Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-18
GRAMMAR SCHOOLS
HOLD GRADUATION

The annual graduation Of the pupils
Of the Waterville grammar schools was
neld Friday evening at the City Opera
house before an audience that packed
the house. The exercises were opened
when the members of the graduating
class marched into the building and up
to seats on the stage. The assemplage
was called to order by Supt. Charles
y. Perkins, and a selection by the
high school orchestra, lead by MISS
Mildred Stockbridge. instructor in mu-
sic in the public schools, followed.
Prayer was offered by Rev. John F.
Thurston Of the Free Baptist church.
A song, The Joy of YOUTH was sung
by a chorus led by Miss Stockbridge.
Mr.. Perkins then introduced Hon.
Charles F. Johnson as the speaker OF
the evening. Mr.. Johnson spoke Of his
pleasure at seeing so many young girls
and boys in the graduating class and
expressed his regret that all Of them
perhaps would not be able to attend
the high school and complete their
course there He declared that he be-
lieved in the old fashioned graduations
where the pupils did the entertaining
and the older folks sat in the audi
ence and listened. He told Of his days
as a school teacher, and said that he
believed that it was better for the
teacher to get down on the plane with
the boys and girls rather than to try
to set himself or herself up above them.
He declared that the public schools
were the greatest democratizing force
in America today and that no teacher
was worthy Of the name who did not
treat the child Of poor parents exact
~ the same as she or he did the child
Of wealthy ones. He paid q high trib-
ute to the people of Maine and partic-
ularly Of Waterville for their great in
terest in and love of the schools and
their willingness to support them lib
orally. He spoke Of the great war into
the need Of all the patriotism and
courage Of the American people in this
struggle for the life of Democracy. He
also spoke of the Red Cross and Of the
need for the support Of the people in
this great work, and closed with an
appeal for everyone to stand behind
the government and in doing so to
stand behind the schools for on them
utDelU the success or Iallure OF the
American government.
A song. MY Native Land" was then
sung by the chorus and this was follow
ed by the presentation of diplomas, this
being done by Hon. F. E. Boothby. with
short address in which he expressed
his pleasure at being thus honored. The
exercises closed with a march, "On to
Plattsburg," by the orchestra.
The following are the graduates: Dom
aid Norris Armstrong. Emily Mae Bar
rows. Antonio Onezime Begin, Arthur
Adelard Begin, Edward Harry Belliveau
Elmer Bizier, William Blunt, Doris Bow
den. George Fred Boyd. Caroline Ava
Boyer, Marion Lucy Broderic' Ruth
Frances Blunt, Blanche Elvira Bunker,
Charles Alton Butler. John Everett But
Ter. Ethel Almont Childs. Arthur St.
Clair. Sadie Cohen, Cora Leona Collins,
Harol Joseph Collins, Jeanette Marian
Cote, Katherine Mary Coyne. Angela
Mary Delaney Joseph Alfred Delaware.
Doris Dorathy. Fern Errnina Hattie DON
ma Extreme Cecil Dutille. Marie Madeline
Dusty. Harold Sonmers Fish, Ethel May
Fisher. Ruth Frances Potter. Antoinette
Georgiana Garrant, Grace Almeda Getch-
ell, Mabel Mary Gilbert, Joseph Ernest
Giroux, Edward j. Grodno. Antoinette
Mary Groder Ernestine NJ. A. Groder,