The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1911-06-16
TELLS GRADUATES
LABORERS NEEDED
Pres. Kelly of Earlham De-
livers an Address to Ind
annapolis Students.

lanapOllS StudentS.
Indianapolis, June 16.-Dishwash-
ing was declared not too menial a
task for the girl graduate last night by
Robert L. Kelly, president of Earl
ham college, who delivered the COM
mencement exercises of Shortridge
high school at Caleb Mills hall. DR.
Kelly spoke on Some Educational
Ideals" and ridiculed the "hitch-your-
wagon-to-a-star" slogan as not con-
ducive to happiness in a world filled
with hard knocks and disappointment
When the Earlham college president
turned from the audience to the girl
graduates and said they should not
shirk dishwashing if it was necessary
to domestic tranquility, the girls smil-
ed bit incredulously. Their parents
however, laughed heartily, and ap-
plauded the speaker when he declared
education was no. meant so much TO
as to teach them to perfrom the every
day tasks of the world, conscientious
ly and honestly
Early in his address Dr. Kelly said
he would get down to brass tacks. "
and that he would not cause his audi
ence to believe that by educational
ideals" he meant the same kind of
ideals that caused the old-time COM
mencement orators to exclaim:
my friends, just think, there may
be a boy on this brilliantly decorated
platform who may be some day presi-
dent Of the United States"
Praises School System.
DR.. Kelly, when the audience laugh
ed, suggested that many of his hearers
might have been fiattered in a similar
manner in their earlier years.
The speaker praised the educational
system of Indianapolis. He said the
city not only could feel proud of the
graduates, but that it could feel proud
also of it's schools. which, he declar-
ed, ranked among the best in the
world
He praised all the educational sys-
TENS of the middle west, and paid a
high tribute to college and high school
graduates. DIR. Kelly said in part:
"A president of one of the leading
universities of the middle west once
said the American people have a pas
sion for education. We differ on many
subjects. We differ on certain phases
<Nf roll ioio nd oio1
life, but we are unit for the advoc-
acy of the splendid work accomplish
ed by our universities, colleges and
public schools.
II am going to speak of some of the
changing ideals of education in this
country. At one time it was consider
ed the duty at a commencement to
hold one arm a'oft with a mighty ges-
ture and to exclaim: Just think, there
may be boy present tonight who
may become. some day, president of
the United States
Needed in Every State.
while a boy. on hearing such ad-
dresses, l always thought I was the
one referred to as a chance candidate
for the presidency, but in later years
l am glad to say that l have learned
that a person may lead a useful and
happy life without being president.
Men of the best types are needed in
every state. city and hamlet And as
this is the ideal of the public school,
want to emphasize this ideal tonight
II think there was a time when our
educational systems taught that sue
cess was the greatest of all human
achievements. Such is not the inter.
probation of the American high school
today. l hope the graduates tonight
will resolve to follow the doctrine: i
am not bound to succeed, but I am
bound to be true. l am bound to live
up to the light l have Today the
graduates of our schools are taught
to follow in life as their highest aspir.
ations the innermost inspirations of
their breasts.
I'VE educators know We will never
become wealthy in our work, but we
have the pleasure of knowing that we
turn out of the schools men and WON.
en- fitted for the lace of life We want
our young men and women to leave
our schools ready to attempt the great
things of life, but also ever ready to
perform the monotonous everyday
tasks that their fellow citizens press
upon them"