Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-02-18
EXERCISES OPEN
A new BUILDING
Children and Parents Join in
Dedication of Grant School
in West End.
TURNED OVER TO BOARD
Patriotic Program Given in After
noon-Judge c. J. Searle De
Iivers Address.

Despite the bad weather last eve
ming 300 citizens attended the forma
opening Of the new Grant school, on
Eleventh avenue and Seventh street
and listened 10 an enjoy able program
Music was furnished by the high
school orchestra and Miss Gertrude
Schmidt, who played two piano solos
Prof E. L. Philbrook, instructor o.
music in the schools, sang a solo
Superintendent H. B. Hayden stated
that much credit for the new building
was due TO the efforts of Miss Dora
Newton, the principal. Miss Newton
responded and said that the teacher:
were more than pleased with the new
school and that 1t would be an inspira
tion to greater activity on their part
o. L. Cervin, the architect, explained
the plan of the building, and V. c
Hall, on behalf of the contracting firm
of Collins brothers, turned over the
keys to the board. A. G. Anderson re
sponded and expressed satisfaction
with the way the work had been
handled
Judge c. j. Searle gave the princi
pal address OF the evening. His theme
was The New School and the Com
munity" Mr. Searle stated that the
day was passed when men could be
come leaders without an education
He said it was wrong to educate the
lazy and the weakling rather than the
strong and alert, as when the chill
dren of this day become men anC
women the educated strong man viii
be the leader in the community. Mr.
Searle told how many children reaC
OF the great warriors and regret tha
there are no fields for them to con
qUer. Mr.. Sea<le said he hoped thi:
nation might never have a war in the
lives of the children before him, yet
there never was a time when strong
men and women were needed by the
nation more than now.
ALL ON Equal BASIS.
The speaker said that one of the
greatest advantages of the common
school was that it put all on an equal
basis, being a miniature republic
Rich and poor. and those from the
tions in life, mingled and we're treat
ed on a par.
He congratulated the board of edu
cation and the teachers of the school
together with the people of the school
district, on the new building which
had been provided. He compared the
advantages of the new school with
those offered him and his father and
grandfather. The speaker stated
that his grandfather could barely read
and write and that his father never
went to school a day until after he
was 21 years old. He himself had had
no such opportunities. He admitted
that his father had succeeded in life
without an education. but said il was
almost impossible now. In conclusion
Mr.. Searle stated that while the new
school could not make great men OF
all the children, he believed and hop
ed that IL would make them all use
full citizens OF the community. He
hoped that the influence of the school
work would be for good only and that
as the sun dispels a fog the school
might dispel all evil influences and
IL
AFTERNOON EXERCISES.
In the afternoon exercises of a pa
triotic nature were given by the chill
dren OF the school, and many of the
parents and friends of the pupils were
present. In the program which fol
lows, the numbers of the rooms do not
indicate the numbers of the grades, as
the grades are somewhat mixed and
divided between different rooms:
Song. America" the school
Concert recitation. Our Flag'-Pu-
pills OF room g.
Mother Goose's Children" - Eight
children from room /.
The Old Story"-Six boys from
room ?.
Our Flag'-Five pupils from room ..
The Name of a Hero"-Ten boys
from room 8.
Piano solo-Rose Pewe.
The Young Patriots pu-
pills from room :.
Recitation. Abraham incoln"-Ho--
ace Hill.
Baby Land" Five pupils from
room l.
Song. 'T1linOis'-By the school.
Recitation. The Boy'-Jessie Nee
ley.
Recitation, "A Step Towards Woman
hood"-Theal Ewert
Recitation. Some Time. Some Day
Norman Kone and Mildred Bragdon.
Vocal solo-Miss Alice Quinlan.