Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-17
MANY YOUNG ARTISANS
FIFTY-sIX STUDENTS RECEIVE
DIPLOMAS.
Commissioners Mcfarland and West
Make Addresses-Namsso Of Those
Who Completed Course.

are two courses open TO the student WIN
enters the school. one lasting two years
and the other four years Thirty-one
graduated from the former course ana
twenty-five from the latter.
Mr.. Henry B. F. mcfarland, president of
the board of Distric, Commissioners. pre-
sided Others who spoke were Commits
sioner Henry L. West. 8. w. Stratton d.
rector of the bureau of standards, Depart
ment OF Commerce and Labor, and A. L.
Stuart. superintendent OF public schools A.
I. Gardner, principal Of the school. and
Miss Mary Plant. a teacher. assisted Com
missioner West in the presentation of the
diplomas.
The stage was tastefully decorated with
palms and ferns. The invited guests. In
Guiding the speakers and several members
of the board OF education and their wives.
occupied seats on the right-hand side.
where the members of the faculty also sat,
while on the opposite side the graduates
arranged themselves according to their
classes. Music was furnished throughout
the evening by an orchestra. composed OF
members OF the Marine Band, directed by
Lieut.. Santelmann.
When the band had played several intro
ductory selections the invocation was made
by Mr.. Moore after which Commissioner
Macfarland spoke briefly of the Importance
Of the public school system and the large
amount OF money spent on 1t in the Dis
ley Manual Training School. He said with
last night began the most interesting week
In the District year-the week In the course
Of which all the public schools closed for
the term. 1t was fitting. he said. that the
last should be first. and the youngster OF
the high schools begin the week with its
commencement.
Congratulations Due.
Continuing, he said:
"Congra tulations are due to all who are
responsible for tho rapid and substantial
growth OF the youngest ofrshoots of the
public-school tree. the manual training high
schools. These technical schools train the
hand and the eye, the body and the mind,
seeking to develop the whole man accord
Ing to the latest word Of education They
prepare their graduates to become skilled,
and. therefore, In demand, az against the
unskilled. who are always at a disadvah-
tage. They act under the economic law
that economic success for the individual
and for the country is In proportion to
practical training. The trained peoples. the
trained individuals lead the world
Our Mckinley Manual Training School,
with the best building and equipment of its
kind, Is producing thanks to its faculty
and pupils, some OF the best results OF the
new education Its popularity is attested
by the fact that while every effort has been
made TO keep down its attendance because
1t long since exceeded its capacity It has
again been largely increased this year. Con-
gross must soon heed the recommendations
OF the Commissioners for eniarging 1t. 1
wish that Congress and all our citizens
might have seen the workers and their
work at the admirable exhibit of the
schools last night. and II they had / feel
sure the addition would be forthcoming
next year.
at Is remarkable that such fine results
should have been achieved when the accom-
modations were overcrowded. 1t shows the
character of the teachers and pupils, and
the fine spirit which animates our school
system.
Mr. mcfarland introduced Mr.. stratton.
saying that Washington had many edu-
Gated men, especially many men of the
higher technical education. and none stood
higher among them than the next speaker.
Mr.. STATIONS Remarks.
After referring to the difference between
the old system OF education and the new
one. In which manual training figures so
pre- minently. Mr.. Stratton said. In part:
'One of the most important results de-
rived from the introduction OF manual
training In the public schools Is the aid 1t
offers in the selection OF profession. 1t Is
sometimes forgotten that the object of
all education Is not only to prepare for
some useful occupation in life. but to assist
in finding out the particular occupation for
which the individual Is best suited. In
most cases the selection Is the result of
chance environment. Sometimes 1t Is set
tleQ Dy family trdulllOu anu SO1IetilNeS ny
the parents idea of the relative respecta-
bity of the different fields of activity.
Clearly an intelligent selection can only be
made after personal contact with the diff
ferent possibilities.
He referred to the dangers of too early
specialization. saying these were greater
in this age OF science. Speaking OF the
high schools, he said:
equipped with laboratories, apparatus and
Instructors than were most of the colleges
twenty years ago
II know from my own experience the
spirit the pleasure and the interest which
has attended your courses of study because
of the solid, practical element that has
pervaded them. l have not forgotten the
many extra hours put in In order that a
leaving an exercise I'm shop practice or
casting might be completed or made bet
ter"
Commissioner Mcfarland then introduced
the next speaker, Superintendent Stuart,
whose duty II was to award the one
scholarship given to the school by Lehigh
University The presiding officer called Mr..
Stuart the colonel OF the regiment OF
school teachers saying that IL the latter
were placed In line on Pennsylvania avenue
thew would make the handsomest and finest
body OF men and women in the world.
The Mosely Commission.
my duty In announcing scholarships
said Mr.. Stuart, always gives me pre-
text for saying one or two brief things
about the schools / want TO tell you some
thing about the Mosely commissions re-
port.
He then went on to explain that the
Mosely commission was body OF English
educators who had come to this country
last October to study our school system
and its effects on Industrial and commercial
life. with the purpose of applying what
they learned to the institutions of their
home country. He said that II was especial
ly gratifying to him to notice In their re-
port that the Mckinley Manual Training
school of this city had received special
favorable mention.
Mr. Stuart also dwelt upon what he con-
sidered the remarkable fact that the young
men and women whom he saw before
him. each like Venus or a Mercury"
were the same that he saw at work in the
kitchen and at the forge when he visited
the school the evening before. Before he
concluded his remarks he compimented
very highly Mr.. ]. A. Chamberlain. director
OF manual training in the District.
He then announced the winning OF the
Lehigh scholarship by Ralph Finley NIGEL
fresh, who. he said. had also distinguish
ed himself as valedictorian of his class. The
announcement was received with much ap-
piause.
Commissioner West made a few remarks
before he presented the diplomas. He took
occasion to get back at Mr.. Stuart. who
had referred to 1.-The venerable men on the
front row Of seats'' the stage by saving