Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-06-23
COUNTY NORMAL
COMMENCEMENT
Exercises Being Held This Week
TWENTY-FIVE Get Diplomas.

Exercises Being Held This Week
Twenty-Five Get Diplomas.
This week is graduation week at the
Wood County Training school or
county normal Twenty-Five students
received diplomas, emitting them to
teach for three years anywhere in the
state without having to take another
examination. Besides this, the train
ing received by them is calculated to
give them ideas in teaching that
would take years to get otherwise.
Wednesday afternoon was class day
at the Lincoln building. Though it
was more particularly for the class
members and their class mates, there
were number of visitors there who
greatly enjoyed the program. The
numbers included the class song, class
history, welcome, class prophecy,
class will, and mementoeS of the class
Besides this there were several we'll
rendered essays and some good music
by the normal chorus and others.
Thursday evening saw the regular
graduation exercises, and they too,
were held in the Lincoln buildings.
Fhree Of the graduates delivered short
oratiOns, while the principal grafton
was by Supt. O. j. Kern, of Winnie
bago county, Ill. A big audience
attended the exercises and to Judge
from the applause With which each
member was greeted, it was we'll
pleased one. The people of Wood
county are strong in support Of their
normal, and feel that they have one to
be proud Of. .. --....
The program Thursday evening was
as follows: +.
Vesper hymn Glass
Invocation Fred Staff
God Speed the RICH.
Normal Chorus ~
Greeting .. ........Arthur johnson
Oratlon...-.. Evens
1S05-1905
Grafton. Influence of Nature Study on Character
Eva Blakeslee
vocal SOlO...... 1.-The Mighty Deep
A. ]. Freund
Address-The Most Efficient Means for Improve
ment of the Rural School.
Supt, o. ]. Kern: Winnebago Co.. Ill.
Vocal all Eternity
W. o. Blanchar
Presentation Of Diplomas ..............E. P Arpin
After the Introductory music and
invocation, Arthur Johnson was the
first speaker. He told of the Normal
school work done in the counties of
the state, and particularly that OF
this county, and extended greeting to
those present. Miss Carrie Evens, the
next speaker, told OF the national and
school conditions of 1906 and compared
them with the same conditions OF
today. The purpose of her talk was
to show the wonderful progress made
in the century in all matters, and to
point out the advantages one has now,
over The students of a century ago.
"The Influence of Nature Study on
Character" by Miss Eva Blakeslee
was the next number, and it was one
containing many good thoughts, 1t
tended to show how the study of ma
ture, the living with nature, tended
to bring the character nearer the
simple, the true, and the noble. 1t
was good paper we'll rendered.
After the solo of Mr.. Freund, Supt.
Kern began his talk on methods Of
improving the rural schools. Mr..
Kern said the schools located in the
country were different in character
and purpose from those in the city,
Each had a different end to seek.
That of the city should be the one to
train the students for work that must
be carried on in the city. 1t is, or
should be, the work Of the country
school. to train the boy for the
country, That is, school surroundings
in rural schools should be made as |
pleasant as possible the work should |
be made interesting, something, that |
will take the place of the glamor that |
surrounds the visions of city life |
usually entertained by the younger
persons in the country; in fact, life
in the country school should be made
such that the pupil Will consider the
farm or country in the highest esteem.
up his talk, the Superin-
tendent said the boy on the farm
should be made to feel an interest in
the country, and should be trained
for Agricultural school, Mr.. Kern
gave good talk that was we'll ap-
preciated, and full OF good pointers to
the class of teachers about to leave
the training school.
Mr. Blanchar was encored after
singing "For all Eternity and re-
'ponded with another song. W. D.
Common, treasurer of the training
school board was to present the di.
olomas, Eut was unable to attend the
exercises SO the. diplomas were pre-