cultivated ana
learned society. The half century just
closing has seen a wonderful reNolu-
tion in educational systems.
The graduating classes of the Wor-
cester high school today answer the
question at the present time VIVA
kind of an education best f1ts men ana
women for life?"
The Industrial forces, the changed
social conditions, the effect of scien-
tifc discoveries have changed the drift
in civilization and call for new Varie-
ties of skill and knowledge. Our lnsti-
tutions are gradually adapting them
selves to these changed conditions. The
one thing that is clear is that we must
be Educated for our work, whatever 1t
may be. In the new education, there is
opportunity for more varied training
The tastes and preferences of different
individuals are considered almost from
the beginning in our high school train
ing. 1t is worthy of note that, in this
country there are no class schools"
Secondary education is for the rich
ana the poor alike Any man may lead
or any woman may lead who is clearly
fitted to do so. All this implies that
good education means something more
than learning. This becomes painfully
apparent as we observe that many
harmed people seem to be actually at
disadvantage in the world. 1t is
claimed, though not proved that learn
ing units a man for tactical duties of
life. 1t is probably true that our school
system needs to be still further modi-
fed to inset the demands of the hour.
The old idea of culture is coming To
be the most prominent feature in our
high school curriculum. The best ideals
in art. in literature, in music, are every
where in evidence. Oratory and gym
hastcs-surYivals of very old systems
of education-are coming more and
more into notice. But in addition to this,
the high school is coming to express as
4 never before the social life of the COM
munity. In Worcester, the best culture
of the city is certainly represented in
our high schools. The leaders in the
nrts the trades, the professions, and i'll
society are trained in the high school.
The teachers in our high school repre-
sent the best scholarship and the best
culture in the commonwealth. More and
more, the community co-operates in the
management not emily of our high
schools but of all the public schools.
1t is my privilege today to congrat-
ulate the graduates of this class upon
the completion of four years of faith
full effort. Others may give you ad-
vice, but 1 am in no mood to utter in
struction. 1 rejoice with you in the
accomplishment of this task. Others
may warn you of the change that yhu
will experience in going from school
either to college or out into life. L shall
express the hope that you will find
the change a natural one, and that tire
tasks that you have performed IN
school will abundantly fit you for your
duties either as citizen or as collie
CLANS.
If YOU have done your duty, YOU
have certainly learned to work. If you
have succeeded as students, your sue
cess will continue. Our schools may
hope to do for others more than they
have done for you. We may have bet
ter instruction in gymnastics and a
more complete system of manual
training We may have trade schools
We may give your successors better
training for life. But this is no day
for complaining.
The CITY has dealt bountifully with
its children. You occupy proud po-
sition as graduates of the Worcester
high school. Fathers and mothers to-
day rejoice with their children ana
wish for you all that the hour prom
ises. We shall expect you to recognize
your obligation to the community by
entering faithfully upon your duties as
citizens. You will have new lessons
to learn, new duties to perform. Op-
portunity will not come unsought;
While you must learn to wait as Well
as to labor, must learn to fail as well
as to succeed, you will not lack reso-
l1itinn-vou will not lack resources.