The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-06-20
BIG CLASS STARTS
upon LIFE WORK
Business High School Holds
Closing Exercises.
VESTS STIRRING ADDRESS
Scholarships Awarded and Presentation
Of Diplomas to One Hundred and
Sixty-three Graduates.
VESTS STIRRING ADDRESS

With commencement exercises in the
Lafayette Opera House last night, the
class of '05 of the Business High
School, 163 strong, formally brought to
d close their public school career. 1t
vas one of the largest classes ever
graduated from any high school within
the District, and the opera house was
crowded to the doors with parents and
friends of the boys and girls on the
platform.
Commissioner II. 3. F. mcfarland
presided over the exercises and in his
opening remarks, after congratulating
the school on its fifteen years of good
work, on its 1900 graduates, and on its
class of '0o, he said:
No wonder these graduates are
wanted by our business houses, and no
wonder that many Of them have been
SC successful in the business world,
will do better as well as more work in
the new building. But 1t will not turn
out better men and women than those
who have made its present reputation"
Mr. Vests Address.
The address of the evening was de-
livered by Commissioner II. L. West,
who said, in part:
Public education is based upon the
experience that intelligent and cultured
men and women are better citizens than
the ignorant and vicious. In Washing
Ton more than ST. 100000 a year are eX-
pended in the education of the growing
generation; an expenditure which brings
ample return in increased intelligence,
develops the earning power of the in
terial wealth of the community" Not
alone wealth either" said Mr.. West,
because the training of the public
schools is of a higher moral standing
nd hn SteYYa laS oil
who know how to appreciate the func-
ton of government and respect the laws
which are framed for the benefit OF all.
Having thus bestowed, and with
lavish hand, the advantage of a free
education he continued, The govern
ment asks something in return 1t ex-
Tor at the public expense shall render
to the community in future life the best
possible service. You will agree with
me, ! think. that the government has
the right TO ask this slight return
Pleasant it is to assert, as can be
done truthfully and without exaggera-
ton, that in no other city of the coun-
try is this debt to the community SO
completely paid as in the District OF
Columbia The bone and sinew of our
society is to be found in the young men
and women who have graduated from
our public schools. They stand today in
the highest ranks of their various pro-
LESSONS. a credit to themselves and to
the wise municipal care which wrought
material of youth"
Coming Centenary.
Mr.. West referred to the fact that
this year the school authorities are to
celebrate the hundredth anniversary OF
the establishment of the public school
system in the city of Washington, and
briefly reviewed the conditions under
which the experiment of free schools
was begun in the District OF Columb ia.
noting the fact that Thomas Jefferson,
stnen President of the United States, was
ralso the first president of the Board or
Trustees and that the list OF studies
Included only reading, writing, grammar
and arithmetic.
A little later in his address Commits
zsioner West directed attention to the
two great world movements, the first OF
which. he declared. lis the importance or
stile individual and the care which the
Government authorities exercise over
the individual and the second is the
tendency toward materialfsm-
Impresses One Fact
"The fact that / desire to impress
upon you tonight he emphasized, lis
that the institution which now engages
our attention is the exponent Of these
two great world movements. Through
the agency of the public school the
Government provides education for the
Individual; but in the Business High
5ScnOOl IL goes step IurlItT anu DIT
ranges that this education shall be
especially helpful in the battle of life"
Announcing the award of scholarships
Superintendent Stuart said that Misa
Ada E. Reese had won the scholarship
offered by the Washington College of
Law for the girl pupil showing the
highest general average. and that Miss
Grace D. Thomas by winning second
honors, was alternate.
j. Holdsworth Gordon, president of the
Board of Education. presented the
diplomas to the graduates.