The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1903-06-18
GIRL GRADUATE
MAKES HER BOW
Class of Forty.Five Complete
Work of District School and
Receive Diplomas
EVENT WAS OF WIDE INTEREST
First Exercises of Character Ever Held In
the State Prove Grand Success
Large Audience

Loyalty of Manitowoc County to its
schools was given most pleasing de-
monstration in the interest that was
manifested in the exercises at Turner
hall Thursday afternoon for the gradua-
tion of pupils of the district schools, the
first public Commencement for the dis
trict school ever held in the State of
Wisconsin. An experiment, the event
proved of so great . success as to insure
permanency in the future. The audience
in attendance was large in numbers and
representative of every section of the
county and the forty three students
who received diplomas were given that
attention Indicative of spirit born OF
an abiding interest in their present well
fare and personal concern for their
future careers. The class of the year
numbered fortyfve and forty-three
were present to participate in the exer-
cises
Preparations made for the event in
cluded program of addresses and a
musical portion that served to interest
and please, but chief of the attractions
was the graduates themselves who have
attained their first success and reward
of merit, for while the diploma may not
be of any great commercial value to
the holder, it is the recognition of work
we'll and faithfully performed and a
| credit to the ability and ambition of the
| possessor The graduates occupied
| seats on the stage which had been
| prettily, but not deliberately decorated
| with palms, ferns and flowers The
class colors, red and white, were display
ed in large strip of bunting that was
| hung over the proscenium opening.
Prof. F. S. Hyer of the County Train
ing School for Teachers gave the ad
dress at the exercises and it was an ad-
dress teeming with suggestions for the
betterment of the district school, w hich
according to Prof. Hyer educates more
men and women than all of the other
educational institutions of the state
combined. Last year there were 321 6O7
children enrolled in the schools outside
of the cities in the State and 10,3O4
teachers were employed. The humble
district school is the bulwark of our re-
public, the safeguard of our freedom,
the fortress of our liberty. Within its
portals the great majority of the citizens
of the United States receive their whole
school training. He dwelt upon the
conditions that surround the country
school, too frequently a detriment to
the work that can be accomplished. In
particular the speaker commented upon
the lack of interest in some districts on
the part of the patrons of the school, one
Of the greatest disadvantages which the
school can encounter and which in
variably robs the school of the facilities
necessary to the best results. The
farmer owes it to himself, to his chill
dren to the state that the school receive
the services of the best teachers and be
given the facilities that will insure the
highest order of success in the work.
He urged the necessity of cooperation
of residents of the district to improve
the schools and quoted at length from
the report which was presented to the
state Teachers Association by special
committee appointed few years ago to
investigate into the conditions surround
ing the district schools. Improve the
school boards, secure the best teachers,
further the inter est in the school. care
for the school property-m the build
ings attractive-and then will the ad
vancement of education in the district
school be secured. The address of Prof
Hyer was given close attention and
made most favorable impression with
the audience.
In awarding the diplomas, Supt.
Christensen complimented the pupils
and briefly addressed the class upon the
opportunities which it was in their
power TO grasp. He referred to the
tendency Of the day TO desert the farm
in the belief that city life aud vocations
offered greater possibilities and urged |
the members of the class to apply them
selves to whatever duty offered itself |
with the same zeal that had character |
lied their school life and this would in
sure them success. There is no greater
achievement than duty faithfully met,
said the speaker and that duty. if en-
countered on the farm, is as elevating
as il of the town and city.
An interesting feature of the pro-
gram was the awarding Of the scholar