Arizona republican., 1909-06-12
THE NORMAL CLASS IF '09 Received Their Diplomas
 Thursday Evening FIFTY ADDITIONAL TEACHERS Added to the Force of the Territory Making a Total of 369 Who Have Compile ted the Work of the Insti- tuition.
FIFTY ADDITIONAL TEACHERS

Normal commencement for the year of 1909 is over, the weeks events coming to a close last evening with the banquet and reception of the Alumni association. It has been a busy and interesting week and the net result is an addition of fifty members to the teaching force of the territory.
 The graduating exercises were held on Thursday evening and were witnessed by a large gathering. Many were in attendance from Phoenix and the stage presented a brilliant aspect. The fifty graduates were seated in four rows in the rear of the stage, the front and center being occupied by President Matthews, eX-GOvernOr Kibbey, Lloyd B. Christy and A. J. Peters. Beautiful flowers, which were presented to the graduates as they received their diplomas, were laid across the front of the stage, almost covering it.
 The evenings program was rather dil tAltuutu Ollt anu SldIliii6 tillit late as it did, it was well toward the midnight hour when the graduates had all been presented with their Idiplomas and the informal reception on the stage had been concluded.
 The program opened with a se- lection Sweet and Low" by the Ladies' chorus, followed by an essay, Nature Study" by Miss Elizabeth Axtell. Miss Dora Jean Ellis follow ed with her essay, "Correlation of History and Geography" Other pap CTS during the evening were, "Influ- ence of Music in the Public Schools. :" by Miss Mae Stukey and The Exer- else of the Imagination" by Miss Marcia Carter. Lack of space pre- vent comment on each of these pap CTS; it is sufficient to say that they showed much thought and care in their preparation.
 The violin selection by F. R. Rede- will was well received and called for an encore Miss Alice Redewi1l, who accompanied her brother also ren- dered a piano selection, "12th Hun garian Rhapsody"
 The address to the graduating class was delivered by Hon. Joseph H. Kibbey. MT. Kibbey has officiated in that capacity before and is wei known to Tempe people. He re- quired no introduction Thursday eve ming. MT. Kibbey asked the question: "Is an education worth whle?" and in an extended address answered in the affirmative, offering many logic al reasons for that conclusion.
 Previous to the annual announce ments by President Matthews, the Ladies' chorus rendered the Strauss Waltz Song" and at the close of the program sang "The Star Spangled Banner" in which the audience join ed. The excellent work of the chorus during the week has been one of the pleasing features of the different pro- grams. The chorus was made up of the following named:
 Misses A. C. Casanega, L. and A. Priest, Johnston, Buck, Clark, Daggs, Robinson, l. Schmidt, NJ. Shrine NJ Corbell, Vanderwalker, Rock. Quinn, Cohen, Wilcox.
 Accompanist, Miss Augusta Treat.
 It is the custom of President Mat thews each commencement week to make an announcement of the con- dition of the school and at the same time to relate to the audience such matters regarding the institution as may be of interest. In his remarks Thursday evening he explained the reason that the attendance this year showed so little gain over that of last year, being 250 in the normal proper and 167 in the training school The explanation lies in the fact that five new high schools have been es- tablished in the territory in the past year or so, thus reducing the first year class of the normal These students, however, Vpon completing the high school course will nearly all enter the normal, so, consequently in a few years time, the attendance will begin to increase and will no doubt continue to do so in the years to come. According to President Matthews, the normal institution now represents valuation of $32O, 900 di- vided as follows: S45,OOO in equip ment; S6,000 in a library, and the balance in buildings This is a con- servative estimate as the campus is put in this valuation at much less than its actual worth. Including the class that graduated Thursday even- ing, the normal has now graduated 369 teachers and of this number, PAP have completed the course since Pres ident Matthews has been at the head of the institution.
 Two medals were awarded Thurs day evening; the Harvard essay medal and the R R MOeur schoIar ship medal. The last named is a new