Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-03
GRADUATE CLASS
BIGGEST FOR CITY
One Hundred Twelve Young People
Presented Certificates by Presi-
dent Board of Education.
HALL is FILLED BY CITIZENS
DIR. A. f. Winshop OF Boston Holds
Training of Youth an Invest
ment, Not Expense.

to be held in the new building, were
conducted last evening in the Moline
high school auditorium for the grad
uating class of 1916. Citizens to the
number of more than 1000 gave en-
thuSiaStic applause when the IL
young people rose to their feet 1t was
an epoch in the progress of the City's
greatest educational institution, for the
class is the largest to ever complete
the course of study offered by the
school. AS they received their diplO-
mas and passed out into the world so
to speak they were ready to prove. in
the words of Dr. A. E. Winshop of Bos-
ton. speaker of the evening, that their
education had been an investment, not
an expense"
Music by the school orchestra and
glee clubs opened the program and the
invocation was given by Rev. J. L.
Conner. who prayed for divine guild
ance for the class members. The High
School AS An Asset" was the theme
of DR.. A. Z. Winshop of Boston, who
delivered the address. Wilson Hunt,
president of the board of education,
awarded diplomas.
That the high school is an invest
ment well worth while, inasmuch as
it enables the boy or girl to stand upon
his own feet and get results, and
! should thus be distinguished from a
mere expense. and that, in considering
! this problem we must look into the
future, planning for the higher intelli-
gence which is being demanded,
teaching one of the greatest OF mental
/ achievements, that of being able to
think in world units, were the prin-
cipal thoughts brought out by the east
ern educator in his address.
And in considering this problem of
: education there are two assets or
couplets which we must constantly
keep in mind. he said They are liza
bilitieS and assets, and expense and
! investment.
Greatest National Asset.
Boys and girls are our greatest ma
| tional asset he asserted. Take away
all the young people in the nation be-
tween the ages OF 20 and 40 and the
republic lies before you, paralyzed
Every successful business man
knows the difference between expense
and investment and in the world Of
preparation for life work-the educa-
tional world-anything which can add
to the intelligence of the future citi-
zenry is an investment This is what
the high school does.
When we measure a persons intel
igenCe we measure his or her ability
to obtain an intellectual grip" he said
! Every one grows in intelligence, some
while less than is years old, but science
has proved that this growth is many
times as great in those who spend this
time in school. We hear about excep-
tons. Of course there are some, that
is why we hear of them-because they
are exceptions.
And what is this intelligence? 1t is
simply the ability to attack a new
proposition with power, alertness and
ability"
Power Is the Need.
The man who takes his boy out of
school when he completes the grade
and puts him to work for a few dol
lars week, was sCathingly arraigned
by WinshOp. He is killing the very
opportunity which should come as a
birthright to every child. The very
training received in high school, even
II all the graduates should forget all
the technical knowledge they have
been taught, is worth the time ex-
pended, he said.
Intelligence is to the individual
what the power is to the engine of
your automobile" he continued. Did
l,O
in the mud say, If | only had a few
more horsepower Don't lose the op-
portunlty to get more horsepower. And
remember, you cant get intelligence
for nothing. You have got to paw the
price.
Thinking in larger units is one of
the greatest achievements of human
mind. We are all more or less local
lzed-We don't consider, we can't con-
slider the whole world in our view
points. You can always tell real
narrow person by his ability to mind
other peoples business. We need
men who are big enough to think in
world units. And broadening our
thoughts by causing US to think in
larger units is what the high school
of today is doing"
. Must Meet New Problems.
Superstition and shamS are vanish
ing IN the light Of a new and broaden
ing intelligence, said Winshop. A new
ldea OF things is slowly formulating.
Inc young people are going out to meet
problems the older generation never
. heard of. There will be Just as much
difference In thoughts and conditions
~ years from now as there is between
the world OF today and that Of 20 years
past. In illustration of this the Boston
profession cited the vast difference be-
tween the automobile just coming into
use when the boy OF 20 years ago was
graduated-the one capable of going
81 miles in seven hours the eight
cylinder machine of today And an
other 20 years will witness lust as
great change, he asserted.
Education Must Educate.
These pupils will deal with things
marvellous and wonderful. And our
school must be an investment. You
can not build a railroad station for
your grandchildren and a school for
your grandparents, as we are some
times prone to do. Our education must
educate. We must give to our young
people that kind of intelligence which
enables them to stand on their own
feet on the ground and pull in such a
manner that when they do pull some
thing happens"
PROCESSION to the platform, where
the graduates sat, was made In caps
land gowns, worn by all members of the