Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-20
BIGLIST OF GRADUATES
Diplomas Conferred by Bust
ness High School.
HONORS BESTOWED
ADDRESS BY COMMISSIONERS
HENRY L. WEST.
Review Of Public School History in
- District and Announcement Of
Centennial Celebration.

evening amid most appropriate and attract
I've surroundings. The commencement ex-
ercises were held in the Lafayette Opera
House, the capacity of the stage and Of
the auditorium being tested. the former
with graduates. the latter with proud par
ents and friends
After the Marine Band orchestra had
rendered several selections the graduates
marched to their places to the tones of
Weldons Glass of 1905" march The an
pearance of the young men and women
was the signal for vigorous and long-con-
tinned applause Seated in the front row
OF the stage chairs were Mr.. Henry B. f.
Macfarland, president of the Board of Com
mlss1oners OF the District of Columbia who
presided; Commissioner Henry L. West,
who delivered the principal address of the
evening: Mr.. J. Holdsworth Gordon, presi-
dent of the board of education. who con-
ferred the diplomas; Mr.. A. r. Stuart, SUI
FPerintendent of public schools. who made
the announcement of the award Of a schol-
arshlp; Rev. Richard P. Williams who Of
Tered prayer; DR.. Kfngsman and Mrs H L.
west OF the board of education; Mr.. Percy
M Hughes, director of high schools; Mr.
Allan Davis, principal of the Business High
school, and DIR. A. p. Pardon.
A Bower Of Beauty.
teal and floral. In addition to the potted
plants. the footlights were banked with
cut flowers. 1t seemed that there were tons
OF them all intended for the graduates.
suspended from the proscenium arch was
patriotic design Of the national colors the
center being a shield of orange and blue
the schooIs colors, showing the letters and
ngures b, HI. S., 1905" Attached to the
railing OF the first balcony were orange
hued remnants. each with a letter. the
whole making the words Business High
ocnooL The musicians wore uniforms of
"Hite' winch were in keeping with the oc-
casion.
After Rev. Mr.. Williams had invoked d.
VINE blessing and the orchestra had rem
dered a selection, Commissioner Macfar-
land made a brief introductory statement
saying the night was one for congratula-
tions--on the beauty back of the sneaker
tnat In front of him. the school for Sc
curing new building and on the commu-
nifty for having such an institution az fba
Business High School
musician Lucfen H. Conen favored the
gathering with violin SOLO after which
the presiding officer introduced his ..iis-
tingulshed colleague" Commissioner West
as an individual whose career Illustrates
me success of the principles followed by
the business High School
Mr.. Vests Address.
In beginning his remarks Mr.. West re-
ferred to the fact that this year the school
authorities are to celebrate the Tooth an
niversary of the establishment of the pub
lie school system In the city of Washing
ton. He briefly reviewed the conditions
under which the experiment of free schools
was begun In the District of Columbia
noting the fact that Thomas Jefferson
then PRESIDENT of the United States, was
also the first President of the board Of
trustees, and that the list of studies in
Guided only reading, writing, grammar and
arithmetic. The funds for the maintenance
OF the schools was obtained from the taxes
on slaves. dogs. licenses for carriages and
hacks, liquors. theatrical and other amuse-
ments and hawkers and peddlers. There
was at that time the feeling, which is still
prevalent in Great Britain, that the free
school was literally charity school, and
even after three years the attendance at
the two schools in Washington was
are nearly 10000 pupils, and the list
OF teachers has grown from two to
nearly 1,5O0. "A great tree has from a
little acorn grown said the Commissioner.
What has wrought this wonderful develop
ment? Why has the government for Its
part improved the educational facilities,
and why have the people. on the other
hand. accepted with. more and more uni
versatility the advantages of the public
school?'
In considering the answer to these I'M
portant questions Mr.. West first directed
attention to the two great world move
ments which are now manifect.
Authority Over the Individual
THE first of these" he remarked, '1s
the Importance Of the Individual and
the care which governmental authority
exercises over that individual In the olden
days the individual counted for naught
Human life was weighed in the balance
The feuda1 baron exacted servitude and
obedience within his small domain and in
the larger kingdom the tyrannical ruler
governed In the same fashion. The right
Of the individual was not respected He
had no guarantee for the enjoyment of his
life, liberty or the pursuit of happiness"
Contrasting these ancient conditions with
those which exist today, Mr.. West re-
marked that "over the Individual, whether
he travelled upon the railroad or walked
upon the streets, or be engaged In the
transaction of business with his fellowman.
the government throws the aegis of it's pro-
lection until the time has come when peo-
pie instinctively look to higher authority
for freedom from every complaint. There
is, of course" remarked Mr.. West "a
danger that the pendulum will swing too
most paternal in its operation" And he
added that he did not sympathize with the
feeling manifested by the ultra-reformers
that all of the wisdom of the world is
concentrated in few people who happen
to be temporarily vested with authority
to legislate or make regulations. 1t was
impossible however, he said, to ignore the
fact of the present trend toward paternal
care of the government for the individual.
and he stated that the growth of municipal
socialism in Great Britain and the impetus
which that movement had received in that
country has demonstrated the modern
trend Of public thought
Basis Of Public Education.
Public education he remarked. SIS
based upon the experiences that intelligent
and cultured men and women are better
citizens than the ignorant and vicious" He
said that in Washington more than $1,000
600 year are expended in the education of
the growing generation. an expenditure
that brought ample return in increased In
telligence which developed the earning |
power Of the individual and thus added to
the material wealth Of the community
mot alone wealth either" said Mr.. West |
because the training of the public schools |
is Of high moral standard, and the system |
makes good citizens. who know how to APP
precate the function OF government and re-
spect the laws which are framed for the |
benefit of ALL" Then Mr.. West said:
Having thus bestowed. and with lavish |
hand, the advantage Of free education. the |
government asks something In return 1t |
expects that the boy and girl thus cared !
for at the publfc exDenSe shall render to |