The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-06-24
SIMPLICITY MARKS
 COMMENCEMENT OF NORMAL GRADUATES
Professor GeselI, the Speaker, Proves Ardent Champion of the Dental Clinic
Urges Fair Graduates to Build Physical Foundation for Men tai Structures

With marked simplicity the diplomas of the Bridgeport Normal school grad uates were presented to the class of 1913 at, last evenings exercises which were held in the High school assembly hall The class, sixteen in number presented a very charming appearance. The gowns of simple white made a very fitting setting for the young women who were on the threshold of the temple wherein they are to be the diSp pensers of the sacred mysteries to uniformed youth. They were charming enough to have personified the nine muses and doubly the three graces as they appeared upon the platform.
 The speaker last night was Prof. Arnold L. Gese11, of the Department of Education, Yale University. Dr. Deane introduced Prof GeselI in his usual graceful manner. Prof. =Gesel1 wasted no words before reaching the subject matter of his address. He pleaded for physical health as the ground from which mental growth should spring His Ideas were practical, yet not radi- cal. He did not urge upon the class before him some unattainable- ideal, yet he revealed that. his personal goal in education is afar. The speaker re- fra1ned from scientific pedagogical definitions, thus making himself plain to all present. He urged that all com mencement exercises, even those of SCnOOlSs are important 0NShCSS and traced a. connection between the ancient tribal rites into which the youth were initiated down throL%Nh the ceremonies that made the esquire and the knight, and on to the present day school and 'Ncollege com1nencements. Prof. Gese1I thinks the day is near when exercises will have something more of the religious element.
 The portion of the address which at traeted the most attention was per haps that in which was treated the very much discussed local question of dental clinic. The Board of Educa- tion and the Board of Health, had they been present, would have found 8, very ardent champion of the dental clinic in the scheme Of education. The speaker seemed to urge his point of view with decided personal conviction. In fact, study of public school children, not alone in the school room, but in other -environment His results in classify ing and obtaining percentages as to- feeble minded, nervous, precocious, negative, infantiIe, Isping, stuttering and other children were very interest ing. He spoke of the wonderful clas- siffcation that is accomplished at Ellis Island with an average of six seconds per immigrant, and incidentally sug- gested that the perception. that gov erns such work is the perception that a. teacher should strive fOTs and also urged, that there should be an Ellis Island at primary and Kindergarten grades. where the feeble minded and other defective children would be sep arated from normal children.
 Prof. GeselI is very earnest student of child nature and presents his con clusions in a very fair and clear manner His. address was listened to- with evident appreciation, though there seemed to be an interruption of some sort from about the center of the hall which should have been peremp- toriIy stopped, yet which continued at intervals much to the annoyance of the audience.
 The choral work Of the Normal school was very good The numbers were long and rather difficult, yet were rendered in a, pleasing manner.
 The graduates are: Miss Mary Leone McKenney; Miss Elizabeth Irene Mo Laugf1in, Miss Mabel Louise Munich, Miss Bessie Porter Rose Miss Emma Ferguson, Solari,- Miss I4ilIie ,Cecelfa Stadtler and Miss Mildred Amelia Stoddard,- Miss Ruth. Northrop Barnes, Miss Helen Mary Bediger, Miss Ruth Evelyn Benton, Miss Charlotte Grace Butt, Miss Bessie Dunsmore Callan- der, Miss Helen Marie Donovan, Miss Lucie Agnes Dowd, Miss Grace Loret- ta Fitzgerald, Miss Catherine Mary Hearn.