Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-06-13

come better able to make our seIec-
ton from the various things which
will be opened to us in our later
life.
One of the most important things
our high school Life has given us,
however, is the training for citizen
ship. Obeying the rules of the school
has been excellent training for the
observance of the laws of our state
and Nation This, without doubt, is
something of which our young A
mericans stand in great need; for
1t Is due mainly to lack of proper
respect for authority that htey com
nit the offenses that they do: when
they have the necessity of obedience
to the rules of the school impressed
upon them, the probability of their
committing serious crime later is
greatly decreased. It has been ne
cessary for us to exercise more OF
less selfrestraint for the common good
OF the school, to consider the rights
and opinions of others; in short, to
follow teh rule; DO unto others as
you would have them do unto YOU"
However, this has been but one
line of character development We
have been taught to be honest. con
scienttous, and truthful. When in
examination, the temptation came to
borrow knowledge that We did not
possess, We had to resist it. because
We knew that if We yielded then. it
would be just so much harder for us
to be upright in our dealings with
people later on.
Another essential element of
happiness in life is the appreciation
of beauty. One who does not en-
joy the works of our best writer's
anS artists surely misses one of the
greatest joys of living. Our taste for
good reading has been developed i'm
our study of literature; and i'm our
art work We have cultivated a sense
of harmony and rythm which has
given us an appreciation of the beau
tiful
However, l do not like to think of
high school as merely a preparation
for something better that is to come.
High school is in fact a life in it.
self In p11r copctapt cooroh 60, TO-
piness, we are too apt not to enjoy
the things about us, and / am sure
that the days We have spent here have
meant a great deal more to lis than
a preparation for the enjoyment of
life in the future. We have had
pleasant associations with others and
laid the foundation for friendships,
without which life affords but little
happiness indeed. We have formed
friendships here that will not only in
fluence us during the rest of our
lives, but which have made this high
school life the pleasure it has been
to u.s.
Members of the Board of Education,
We appreciate the work that you
have done in order that we might
enjoy this high school course. We
know that it has meant the expendi-
ture of great deal of your time and
energy to provide for us in the way
you have done. You, as representa-
tives of the city, have not only sup
piled us W tn the things necessary in
our studies, but you have given us
many things that have contributed to
our pleasure and helped us to enjoy
the time spent here, and which make
us 10th to leave these halls. | as
sure you that your work has not been
In vain; We sincerely thank you for
all that you have done for us, and
hope we shall pay in better citizen
ship the debt We owe the community.
Parents, you have been "a tower of
strength to us during the years we
have spent here. Without you we
could never have received the bene-
fits o. this high school course. 1t
has been due 90 your belief in us,
to your constant support in times Of
Encouragement that we have been
able to go on with our work. To many
of you the giving of this high school
course has meant sacrifice, but it has
been a sacrifice cheerfully made, and
We thank you for the opportunity yol
have given us to make ourselves more
fit to enter LIES school.
To you, Members of the Faculty,
we owe a great debt Of gratitude. 1t
is due largely to your untiring efforts
that We are able to attain tonight the
object of our ambitions for hte past
four years. We realize that we have
been trying and we thank you for
your unceasing care. At times we
may have seemed quite unappreciative
but we realize now what the absence
Of your interest might have meant.
We sincerely hope that tonight you
feel in some degree repaid for your
patience and that you feel a little
satisfaction with the result of your
labors.
Underclassmen, our school life
with you has ended. Our associations
have been most pleasant and we
are 10th to bring them to a close.
Especially with you Juniors who win
fill our places here next year, (and
fill them well am sure), we have
been in close contact during this Last
year. We have enjoyed that fellow
ship, and We hope you have. Many
bonds have been formed that we wish
did not have to be severed. However,
they must be, and we leave you with
vic