Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-06-13
OUR MOTIF"
Grafton Delivered at Commence
ment by Miss Margaret Mott
ner i.

ner.
There are no doubt many notices
that our class might have chosen
which would very well express it's
sentiments at this time. The one we
have chosen, From School Life to
Life's School, I think, a very re-
preventative one. Tt gives in. a few
words the significance of this night
in our lives. All our recolIections up
to this time have been Of school life
and the realization of the fact that
our school work is completed comes
to us with something of a shock.
But in truth, school life is not over
for us, for all life is really school,
preparation for something better
that is to reward us for our work
here. And now that this high school
life is about to end, it may not be a.
miss for me to review briefly the
different ways in which it has pre-
pared US for our part in Iife's school.
First of all, we have been trained
for practical life The boys who
chose, the Manual Training course
have been developed in d two-fold
way. Their hands have bene taught
to use different tools, not in a me-
chanical manner, but in obedience to
their minds The course in DOmes-
tic Science has given the girls the
training which is so absolutely indis-
pensable 10 them as future homemak.
ers. They have been instructed in
the arts of cooking and sewing; in
short, they have learned how to plan
furnish, and maintain a home in an
economical, efficient manner.
Along with this practical training,
our minds have been disciplined. AL
though We did not like certain sub
jects which meant more or less druid
gerry and the purpose of which We
could not see at the time, We had to
take them in order to complete the
course which we had chosen. And
thus while pursuing these studies,
sometimes against our inclinations,
we have acquired the habit of volun-
tary attention; a quality invaluable
to every well-trained mind
In such studies as Geometry and
Physics, we have had to use our rea-
son, and by constant use that facul-
ty has been in some degree develop
ed. LII fac, each Subject we have
taken has increased our capacity
for clear and careful thinking, for
accuracy or self-expression.
1t is indispensable to a well-bal-
anced, orderly life that one should
be able to determine relative values.
To get the greatest happiness, one
must have the ability to select the
things that are to occupy first place
in his consideration. The person who
wishes to get the most out of Life
must select the things that are most
essential to his enjoyment of it. He
must 4llAtl, WuElllCI DuolISS5s oOCACBy
or home is most important and there
fore to occupy first place; and then
he must live in accordance with his
selection. We have been in some
measure prepared to do this because,
altho opportunities for development
along many different lines are Of
fered in a high school course, We
have found that it is impossible to
work along all Of them. We have |
had to select the things that we con
sidered most important to US. Those
who entered the contests in pub
lie speaking were unable to be mem /
bers of the GIee Club and similar or
CARNATIONS which would necessarily
require time The boys who enter
I'd the field OF Athletics had to de
ny themselves the opportunity of par
,icipating in other activities. So that
IS a result of determining the rela
Ave values of the subjects and acti-
titles in high school, We have be