The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-06-05
60 80 80
THE GRADUATES.


thirty-five young men and women out
into the world bearing these schools
credentials of scholarship-recom-
mendations to the world that the bear
ers possess the intellectual qualiica-
ton specified therein.
1t is an event in which the city
may take pride. 1t is likewise an
event fraught with vital interest to
the young people directly interested.
Some OF these people will have COM
pleted, in all probability, their prep
aration for life's work so far as it
may be completed in school. \ few
will pursue their studies in the higher
institutions of learning. But in either
event the obligations of the city
schools to their students and the STU
dents obligations to the city remain
the same.
As municipality the city is charg-
ed with the great task of educating
the young. And by education is meant
thorough preparation within the
scope of the curriculum OF the schools,
Of the student for the duties of life.
The city has been derelict in it's duty
if it has failed to do this. 1t is true
that the years of the childs life, un-
til he passes from the high school,
are the most important. 1t is during
this period, when the mind is plastic,
that the habits and character OF the
individual are moulded and fixed. 1t
is the character building era. The
ing this time is vital indeed. If this
has been properly done, should he
pursue his studies in higher institu-
tons, it is merely the finishing Of an
already built structure, the broaden
ing of an already cultivated intellect.
If he goes out into the world, his sue
cess will be built upon the conditions
already established.
Great as the responsibility of the
schools Of this city to the young peo-
pie who are graduating tomorrow, it
must be said that that responsibility
has been fully met The credit is
due no single individual The labors
of the teachers in the lower grades,
whether here or elsewhere, have had
their part in the completed structure.
The instructors who have had the i'm
mediate responsibility have contrib
uted their share. The experimenting
genius, who has directed the course
of events which have eliminated in
the one SO fraught with interest to
the participants tomorrow, has car
ried part of the burden and contrib
uted liberal share to the results.
The board of education-the hewers
of wood and drawers of water in the
great American system of public
schools-have brought their share
far greater than is often credited
to the same end. The city has full
filled its duty to the graduates of the
high school.
But are there no reciprocal obliga-
tons? The city having qualified these
students for the duties of life, they
are under obligations to preserve with
credit the confidence of the schools
in them. Should they fail, it would
be an evidence of weakness in the
individual character Or imperfection
in the preparation given. No indi-
vidual can complete the work, the
ending of which means diploma, and
not have sufficient stability of char
acter at the time to succeed in the
greater school of life. If failure
comes it will be due to ! weakening
of this character after tomorrow. The
graduate who allows this to happen
will be false to the trust reposed in
him by his alma mater and will fail
to pay the debt due the schools for
the work they have done for him.