Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-06-01
OFFERS ALL TO
YOUNG TO FORM
A PERSONALLY
Graduates Ioid mat Nltaht!' Men,
tIity. Morality and Sociality
Are Provided For.
pR. W. 4. JESSUP Is SPEAKER
rightv-Six in High School Class of
1915 Are Awarded Diplomas
at Exercises

the development Of human person
anty at puhic expense. the vitality
n The individual is safeguarded,
he mentality OF the individual is
developed. the morality OF the indi-
| vfdnal is guarded and the socially
| If the individual is fOstered. At
4 tain the highest type of human per
sonality by taking advantage of
| the best that saciety has to offer.
This was the substance of
tho theme Of Dr. Walter A
Jessup. president Of the Iowa
| state university, who addressed the
graduating class OF the Rock Island
| high school at the Augustana gym
| rsslum al the commencement eXer-
discs last evening. Eighty-siN grad
mates were presented with dlpiO-
mas,
/ Illustrating each Of the four pro-
| visions society offers IN the schools
| ior the development of personality,
Or Jessup said in part.
There has never been a time in
the history Of civilization when the
adult population has not been in
/ terested In maintaining a ceremony
/ Of some kind for the benefit of the
youth who we're about to go out in
the field of active service. All man
Kind has been supremacy interested
/ in the preparation Of the youth for
4 The activities OF the next genera
ton The ceremonies OF the Spar
/ tans Of the early period; of the
knights in the medieval period; Of
The American Indians in more re-
| cent wears. has had one common
thread running through namely,
that when the youths were ready
to 90 out into the world. certain
/ tests were administered, certain
rites and ceremonies performed,
/ and certain secrets impaired to the
youths.
"The one theme Of all of these
/ ceremonies has been the interpre-
/ tation Of certain phases of life.
| This Interpretation has varied as
| the interests have varied. The
| Spartan youth was tested in the art
| Of war. The youth in the period OF
chiyalry was tested in the seven
knightly arts The American In
I dian youth was tested for his skill
in hunting and other virtues OF In
| dian camp life.
It's Importance.
1.-THE most important thing for
the young man and woman who is
going out into life is the develop
ment Of a high type Of human per-
! sonaiity Social organization is ef-
| fected, legislation enacted, improve
ments made. not as ends ourselves,
! but in order that the human per-
! sonality my be benefited There is
| grave danger lest the beginner in
| life may become confused and lose
| sight of the fact that the impOr-
taHt thing is this self development
Many differentiatiOns have been
made as to the meaning Of the
/ word personality For our pur-
! pose the classification proposed by
/ Giddings is perhaps the most salts
factory He proposes that the idea
Of personality should he broken up
| into four phases: First, vitality;
second, mentality: third, morality,
and fourth, sociality.
Society at the present time is
! aggressive in the organization Of
its forces, in the direction of the
conservation OF human vitality.
This is evidenced in health legisla-
ltion, sanitary regulations. medical
Inspection, public Fairgrounds,
lgymnasiums. etc The individual is
mo longer allowed to assume the
lsole responsibility for his health
land vitality, but legislation is en-
Iaeted that Will force him to care for
lhis health A study Of the goth
scentury ideals reveals the fact that
Hsociety places a high estimate upon
#aealth and vitality and is willing.
apparently, to pay any price for
stbis
/ Mentality has always been close
~ associated with public education,
saut there has been a remarkable
Eehange in this particular in mod
aarn times The education Of the
HsFerage citizen Of today is. roughly,
IL times that Of the citizen Of one
#7undred years ago The number
#N students in the high schools Of
Today is, roughly, five times that of
80 years ago.
Demand OF Mentality.
Conditions in agriculture, in in
gustry, In business and in profess
Ion are such as 70 demand the
sAghest type of mentality. While
is true that the members Of this
lass have gone a long way in the
aatter Of development Of their men
- y h1vv
.Fdi not be able yet to meet the
pmpetitiOn Of life without further
Iaental development There has
Fever heen 2 time In the history Of
s tAe world when society has been so
ruling To expeni vast sums of
toney for the mental development
~ the youth Of our land as is the
case today.
The old colonial school placed
high emphasis on the moral side OF
education Courses Of study had a
-eiigioas sanction Teachers were
elected by the clergy The church
d the sc0hOl worked hand in
md A number Of states are TAX
steps al the present time. to
er renewed interest in moral
NATION Revelations Of CONNER
a. and political dishonesty lead
asD see the danger Of neglect Of !
Ne horal side n the development
= Nrsona!lty No one particular |
5isatg fioD may assume the respon-
.biiit for this. bu the Young men |
HHd wpmen in this class who ex-
heet to succeed MUST see to it that /
this phase Of their lives is properly |
developed
In a democracy it is absolutely /
I ecessary that the men and women /
Pc able Il work tOgether for the /