The Mena weekly star., 1909-01-14
EXERCISES Al THE
 NEW HIGH SCHOOL
Judge J. D. Shaver Made Splendid Ad- dress on Mena Schools Prof. Adams Tells of Efforts That
 Were Fruitful.

fine new high school building was Friday afternoon filled to more than doub.e its regular seating capacity by men and women interested in the public schools. together with the young men and young women who com pose the high school classes that will occupy the building next week.
 Prof. Means presided over the dedication exercises, which were arranged by the high school stu dents, nearly all of which took part therein in one way or anoth- CT, many of the mem bers making decided hits.
 The address oi the occasion was made by Judge James D. Shaver. president of the school board of Mena.
 Judge Shaver expressed his great pleasure at seeing so large a number of representative peo- pie taking so marked an interest in the school. He then spoke of the school board as body oi men elected by the people to serve with no pay with all the work aud etfor., trouble and responsi- biiity thrown in.
 Hereviewed the past conditions and pointed to the fact that ten years ago there was apparently no prospects of ever having ad- equate school buildings, and how by the patient cooperation of the people and through the means they had furnished, the board had been enabled to continually advance the welfare of the chil- dreu along safe lines. He be- lieved now that by prudence and care the Mena schools were in position to be made still further useful. He said that there were now fourteen instructors on the payroll, and that while 1t was q pretty heavy burden, yet all were necessary to bring results.
 Judge Shaver spoke fcelingly of the value of the work of the teachers, chasing 1t equal 10 or above that of preaching. He said that the teacher had even more to do with shaping the chlld's mind than the home, and that unlike the work of the preacher, there was no eleventh hour busi- ness ahout ii. The teachers work was the work of today. A child could not go through life and then receive an education at the last moment. The teachers must do their work early in the child's life or never.
 The speaker dwelled upon the importance of education in this country-iu country of govern ment by the people. In such a country the people must be intel- ligent to have an intelligentgov- ernment. They must be educated in order to sustain our great sys- tenn of government. He said re- ligion without education soon dwindled down to bigotry.
 He referred to the new school building as s rehnerya place where the crude, the course, the raw product was refined into the perfect citizen, the perfect man and woman, able to meet the world with confidence and poise, prepared to cope with its mani fold problems.
 Attention was then called 10 the good to be done by a kind and helpful word at the right time; how such could frequently give the impetus that would de- yeiop the bestiu young man or boy who ortherwise might fail.
 sndge Shaver then asked that the board and the teachers might have the continued support of the patrons iu their efforts for better and better schools, duty they owed to society, to the city aud the nation.
 Mrs. J. D. Shaver. Mrs. Nj. A. Stratton, Mrs. F. E. DeLongy, Mrs. Cardwell and Mrs. Riding each made remarks appreciatiye of the high school,