The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-06-14
Commencement Week Comes to Close

than others because they finish what
they are out to accomplish.
Lies With Each One.
at would be a terrible thing to
brand into the lives of these young
people the word failure as that pessi,
mist did. They are started in what
may prove successful business. Each
individual is responsible for his own
success or failure. An educational
course in high school Or college can
not make a successful man. Nor will
it make failure. If the man or
woman has the power to SUCCEED, then
the educational course only eXhiier-
ates that power.
Education is not a pouring in
process, but rather drawing out one.
You can't draw out what is not there,
however. The homes must furnish
the material on which to work. Edu-
cation only adds to that power and
puts it on the basis Of a further
chance. The tragedy of life is be-
cause there is nothing to draw out.
''The school critic is not in one
community but in all communities.
He does good because he stimulates
us to action. Satisfaction brings
stagnation. The critic is stirring us
to do better. But there is one thing
the critic fails to take into account
and that is that teachers and schools
know those weaknesses and try to
improve them and to improve the
system as fast as the people are
ready for the improvements.
proud OF Work Done.
"Let us rather be proud OF the
work done. We should be proud OF
the fact that the pupil who finishes
the course stands higher in the COM
munity than the man who loafs on the
street corner all his life. We should
be proud that they have stamp
which education alone can give to an
individual. This stamp is not found
on the loafer. Education leaves a
stamp which makes you proud of the
boy and girl who goes out into the
world to represent your city and COM
munity.
Professor MacMurray then spoke
of the defense of Archeus by Cicero,
and applied that lesson to our educa-
tional system. Cicero defended Ar
cheus who was his teacher. We
should defend the educational system
which makes our boys and girls a
credit to community was the lesson
he drew.
Should Not Exageerate.
1--WE should not exaggerate or give
false Impressions of the capacity OF
these people, yet they have the
stamp which training and e6ccation
gives them. The schools are turning
out young men and women OF power
who will constitute the real bulwark
of the nation. Power and welfare OF
a nation are not to be found in build.
ings or residences but rather in the
high qualities and power of the men
and women the public schools are
turning out. The schools in Europe
are noted for their courses but for
all practical purposes our schools in
America are better and We ought to
be proud that Iowa is not behind any
state in her schools.
Tonight is bright occasion fol-
the graduates. Tomorrow the old
world will be back on an everyday
basis You will have on your every
day clothes and will appear on the
street and not attract any more atten
ton than any Of the rest of us. And
as you go back to the routine of life
after the glamour and excitement
each will be confronted by his own
great problem. VIII you be content
in the glory of the past, or will you
let it stimulate you to higher prog
ress. Let US hope that you realize
this is only a commencement. That
you realize that you are now ready
to begin. You are not finishing but
just starting and that you will try
to rise to some higher plane and dc
something Of benefit to your fellow
men.
Urges Cooperation.
There are many definitions for ar
educated man or woman. The one
like best is that an educated man OIL
woman is the one who can do the
most work and do it effectively. We
must not expect too much from these
people now. Give them time and
and chance to develop. One bust
ness man said if you'll teach my boy
to think I'll be satisfied. We neeG
more faith and optimism with oul
schools. There is one secret to sue
cess, one key to unlock the door and
that is cooperation. The parent crit
icizes the teacher without knowing
him. If you don't like teacher it's
because you don't know the person
as you should. Go and visit the
school and get acquainted with the
teacher, and you will like him better