Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-06-21
HIGH SCHOOL CLASS
OF 1918 PRESENTED
WITH THEIR DIPLOMAS
Annual Commencement Exercises in
.proCtor's Theatre Last Niqht Passl
off Most Successfully
HENRY HOUCK THE SPEAKER

acting examination which they have
to pass. Il hope" he said, you
young students will go to college if
you can. 1t is a great thing to be
able to walk into the school directors
room and deposit on the table your
college diploma" So rigid, he
! stated, is the search for well equip
ped teachers that often the query is
now heard, "Is he a college gradu-
ate."
The speaker pleaded for sym
pathy of the teacher for the pupil,
and showed how the world is out
growing the old notion that force is
stronger than love, and how modern
teachers are more sympathetic with
dullards than In olden times, when
they would be held up for derision
by brighter members of the class as
IL 1t were stubbornness that they
could not asslmilate learning more
easily.
The speakers last injunction to the
pupils was for the preservation Of
character. he illustrated by telling a
story of a pedagogue who had on his
school wall the following motto: "When
wealth Is gone there Is nothing lost;
whom health is gone there Is something
lostj when character Is gone, everything
is lost" He urged the graduates to
adhere perEstently to the last proverb
motto, and whether they 60 to college
or whatever they do to preserve their
character, the real thing that is worth
while in life. In concluding, he paid q
high tribute to Mr.. Shull s abilities as
superintendent number Of years ago
| in Pennsylvania school district, and
congratulated the Board Of Education,
i the high school faculty, the superintend-
ent and the city of Perth Amboy for
the evenings displayal of educational
success.
President Sheehy had words Of great
praise for the other four members of
the school board-Edward L. Gridley,
| @. G. Christensen, James J. Harrigan
! and Louis M. Rossi, the first two of
whom were seated on the stage. "We
have four live wires in the school
board" he said.
| He spoke Of the great time and atten-
tion now being paid to the different
systems of education. He mentioned
the adherents of vocational and indus
trial training and those that advocate
idealis4A as the chief feature of the
schools work. He thought that at pres
ent the industrialists and voeationalists
were making the most noise, but that
wise thinkers have raised q warning
hand lest the schools begin matricu-
lating prosaio students with only ma
terial ideas Of success. He thought we
too often look upon the wonderful prog
ress of the times as the chief end Of
our existence. Nevertheless the speak
er declared he WAS in favor Of a ju-
dicious amount Of education Of the
head and hand, but thought the tenden-
cy Of the times was to overdo vocation
al and industrial education to the ex-
clusion Of the development Of well
rounded, high-charactered manhood and
womanhood.
Turning to the class Mr.. sheehy ex-
tended his most hearty congratulations
Continuing he said: "It Is not so much
the close of school, but your graduation
marks the beginning of hard work
Whereas you have had only your class
mates to contend with now you will
have the whole world" He laid EN-
phasis upon the paternal memories
which the graduates should forever hold
for their teachers and superintendent,
who had necessarily labored and
|thoughtfully helped them along their
four years of hi gh school to their pres
ent success. He laid especial emphasis
upon the sacred appreciation the stud
ents owe their parents who make posi-
bic their achievements.
In closing, Mr.. sheehy hkened the
graduating class and exercises to the
CONTINUED on page A.