The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-06-16
Normal Class Graduation.

Fourteen county normal students
were graduated with honors at the
high school building "Wednesday
evening in the presence of a large
number of relatives and invited
guests. The graduates are: Bessie
Badgero, Elsie B. Campbell, Sadie
Jane Cooper, Anna L. Doyle, Lottie
Filkins, Mabel Frantz, Lois Marie
Gabriel, Florence Greenwald,
Frances Myers, Lucy d: Phillips,
Hazel S. Richard, Grace F. Shannon
Nina Wiedman and Tillie Williams
Opening the program, Miss Merle
Lemon played march while the
faculty and the graduates marched
out upon the platform. First came
Supt. w. e. Hanson, then Prof Roy
Campbell, Commissioner G. H. Slo-
cum, Prof. Laird of the state norman
college, Ypsilanti, Rev. A. j. Hol-
land, Miss Maud Morrice, Miss
Gertrude Smith and the graduates.
The normal room, in which the ex-
ercises were held, was prettily dec
Grated with oak leaves and Ameri-
can flags, UNDUE feature of the
decorations being large American
flag which was made by the gradu-
ates. Under this flag were pictures
of George Washington and Abra-
ham Lincoln.
After an invocation by Rev. Mr..
Holland, and a song by the gradu-
ates, Prof. Laird started the prin-
cipal address of the evening, choos-
ing as his subject, 'The Scope and
Continued from First page.)
Value of Education" Prof. Laird
divided the subject into two parts,
speaking one the first part from
three different viewpoints. At first
he defined the word education, tell
ing the definition given it from
Plato to Herbert Spencer, down
through the ages. The second view
point taken by the speaker, was
what branch the Egyptians, Grecl-
ans, Persians, Romans and the peo-
pie of Palestine paid particular at
tention to the way of development.
He said that the Romans sought
to educate along the lines of law,
the people of Palestine, of religion;
and the Grecians, of beauty.
Bringing his listeners up to the
present day, Prof. Laird chose the
twentieth century to emphasize the
scope of education, and pointed out
that the present age stands out in
bold relief in the study of it's needs
along every line. Under this head,
the speaker expressed the method Of
judging the education of any person
First, he said, the extent of their
education may be learned from
their education may be learned
their use of the English langu-
age, which has become so wide
spread that shops in foreign coun-
tries are placing placards with the
words, English Language Spoken
Here" outside the buildings. The
aggressive an dprogressive spirit or
the American people is responsible
for this condition, declared Prot.
Laird.
The speaker further declared that
| education makes us able to think
properly, to take all sides of a sub
ject, and acquire such knowledge Of
it as to permit us to prove what We
really know.
A well-educated person will have
I kindness of heart, and conduct
themselves along the strictest rules
| of etiquette at all times showing
strong evidences of good breeding.
Furthermore they Will always bo
Itady to extend helping hand.
EducatiOn's Value
Dealing With the valu, Of e1Ica-
tion, Prof. Laird said when peo-
pie in foreign countries caricatur,
Americans, they usually do it with IA
dollar sign and the question, Does
il pay?' The value Of education Ii
generally judged from commercial
standpoint. Prof Laird gave sta
tistics to lrove his point that edu
cation rays. He said that figures
prove that cut of 1000 men who ac-
quire fame and wealth, the greater
portion we're college gradual {, ,
white nc second largest number IN
single class received but a comm on
school ducation,-finishing the Stf
grade. The others were divided
among men who had received nc
education and high school gradu
ates, the latter class being in the
minority on the successful list.
Prof. Laird made it known thai
he did not urge college education
for everyone. On the contrary he
said that because of the many evil!
that college student must over
come, he must be mentally, physi
, cally and spiritually strong to gail
, the advantages of a college educa
, tion.
The monetary standpoint is tn,
weakest argument in favor of edu
cation, said Prof. Laird. The mail
value of education, he said, is that
increases happiness, and\ that tn
] we'll educated will not seek wealth
!. power and glory for their own sake
y but by placing his ideals on hig
plane, and seeking to reach then