The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1905-06-15
DISTRICT SCHOOL
COMMENCEMENT.


mencement held at the Turner Opera
house on Saturday, June 10th, was an
interesting event The names OF the
sixty five graduates appeared in last
week PILOT
The exercises began shortly before II
o'clock n. m. During the morning hours
the hall had been rapidly transformed
from the character of u court house to
that of a festive room. The decorations
We're simple but pleasing and appropri-
ate.
The graduates, all decked out in their
best, occupied seats on the stage in the
afternoon and presented very attrac-
tive appearance. The attendance was
large, every seat on the floor being oc-
cupied and the galleries we'll filed with
interested spectators. Supt w. g.
Larson presided,
The motto of the class of 1908, IN 9th
ing without labor was well chosen
The class colors were red and white.
| AL dtlulHS CbultSl CONSTITUTED thN
opening part of the days exercises. This
contest WAS conducted by Supt. W. f.
Larson, Prin. Fred Christensen and
several of the teachers of the partici-
pants. The strained silence that pre-
vailed in the hall during the contest was
well calculated to heighten the interest
of the audience
Next came the spelling contest Prin.
Paul &. w. Keller pronounced the
words.
The first number on the program for
the afternoon was IN excellent selection
rendered by the North Side high school
orchestra. This was followed by IA reci'
tation by Harold Morgan, who acquitted
himself with much credit. Next came
an enjoyable vocal solo by L. F. Rahr
This was followed by an able, practical
scholarly address by A. A. Thomson,
principal Of the Two Rivers high school.
The speaker held the undivided atten-
ton of the audience throughout his dis
course The next number OH the pro
gram was a well rendered vocal solo by
Miss Lucy Lewis. After this the prizes
were awarded by Prin. w. II. Luehr,
who, before announcing the names of
the winners and making the awards,
gave q brief extemporaneous address
that was teeming with thought and WAS
listened to with rapt attention. While
Mr. Luehr is engaged in high school
work and thoroughly believes in the
higher educali N, he emphasized IN i'm
portant fact which is not unfreuuently
lost sight Of the fact that IL thorough
taught in the rural schools and in the
grades of the city schools constitute the
foundation of II sO-called liberal educa-
tion and that skill practical arithmetic
and proficiency in spelling are Of more
Importance than skill in algebra and
trigonometry, inasmuch as arithmetic,
spelling and the other fundamentals are
of partical use in our everyday life. He
pointed out the fact that all real pro
gress in the higher branches of knowl-
edge or education is necessarily depend
ent upon thoroughness in the funda-
mentals, that the superstructure of
higher attainments must needs rest upon
q solid foundation in the shape of prac
tical proficiency in those things which
are of vital importance in the struggle
for existence in this work-a day world
things which are intimately connected
with the well being of the average man
and woman in the arena of life. In
short, he emphasized the Importance of
dwelling upon fundamentals teach
ing essentials with reasonable thorough
ness of building IL solid foundation
before beginning the work of erecting
an imposing superstructure. And in
this connection he pointed ont the great
benefits resulting from such county con
tests, showing that they serve ~ inren-
tives to effort, that they constitute II
powerful stimulus to exertion, and that
they are we'll calculated to incite n
friendly emulation among pupils of
different schools. In closing his address
Prof. Luehr spoke in high terms ofpraise
of the character of the work that is
being done in the rural schools of this
county Mr.. Luehr then announced the
names of the winners of the medals and
prizes. and made the awards. Follow
ing are the names of the successful con
testants and the prizes given them re-
spectively
Gold Medal
Alice O'Conner, Dist. Liberty.
Given by Schuette Bros.)
Silver Medal Given by Supt. w Il.
Larson Lawrence Richdorf, Coopers-
| town.
Dictionaries Given by Schmidtman
Sons Co. G. +, Fechter and j Staehle
x Son. Won by:
Mae Dunbar, No ) Liberty.
Catherine Newman, No. Coopers.
town
James Cabill, No Cato.
] q 4 NJ - IL