The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1907-05-24
PROF. C00LEYS fDDSESS!
TO THE GRADUATING CLASS DF
THE JASPER Hen SCHOOL,
MAY 3, 1907

consisting OF Misses Sarah }. Gullett and Vim
ME Alexander and Messrs. Henry w. Kress
Geo. E. Gill, l.. ID. Claycomb and John w
Wuchner. graduated under the management
of Prof. Wellman, May 3, 1907
Prof. Cooley, of Evansville, delivered :.
following address on the Ideal School. "
Ideals are to realities as cause to effect
but the ideal is an ever movable star tha
lures us on by kindly advances as We ap
proach it.
Without ideals and labor life would be ar
aimless dream. When one ceases to strug
ole ior higher realities, he is dead. When
he ceases to climb. he begins to fall.
Ceaseless efforts have always char acterized
the great. Perseverance is always more
valuable than talent. Results are not gifts.
Tney are the rewards for service. Ideals
have revolutionized the world
Effort, energy, struggle must ever be
present. Today is satisfactory only to the
extent that it is better than yesterday.
Everything that has been accomplished by
the skill or ingenuity of man has been based
upon some sort of ideal. Moses, as the
leader of his people, was inspired and led
b. the ideal for forty years---for forty years
the vision of people free from bondage
was his ideal. Napoleon, whether scaling
the Al ps, resting in the shadow of the pyra-
mldS, or enduring the cold and privations of
a Russian winter: whether emperor of
F Fance, or prisoner at St. Helena, was
I'll ed with one great and over-mastering
Id deal This ideal was his dictator, and
while it lead him on to victory, it was also
the cause of his final overthrow and dis
grace Columbus, standing upon the shore
Of his native land and looking wistfully sea-
ward was filled with visions of a new world
and this vision became the ideal that ruled
his every action. Martin Luther, when he
nailed his theses TO the church door at Wur-
temberg, was also possessed of an ideal that
to him was dearer than life itself. The fact
that no great endeavOr was ever cOnsunl-
mated without someone being possessed OF
an ideal which gave direction TO effort De
votiOn 10 an ideal has been the watchword
of all that has been accomplished that IS
worth while by the human race. The ideal
ists--the worlds dreamers-the poets, the
writers of fiction, and the philosophers
have all exemplified the same principle =
the same devotion to one consecrated pur-
pose, and this was their ideal; this was the
light which constantly led them forward;
this was the motive power that lmpelled
them to endeavor. The work of the teach
er is no exception to the general rule. Ev-
cry efficient teacher is led and guided by an
IDEAL This is her talisman. This ideal is
the goal towards which all effort is directed.
1t is the source of inspiration, and the arbl-
ter of every conscious eadeavor.
THE IDEAL SCHOoL---WHAT Is 1T?
In the first place, many elements enter:
into its composition, the principal factors OF I:
which are the material things, the children, 4
the teacher. Under the first. come build
ngs. grounds and equipment. Ideal school
buildings must be scientifically constructed, |
as far as arrangement of rooms, light, |
heat, seating, ventilation, sanitation are
These all touch the comfort and ,
health of the children and because of this
are essential factors. Under the head of I
equipment may be catalogued everything
OF material nature that can in any way
be used either for the comfort or intellect {
ual advancement of the children. Llbrar- {
les, laboratories, Fairgrounds, gymnaslums, |
together with manual training faculties, are '
indicative of the character OF the material. [
But the child is the soul and center OF ev- {
cry well organized school. This is natural
ly true, because the school exists solely for {
the child. Consequently, in discussing the {
ideal school, more than passing notice must {
be given this all important factor, the
child. An ideal class of school children [
necessarily means that some attention be Is
given them before they reach the school !
age. 1t means better Fairgrounds. 1t
means an improvement of the morals of the {