East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1912-05-30

mination of their twelve years of work
In the local schools. Speaking of the
next year, he declared that with the
completion of the new building and
the installation of new departments
and the Improvement of the facili-
ties of the old, no city in the state Of
Oregon would be able to boast of a
better high school than Pendleton.
During the presentation of the di-
plomas, Charles o. Blakeslee played
soft improvised accompaniment on
the piano.
other musical selections rendered
during the evening were two beautl-
full vocal solos by Mrs. j. r. Dickson
and selection by the girls chorus,
which was extremely pleasing
Prof. Ressler's Address.
In his address to the graduating
class. Professor Ressler traced the de-
velopment OF education from the
time when 1t provided training for
the privileged few who ruled in
church and state and relegated the
vast majority to the unhonored and
unrewarded work of supplying the
material necessities of life.
"As civilization advanced" he
said. "the learned and polite pro-
fessors and occupations increased in
number but education was limited to
the chosen. Until recently, our ed
ucational system was developed and
administered along the narrow lines
of culture, with the result that
large part of the product found no
outlet because the so-called learned
professions were overcrowded.
THE nineteenth century saw the
rise Of the industries to point where
not only social prestige was won by
those who contributed to the worlds
progress outside the professions, but
where 1t was found necessary to pro-
vide a special education to produce
efficient workers. In the last quarter
of that century and particularly dur
ing the first decade of the twelfth, the
the application of science to the in
dustries has made it necessary to
make provision of a higher technical
education, which calls for a type of
ability @stite the equal to that de-
manded in the professions. This
widening of the sphere of higher ed
ucation has not only dignified the in
dustries but has vastly increased the
demand for highly educated men and
women"
The speaker pointed out to the
members Of the class the distinction
which may be won by those who will
fit themselves for high order of ser
vice in commerce, manufacture, agri-
culture and the industries, where just
as severe demands are made on intel
lect and character as in the profess
sions.
1T is the glory of the present age
that the old ban upon the producers
has been removed and that no honor
able occupation may now be called
unskilled or menial," he said. with
such great opportunities for the appli-
cation of scientific training, no young
man or woman need waste energy in
trying to do either what the world
does not need or what his or her tall
ents and ability do not justify.
Modern education in both the
lower and higher schools must help
our youth to discover their talents
and thus fit themselves for suseful
and successful lives. To that end, our
courses are being remade and the old
ideals reshaped to meet the demands
of the time. We must preserve and
strengthen the best in the old and
add the new, so that all the children
of all the people may have their
chance in life"