Evening journal., 1913-12-23
URGE TWO
GRADUATION
EXERCISES
DR.. Cooper Suggests High
School COmmenCementS for
February and June
WILL LEARN SENTIMENT
OF PUBLIC ABOUT 1T

commencement exercises to get them,
should suggestion made by DIR. T. o.
Cooper at the meeting of the Board of
Education last evening be carried out by
the board. DR. Cooper urged that the
February graduates be given their di-
plomas upon graduation, bringing out
the point that they may be needed,
should the graduates desire TO leave the
city before the June exercises.
The subject was discussed by several
Of the members after which it was de-
cided to defer action until the next
meeting to allow time TO look up the
law pertaining to that matter, and to
ascertain the sentiments OF the gradual
ing pupils and their parents as well as
the alumni association.
The subject was brought before the
board when letter was read from
Principal A. II. Berlin in which he ask
ed the board TO authorize the engraving
of the diplomas for the next years
graduating classes. After the lettei
was read DR.. Cooper remarked that two
separate classes in the High School grad.
uate each year. one in February and the
other in June. He remarked that the
pupils who graduated in February were
forced to wait until the june commence
mcnt before obtaining their diplomas
and he raised the question as to whether
or not the board should give the Feb
ruary graduates their diplomas immedi-
ately after they were earned. He re-
marked that if this was done the grad
uate could leave town If he desired TO
4 l.
ing to return for the graduating exer-
cises in June, and should he remain in
the city he could attend the exercises
anyhow.
He suggested that it would be a good
thing to have two eommencements, one
in February and the other in June, hold
ing that the pupil who graduated in
February was entitled to receive his
diploma with the appropriate exercises
at that time.
He related an instance where one
young woman went TO another State to
teach school. and the fact that she did
not have a diploma worked a hardship
upon her, as it was necessary for her 20
eet the diploma before she could begin
to teach. 81 do. believe the pupils
should have their diplomas when they
are earned he stated.
In order to bring the matter up before
the members of the board for discussion
Dr. Cooper put it in the form of a ma
tion. He moved that the Board of Edu-
cation adopt two graduating exercises
periods, one for the February class the
same as for the June class.
i Col l.. b. Morrow remarked that
number Of years ago it was customar.
to hold two commencement exercises
one in February and one in june. IL
declared that he believed the law ha'
been amended making one yearly com
mencement to be held in June. He de
clared that he did not know the reason
for such a change, but believed that tho
divided commencement did not prove t6
be the success that the combined one
did. He stated that it would be good
thing for the members to look up the
I law relative to the subject and to ascer
tain the sentiments of the public before
voting upon it. holding that they conlc
not vote intclligently upon such short
notice.
DR.. Cooper agreed that it would b'
proper to let the public decide the mat
ter, remarking that it mattered not u
the board whether two or one com
mencement was held. let the pupil'
and their friends decide it, he declared
at is their function" He remarked
however. that the vital point was not
/ the holding of the commencement eXer
cises. but whether or not the diplomas
should be given in February.
DR.. II. G. Buckmaster said that h
! had talked to a number Of pupils whit
=. will graduate in February and tina
/ their sentiments we're that the.
would like to have the commence
ment exercises then. He mentione'
/ that he had been a member OF IN
/ February class years ago, when IN
commencements were held, and tina
there we're twenty members in IN
/ class at that time. Yet he declares
this number had filled the Operi
House, and he believed that the mucl
larger classes of the present da
would have no difficulty in also fill
ing il. He remarked that the diplo
mas, when given publicly, were wort
worth more than they ever would be
and were an incentive to work. II
stated that the one graduating clas
as held in recent years was so iarg
that it filled up the stage and al
lowed no room for the members o
the board and school, officials to b
seated there. There we're so many Q
them in the class, he declared, tina
their friends were unable to pic
them out until the exercises wer
half over He believed it would be
good thing to have two graduating ex
ercises as it would keep the school
more before the public.
George r. Rommel echoed the sen
timents of DR.. Buckmaster, Stain
that he agreed with all he had saiC
He also remarked that he believe
the people would take more interes
in the February exercises as II wa
not so hot then as in June.
Z. f. Denny said he favored IN
plan
Frank r. Zebley declared that he wa
not in favor of it but was willing to b
convinced. He stated that he had bee
a member of recent February gradual
ing class. and that none of them ha
been alarmed about getting their d
plomas, as none of them had reall
needed them. He stated however, tina
he believed it would be a good thing
have them on hand and give the graC
yates should they have occasion to nee
them. He stated that relative to hole
ing the two commencements he wi
ready to be convinced that it would
best. He stated that the fact that tf
February class had to wait until Jur
commencement TO get diplomas held I'll
classes together and maintained bette
class spirit. He believed it would
best to hold the classes together as Ion
MS possible, He also mentioned that
might interfere with the giving of priz'
to hold two commandments