Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1913-04-15
BUILDING FORM
ALLY DEDICATED
An Interesting Meeting is Held in
the Auditorium of the New
Lincoln High School
Building.
ADDRESSES MADE, MUSIC, ETC.
Prof. Kelly Presides-speeches by
Prof. McClananhan and
Wesley Martin.
ADDRESSES MADE, MUSIC, ETC.

Wesley Martin.
| Friday evening occurred the for
NAL dedication of the new Lincoln
high school building, with Prof. Nc
Clanahan, state inspector of high
schools, as the principal speaker.
The exercises were held in the au-
ditorium of the new building and
opened with a pretty cornet duet by
Miss Cecil Smock and Harry Ash.
| The girls quartette also sang, &C
companied by a piano duet, played
! by Misses Flora Bergerson and Ruth
| Donaldson. The closing number was
a. we'll rendered octette from MAR
tina"
Prof. Kelly presided at the meet
ing and introduced lawyer Wesley
Martin, who had kindly consented
to speak to the pupils on this occa-
sion. In a short, concise speech he
called forth "reminiscences of his old
high school days in Ohio where the
young men were compelled to leave
to go to the great civil war. He then
likened the present high school pu-
pills to a mighty army which must
sooa take it's place in the great
worlds struggles. The chief thought
In his address seemed to be that
without preparation there is no sue
cess-the lawyer in the court room
has no success without careful prep
ara ton. The great Lincoln himself
was preparing all his life by his in
vincible determination to acquire an
education for the position which he
finally came to occupy. Mr.. Martin
said the beautiful high school build
ing was an expression of the love
and interest which the people of
Webster City feel toward the high
school, therefore let the pupils pre-
pare for their future life in such a
way that the community may feel
itself amply repaid. The speaker al
so referred BRIEFLY to the masnifi-
cent Lincoln statue and commended
warmly the spirit which had been
displayed by the donor in placing
this beautiful work of art in our
high school building.
Prof McClanahan, in opening
his address, declared that the old
type of education which benefited
only the individual is passing away.
BY the present method the pupil
must give back value received or he
is failure. Whatever a young man
gains in his education he must now
use for the benefit, not of himself,
but of the community.
In the marvellous strides of educa-
ton it is interesting to note that
Iowa is keeping pace with the rest
of the states. In 1860 there were
only forty high schools in the Unit
ed States. At present Iowa alone
has more than five hundred. The ad-
vancement which Iowa has made is
due largely in fact to the sacrifice
of faithful men and women who, al
though working for a mere pittance,
have devoted their lives to the ad-
vancement of education. Iowa an
nually pays nine millions Of dollars
for the support Of schools, yet she
ranks forty-third in salaries paid. In
view Of this it seems marvellous that
| illiteracy has been reduced from
very nearly 80 per cent to 3 per
cent at the present time.
That Webster City is keeping up
her standard with other schools is
shown by comparing Lincoln high
school with others through the
state. Estherville this year erected a
100000 building: Boone one cost
ing S125.OOO: Des Moines has ex-
pended S150.00O: Independence
| $4,000: Abba $4,000; Fairfield
100000.
/ There is nothing in the laws Of
Iowa which defines high school. II
is simply the working out of ideals
OF the men and women at its head.
Webster City is to be congratulated
that these ideals have been so beau
tifully carried QUE in the new build
ing. But the teacher to touch the
spiritual side of the pupils is not
to be found in piles of stone or
books. Webster City has indeed
been fortunate in securing such a
man as Prof. Kelly to place at the
head of her Schools teacher who
through personal experience can in
fluence the lives OF the boys and
| irlc fha hact