Connecticut western news., 1911-06-15
GRADUATION NIGHT.
HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS
 GET THEIR DIPLOMAS

Presentation of Class Memorial
 Superintendent VogeI Gives Parents
 and Citizens Some Timely Facts.
 Town Hall was filled beyond its normal seating capacity, Friday evening, with the parents and friends of the graduating class of High School, assembled to wit ness the exercises connected with the presentation of diplomas to the class of Il. and the presentation of the class memorial to the school. Extra chairs were brought in to accommodate late corners, and the entire auditorium pre- sented picture of animation and color,
 The front of the stage was banked with flowers and foliage, and the stage itself was occupied by the class of 1911. The figures, "I911," in heroic size, were saspendedfrom the flies, in gold board. The twelve girls, of the fifteen graduat- ing members, occupied the front of the stage, while the three boys and some other members were in the rear. All the girls were prettily dressed in white.
 Superintendent of Schools George J. Vogel presided and opened the ceremo- nies by calling upon Rev. Joseph P. Smyth, who gave the Invocation.
 The class then sang "Don' yo' cry, ma Honey" after which Superintendent Vogel delivered an interesting address, "Some Views on Education" He con- trasted the methods employed in the "little old red school-house'' of days gone by. with the facilities and advan- tages of the present day systems of public school education, pointing out that where the old curriculum was practically limited to the three r's' and Webster's s SpelIer, the teacher had no qualifications beyond those imparted by this same curriculum, and received all the way from $3 to $6 a week and paid $1, $2 or $3 a week for board and lodging, the public school of the present day give courses in sciences and modern lam guages, employing specially trained teachers, and at higher salaries, which, it was incidentally remarked. will soon have to be made still higher owing to the demand for competent teachers. By way of emphasizing this latter point MT. Vogel related that he had recently visited the state Normal School at Dan bury to engage teachers for the schools of this town. He offered $S75 school year. for graduates of the Normal School. The same day the superinten- dent of schools for Torrington was at the Danbury institution offering $620. II came home without having secured any teachers" said MT. Vogel. The in- creased cost of living is one factor in the increased expense of running the schools. The teacher today must pay for her board as much per week as some of the teachers in the old days received for a weeks salary. The rapid increase in the school population was referred to. The present school house is crowded, and an increase in school-room facilities will soon be an imperative necessity. The speaker gave some pointed suggestions to the parents with reference to the effects of tardiness and absence on the part of the pupils, stating that he could name instances where through habitual tardiness and unnecessary absence on trivial excuse, pupils had actually lost a full year of schooling during their school life. He reminded the parents of their responsibility in this particular, and in vited them to visit the school and see for themselves the work the pupils are doing, and the work the teachers are trying to do. It was sound, practical heart-to- heart talk, of which the parents should take heed.
 Following the address the class sang Lohr's Swing Song," and John Ransom Fuller presented the class memorial, q handsome, framed picture of Stratfor on Avon, with a well prepared speecl descriptive of that old English town, the birthplace and burial place of Shakespeare, and an interesting sketch of the life of the immortal Bard of Avon. The memorial was accepted, on behalf of the school, by Alfred Heaton Rood, 'l2, in an appropriate speech. The young orators were warmly applauded.
 The presentation of diplomas. by Chairman Edward s. Roberts, of the school committee, followed. MT. Roberts accompanied his part of the exercises with few timely and fitting words of advice to the graduates, and wished them success in life.
 The class sang Voices of the Woods" as the closing song, and Rev, MT. Smyth brought the formal exercises to a close with the Benediction.
 Miss Ruth Lawrence Peirce, member of the class, daughter of MT. and Mrs. $. A. Beirce, presided at the piano with commendable skill, during the singing
 The distribution of an imposing array