The Dickinson press., 1916-06-10
GRADUATES 1916
ARE TWENTY-FIVE
FINE ADDRESSES
CONTINUED from page y

lies in the future as we'll as to do
what lies Immediately at hand"
Life contains many possibilities and
especially in the present day. How
often we hear the saying "Had I
only lived in Revolutionary days or
even so years ago." Even then the
volcanoes, ocean waves, winds, water
falls, lightning and thunder were call
ing necessarily for ages. The tea
kettle lid clattered away for centur-
les before it's appeal was finally
heard.
We must make use of our eyes and
ears to see and hear all our oppor-
tunities today. There is a vast field
in literature. Mr.. Morrison believes
the great book of the age is yet to
be written. If some one in the class
of 1916 is of a literary mind, why
not he. Somebody will write it. All
the railroads have not yet been laid;
all the empires not yet founded.
education and science. Listen to the
call of the heart. Take up a wal for
humanity to annihilate poverty, dis
ease and crime. Catch a vision for
it is the man with a vision who &C
,complishes things.
We have as good people right here
as anywhere in the world. These
things must all be done. Somebody
will do them, why not 1916?
Following a pretty duet by Misses
Ruth Butler and Lorene Evans, Supt.
P. S. Berg presented the graduates
their diplomas in place of J. F.
Brodie, president of the school board,
who was unable to be present.
MI. Berg said that sometimes the
patrons and tax payers of the school
district conceived a wrong notion of
their school affairs and had no direct
means of verifying the school situa-
ton, and as this was a fine oppor-
tunity to explain a few things he
would take the occasion to do so.
He spoke about the fine enrolment
in each of the grade schools and also
in the high school, the total number
ing about 76O. The past year the
attendance has been higher than ever
before, which in the face of the hard
winter, is gratifying to the teachers.
Of curse the ideal has not yet been
attained. The average attendance
was about So per cent, the first grade
leading with SO per cent. The high
school has a record of 81 per cent.
The teachers realize that this record
meant a great deal of sacrifice On the
part of parents to keep their children
in school and they are to be con-
graduated.
It is no easy matter to select teach
ers for our public schools when from
80 to 80 applications must be consid-
cred for every position. But we get
the best with the money available
and if at any time a choice is not
entirely satisfactory it is because Of
an error in judgment, since there
really is not much to form an opinion
on or because no better teacher was
to be had. The aim is to secure the
most capable regardless of religion or
politics. The first duty is not to the
individual, family church or party
but to the boys and girls.
The standard Of the work done in
our schools is way above the aver
age. Tests in various subjects which,
were used as a measure of efficiency,
showed the pupils Of Dickinson from
the 18th to the 9th grades average a
grade above the standard, the 9Th
grade doing 9TH grade work, the 7th
grade 9Th grade work, etc.
Of course there still are problems
in high school education to be solved
but as long as the rae is no better,
the results are pretty good: Voca-
final subjects are taught, including
cooking, sewing and manual training.
The practical education is what our
young people need. Adversely is
what makes character. The finest
gold comes out of the hottest fire
and the most brilliant diamonds are
the result of the most vigorous pol.
ishing. H.
English, of course, is the o r
around which all other subjects cent
er. Four years Of this branch is CIV
en-, three being necessary for gradu-
alton. Closely allied m the Ian
guages, Latin and German. MI:
Berg would not advise any student
to take up either unless he pursues
the study for at least two years.
No-