The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-06-11
County Normal Commencement.

Sounty normal commencement.
On Wednesday night, the fifth
annual commencement exercises o!
the SShiawassee County Normal
Training class took place at the high
school of this city. 1t Is not too
much to say, that the EXERCISES, swece
the most profitable and Interestina
of any that have yet taken place un
der the auspices of this institution.
1t must have afforded Supt. Sim
mons some satisfaction to know that
the last class graduated under his
direction was in many respects t. e
most efficient of them all.
The room was beautifully deco
rated, there was a large audience
present. To the strains of music
rendered by Miss, Hazel Smith the
class and those taking part in the
exercises marched into the room.
When all were seated the Rev. Geo.
Laughton, pastor Of the First Bap-
fist church, offered prayer A song,
entitled Merry June. was given Nv
the class. Then followed the ad-
dress of the evening. 1t was given
by Prof. Walter H. French OF the
NJ. A. c. There was something emf
nently appropriate about Mr..
French's presence there that even
ing. 1t was through his genius and
devotion that count normal train
ing classes were organized. They
stand as splendid monument 20 his
credit. Also as Sup. Simmons re
minded the audience, just thirty
years ago next fall he and tn PRO-
fessOr stood in the relation of pupil
and teacher.
The address was OH a vital sub
ject: "The State ana the Teacher"
Mr.. French began by showing the re-
lation of the school system to the
state. He described the real object
of education as that which develops
man Intellectually, physically and
morally He further showed that
unless the state trains the relig GUS
faculty of the child 'en we should
grow up to be a race of atheists.
Hence it follows that we mus have
teachers of good moral character.
of the best training. men and wo-
men who are thoroughly equipped 20
do the great work of training the
young. To furnish such tea,ters
was tho object of the training class.
He pleaded that VIC cease from
estimating education from the mere
ly monetary point Of view He
CHI hnf
more important than the dollar. and
that was good citizenship. The
schools existed to furnish the state
with this commodity. 1t was one
of the most inspiring and educative
addresses ever delivered in the high
school under any auspices. The
state of Michigan is to be congratu-
lated on the fact that such men as
Walter H. French are in control Of
her educational system. 1t is no
wonder that other states are enquir-
ing into and adopting our methods.
After a double song, rendered
again by the class, Com. H. E. Slo-
cum presented the diplomas.
o. l.. Sprague, president or the
board of education, was then called
upon, and he demonstrated his fit
ness for the position he occupies by
giving a timely and instructive ad-
dress. Supt. j. w. Simmons was the
last speaker. With great earnest
ness he pleaded with the members
OF the class to do their best in the
work upon which they will shortly
enter. He urged them to bring all
the credit they could to the school
from which they had graduated. to
the teachers who had taught them
and to themselves.
1t was a pity that a larger num-
Der of our citizens were not present
at these exercises. The instructors
are to be congratulated on the wotk
they have done. We venture to say
that from no training class in the
state Will there be graduated a more
Dresentable and efficient body of
young people than that which passed
out of the high school at Owosso
Wednesday night, to enter upon the
duties Of life.
The graduates are: John C.. Aus
tin. Katherine Il. Aten, Lena A.
Cook, Hazel I. Goodwin. Frances E.
House, Luella Hill, Ella Hemming-
way. Lettie f. Johnson, Margaret J.
Mccormick, Christine E. Morse,
Blanche E. McGlockne, Beth A. Nix
on, Hazel M. Rundell. Lillian e.
Sprague. l.. Blanche Tallant. Myrtle
G. Wickfham.