Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-20
QUALIFIED TO TEACH
GRADUATES OF NORMAL SCHOOL
GIVEN DIPLOMAS

| After fourteen years OF study, beginning
| with the first grade and working up through
| the primary. intermediate, grammar land
high school to the school Of training for
the teachers career, thirty-nine young
| women received the first fruits Of their long
| course Of instruction today at the Franklin
| School, in the form Of the sheepshin diplo-
mas authorized to be bestowed on gradu-
| ates- Of Washington Normal School No. 1.
| District Commissioner Mcfarland made the
presentation address and gave each of the
| young women the certificate that author
| ICES her to teach the youth Of the District
| in the public schools. The exercises Incl
| dent to- the presentation of diplomas to
graduates of Normal School No. have been
marked for many years by their simplicity
and attractive programs.
Many persons not interested In school
| work as a general rule make 1t their BUSH
| ness to attend these commencements be-
cause of the excellence of the program IN
variably presented. The speechmaking usu-
ally gives way to music. and music OF the
highest order. The members of the two
classes of the normal school are trained IN
singing under the personal direction OF
Miss Alys Bentley. directress Of music IN
the public schools
The Musical Numbers.
The classes sang Schubert's Hymn to
the Almighty" with power and volume
that seemed remarkable, and yet with such
control and expression that no single ele-
nent of the emotional quality of the mas
terpiece was lost. In the lighter Song OF
April" by Tippett, the work of the school
III shading and expression was particularly
good. The third number, Schubert's 'Hark,
Eark, the Lark, was very well rendered,
but in was in group of five chiidrens
songs that the classes excelled. These songs
were especially selected from large num-
Der of excellent compositions. and included
one or two particularly pretty melodies. the
series ending with an attractive march song
that was given with much vim and go. The
program was closed with Needham'S Bios
som Time" which seemed particularly APP
propriate as the last exercise of the school
year. Miss Sally T. Mason played the diff
cult accomplishments in a most satisfactory
manner.
The graduating exercises proper were
conducted by Mr.. J. HoIsworh Gordon,
president of the board of education. Rev.
j. ]. Muir opened the ceremonies with an
invocation, after the chorus had sung it's
first number. song followed a short adj
dress by Mr.. Gordon, and Mr.. Macfarland
made the address to the graduates. The
Commissioner created some amusement
when. in finishing a story about young
lady, who, when asked what she would do
IL young man tried to kiss her, replied
she would meet the emergency face 10 face,
by saying that this was just what he in
tended to do.
AAhO SSAi4AAAAooAO44O4 AouICSSs
When the laughter had died away and
the Commissioners facs resumed its accus-
toned color. he said:
You have had the longest training and
the highest culture our public schools can
give. There Is nothing better, we are told
by the best authorities, under the Ameri-
can flag. The crown of it all you have re-
ceived in the normal school because you
for ba oh
ers You are to do for others what has
been done for you. In this centennial year
Of the Districts public school system you
are to carry forward the light of learning
and honor started here a hundred years
ago by the two who were the entire teach
ing staff Thousands of high-minded self
sacrificing men and women have since ex-
ecuted the great office of teacher to the chill
dren of Washington. They have estab-
lished standard of excellence and eff
cheney so high that you will have difficulty
In raising 1t, and reputation so honorable
that you can only emulate it. That you
have chosen to follow In their steps and
that you have received from them the best
they can give is warrant for our belief that
you will not be unworthy of the confidence
Of the community. which will intrust its
children to you. Self-seeking would unfit
you for this trust, but we believe that you
have taken the VOW of unselfish and I'M
divided loyalty and will not fail us
Commissioner mcfarland added that
while the teachers could not expect to get
rich, they were entitled to better salaries.
and that he had asked the board of educa-
ton to prepare schedule of improved sala-
ries which could be embodied in bill that
Chairman Babcock had promised him to
Introduce at the opening of the next session
of Congress and upon which Is expected
favorable action by the committee on the
District Of Columbia, the House and the
Senate, which would put 1t on the statute
books, so that it would be followed in APP
preparation bills. instead of the matter of
salaries being left to the decision of each
session.
Mr.. Patterson Extends Welcome.
Mr.. w. B. Patterson, supervising principal
of the sixth division of the public schools
was introduced by President Gordon to well
come the members of the class into the
ranks Of teachers in the schools. Mr.. Pat
terson made an interesting address, in
which he pointed out the fact that this
class was the last class of the normal
school of the first century of the public
school system in the District. He spoke
Of the history Of the schools in the last
hundred years and Of the way the system
was first started in 1905. The singing Of
the group of children's songs followed Mr..
Pattersons address, and Commissioner
mcfarland then presented the diplomas.
Each graduate was introduced to the Com
missioner by name by Miss Cooling, princi-
pal of the school. The exercises were
brought to a close with the singing of
Blossom Time" and benedction by DIR.
Muir. After the formal exercises an In
formal reception was held by the gradual
ing Glass; during the course of which light
refreshments were served. The officers of
the class are Miss Ruth Richards, presi-
dent; Miss Mary Cuddy. vice president;
Miss Rose Mcnamara, secretary, and Miss
Grace Houchen, treasurer.
Members Of the Glass.
The class includes:
Mercy Ames Adkins, Florence Read
Bailey, Alma Elizabeth Bischoff, Leila May