The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-05-11
TOWNSHIP COMMENCEMENT.
North Township and Lapaz Schools
Hold Commencement.


Lapaz. There were fifteen common
school graduates and three high
school The stage erected was nice
ly decorated in the class colors, GRIM
son and silver gray. The class motto
stood out conspicuously -"Honors
wait at Labor's Gate" for those grad
uating from the common schools,
and "On To Victory" for the high
school graduates. The Plymouth or
chestra furnished the music for the
occasion and as usual the house was
crowded to its utmost seating capac-
ity. The salutatory was given by
Earl Wiltfong and the valedictory by
Maude A. Logan. Both were full OF
good thoughts given without hesita-
tion and enjoyed by the audience
The class address was given by
Prof. Banta of Rochester college.
He spoke for fifty minutes on educa-
ton in Indiana, showing its growth,
its defects and improvements. Educa-
ton in Indiana began on small scale,
but it developed until now it is the
first in the United States in quality of
schools and second in school fund
having a fund Of $11,OOO,OOO The
speaker nicely compared its growth to
that of streamlet which later on
developes into Mississippi. He en-
phasized the good effects of the COM
mon schools and said that if you
take them away you strike at the
foundation of Christianity The
speaker wished the time would come
when graft, favoritism and pull, would
be eliminated. That merit only
should count, that the school should
be for all and not for the few and for
the children and not for the teacher.
Nothing is too good for the school
child if done under a system of care
fulness. He said it was one of the
greatest compliments to be school
officer, whether a teacher superinten-
dent or trustee The advancement of
the public schools of the United
States in the last twenty years is un-
rivaled by any other country. in the
true teacher is to be found conscien-
tousness and earnestness not to be
found any other profession.
He emphasized the common schools
and stability thereof But we must
go on and not stop there. Even in
farming is this so. Best farmers in
Indiana are college men. The time
has come when farmers sons and
daughters must have higher educa-
ton. Probably the study of geomet-
good but he can use the brain he
gets from that study in mastering his
own farm problems. The brain grows
by use just as the muscles grow. One
man in two hundred goes to college.
One half of one per cent of the peo-
pie of the United States obtain a col
lege education and 65 per cent of the
prominent men of the world who have
been heard of outside of their own
state are college men. A man may
do a great deal in>life and achieve
success without an education but he
could have gone farther if he had had
college education.
VIM. T. Harris, Commissioner OF
Education, in an address to Harvard
students said, There is too much pol
itics in the school system of Indiana
to make it realize what it ought to
realize for humanity. The speaker
wished the time would come when
this defect would be eliminated.
Education does not make life easier.
There is no greater responsibility
than a mental responsibility far
greater than physical one. In clos
ing he said Teach man how to use
his leisure hours and you have saved
his soul"
Edward Cook presented the COM
mon school graduates for graduation
to the County Superintendens and J..
Leroy Austin the high school grad
yates of whom there were three,
Maud Logan, Sarah Bathel and Eva
Abair.
Superintendent Marks in comforting
the diplomas gave a short talk on
the schools of the state and county
One of the treats of the evening
was solo by Russell Helm, teacher
in North township. The following is
the program:
March .............. OiSheoti
Willis Logan
Music ........ Orchestra
Salutatory ..... Earl Wiltfong
Music ............-..... orchestra
Class Address Prof. Banta, Rochester
Solo Russell Helm
valedictory .. Maude A. Logan
Music ....s...... orchestra
Presentation of Common School
Graduates =. Edward Cook
of Hioh School Gradu-