The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-05-27
SCHOOL CLOSING EXERCISES
AN INTERESTING PROGRAM
Vocal and Instrumental 1Iusie-ReeIta-
tions and Essays-Addrsss on school
Matters By The Reverend AIeKande1
Lftherland.

The school term closed last even
ing with appropriate exercises at the
Auditorium, a large number being
present 70 witness the exercises. The
program consisted Of piano solo by
Miss Winnie Olmstead; invocation,
by Rev. J. p. Barker; vocal solo,
Mrs. WenonR Riddle; essay on GOOD
citizenship" Margaret Thomson;
Theodore Roosevelt" Daniel Han
nah; ''Tramps, Berniee Robertson:
male quarter, Hush, You Honey,
Hush, Messrs. Thomas, Hahn,
Dwyer and Renshaw; 1.-THE Occur d.
Alene Mines. Nellie McGovern !;
'Our Flag" Laura Smith; Life
and Teachings of Mohammed, .
Gladys McEuen; Vocal solo, T. G.
Hahn; Conditions in Russia. -
Ernest Duncan; Alexander the
Great" Leonard Shanks; 1.-The Com
partnership of Books,'' Gladys Smith;
vocal solo, Mrs. WeHona Riddle:
address, "High School," Rev. A.
Litherland; male quartet, Until
the Dawn" Messrs. Thomas, Hahn,
Dwyer and RenshaW.
Those who took part in the pro
gram acquitted themselves in a salts.
factory manner and the audience
showed its appreciation by liberal
applause. The most interesting
feature Of the program was The adj
dress by Rev. Litherland, Of the First
Presbyterian church. from which we
make liberal quotations ss follows:
HIGH SCHOOLS.
''The Greeks were the pioneers in
the realm of education and ia that
which goes to make up modern school
life. With the ancients as with us,
schools we're divided into the three
classes. The high school CORES
ponds with the secondary schools
among the people Of England and
upon the continent. But before
proceeding 10 speak directly concern
ing the character aud mission of the
1AeA H%ANhAs ~ AAas NC we'll " pAGHE4AA
by way of introduction. that great
bulwark Of civilization which may be
called in kind of general way the
preliminary school.
beginning with about the sixth
year the primary school teacher takes
our boys aud girls from the kinder
Garten or from the nursery, aud begin
the difficult task Of teaching abstract
facts, thoughts and truths, so that
words, numbers, aud principles begin
to have meanings In themselves
separate from the objents with which
they were previously associated.
The primary school lie succeeded
by the secondary. The socalIed
intermediate school continues the
work begun in the primary, and in
course Of time presents the young
hopefuls TO the grammar schools.
Upon the teachers Of the gram.
mar departments of our public
schools there comes the stupendous
task of preparing the youth for
citizenship Ia this republic; and II
possible Of creating such a desire for
su iustruced aud trained mind, that
the boys and girls will escape the pit
between the eighth and ninth grades
into which such a large per cent Of
the children of all nations fall.
1T Is improving, but for some
time only portion Of those who are
found in the grammar school will
cross the threshold of that great boon
of American youth, the high school,
Having spent eight years in the
preliminary schools, the young people
come to the high school at about the
age of IA, aud they are supposed to
graduate within four years. thus com
plotting that part Of an education TO
be received In the home echool at
about the age Of is.
A TwoFoLD WORK.
The high school is called upon to
do twotold work. For large part
Of the enrolment, the high school
will also be the finishing school. and
fortunate indeed is the school which
can hold all its pupils until the
course Is completed, And a happy
combination OF required studies and
electives will enable one and the
same school to give a fair amount of
training for actual life TO a part Of
the student body, while Il Is also
preparing the other part for college
aud university.
And the high school does at least
double the value Of the individual
TO society. While Il costs more to
give suitable four year course in
the high school than it does to give
eight years OF instruction IN the pre-.
liminary schools. or as commonly
called, in the grades, yet Il pays. To