Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-20
CLOSE OF THE
HIGH SCHOOLS
Annual Commencement Exer-
cises in Convention Hall.
SCENE MOST ATTRACTIVE
Address to Graduates by Commissioner
of Education.
ADMIRAL BAIRD PRESIDES
Awards of Scholarships and Prizes.
Presentation of Diplomas by
Chief Justice Clabaugh.


schools was attested last evening, when the
vention Hall. The big auditorium, with a
to its extreme limit in order to accommo-
date the throng assembled to witness the
event. which has for many years been one
of the most notable in connection with the
local public school system
The scene within the hall throughout the
evening was most attractive. The hundreds
of beautiful girls and manly young men
who received diplomas as evidence of merit
In scholarship during years of severe study
was a complete assurance of the splendid
school organization here
The sweet girl graduates were attired in
white gowns and the young men were In
conventional evening dress They were
seated on the platform erected midway in
the long hall and facing west. Brilliant
electric lights. the American flag and colors
of the several high schools were profusely
used in decorating the arched ceiling. Palms
and cut flowers were used in the greatest
profusion on the stage.
Music by Marine Band.
While the company that was to witness
the exercises was assembling the Marine
Band, under the leadership of Lieut.. San
telmann. discoursed popular airs, and
throughout the evening the musicians con-
tributed greatly to the enjoyment of the
occasion.
Many persons who fill prominent roles in
the control of the public schools were on
the stage. Among them were Commits
sioner West. Chief Justice Clabaugh. Ad-
miral Baird, president of the board of edu-
cation; Supt. W. E. Chancellor, Assistant
Supt. P. NJ. Hughes, Mrs. Hughes. A. T.
Stuart. the principals of the high schools,
Emory NJ. Wilson. DR.. w. S. Small. Miss
Edith Westcott, DR.. Geo. E. Myers and Allan
Davis: DR.. A. P. Pardon, w. H. Singleton,
John H. A. Chamberlin, Mrs. Mary Lock
wood, Stuart Mcnamara and the following
members of the board of education; Dr. B.
w. Everman, Capt. James F. Oyster Mrs
Justina r. Hill, w. n. Cox and NJ c. Ter
rell
Address by Commissioner of Education
Rear Admiral George w Baird, U. S. N,
retired, president of the board of education,
was the presiding officer. and after the in
vocation by Rev. DIR. Pierce, pastor of
All Souls Church, Mr.. Elmer E. Brown,
United States commissioner of education,
was presented and delivered the address
of the evening.
IT want to warn you against one of the
dangers Of our American education" Mr.
Brown said in beginning his remarks
There is a danger that has been pointed
out to us with great frankness and def
much frankness, indeed that we have
been made to feel uncomfortable about It,
1t is the danger of unfulfilled promise.
Bret Harte pointed out to US that Ameri-
cans are prone to make a definite promise
that they do not fulfill, and 1 regret to say
that that characteristic enters into our
American education.
Here, for instance, are some of the
best European experts who have visited
our American schools in recent years ana
have inspected our work in various lines OF
study. This is what they have said about
our work: In the lower grades, when the
children are from five to ten years OF
age they show wonderful promise. We
think that they are going to do better than
the European students, but when they get
up in the more advanced work they do not
do SO we'll, and so America has failed to
develop great national scholars in the arts
and America is only now beginning to I'M
press itself upon the world Of arts
What is said Of our work in one line
is said of it in other lines. Let me warn
you against the American danger of being
too easily satisfied
New Standard Of Perfection.
eve must set up new standard of per-
lection in this country. We must learn
to prepare early for excellence. You have
begun to learn this lesson, under such
teaching as you have had in the high
schools Of Washington, but regret to say
you have only begun to learn 1t and you
should demand excellence of attainment;
"You young people Of our Washington
high schools have learned one thing that
our foreign critic realizes is something to
admire in our system and he may justly
admire 1t. You have learned that which
1t is the fashion now to call Initiative You
have learned to stand on your own feet
and to act with some degree of independ-
ence. Having got that good thing that
American education has to offer, you Will
20 on and add to it, by all means in your
hot nj
education finds 1t so hard to get, namely,
the Importance of doing things more than
ordinarily well. One of the most favor
able of our European friends and critics
has said that it is an American charac-
teristic that we graduate our young people
into overalls, meaning thereby that in our
schools. our technical schools. we teach, as
1t is taught nowhere else in the world, the
virtue of doing honest work.
Congratulations in Order.
'"They should say graduating our
scholars into checked aprons and overalls.
I congratulate you that this sort Of educa-
ton has some relation to the common
things of life. For you the day after
commencement is the day of checked
aprons and overalls and it is something
good to look forward to. Our education is
looking forward to placing the student into
communication with the actualitieS of life.
I recently saw eXemplification of this
fact when men and women, used to their
books and laboratories to music and the
students life. put on overalls and marched
out and organized themselves magnificent
ly for relief work during the California
earthquake disaster. Scholars, ministers,
physicians. men who had had no experience
in administrative work, went out and
made an organization that could deal with
a tremendous emergency.
II am glad to say our American educa-
ton graduates people in overalls. I con"
graduate you young people upon the fact
that you are graduating into an age in
which people are not ashamed to have
conscience. Since you have been in the
high schools there has been in progress a
wonderful movement for the betterment of
our social conditions. l hope you are
going to be true to that characteristic or
the age into which You are being grad
uated. l want to express what l believe
all these people feel and that Is the hope
that you will go out with high ideals, and
may God bless you in the things that you
attempt to do"
Scholarships and Prizes.
The address of the commissioner of edu-
cation was received with warm applause,
after which Dr. william E. Chancellor,
superintendent of schools, announced the
awards of scholarships and prizes as fol-
lows: