The daily progressive-miner. [volume] (Ketchikan, Alaska) 1915-1919, 1918-05-27
PROF. BEATTiE SPEAKS
FROM EXPERIENCE
AND OBSERVATION


Al the request OF several residents.
Frof, ". c. Beattie's address delivered
Ut the graduation exercises held last
friday evening. is herewith reproduc-
ed that those who failed 70 attend may
read what the Professor said in re-
sar 10 the eucation o. our chilren.
II he address in fu!l follows
vigor in Eueation
Il was with some trepiayion that /
accepted the invitation 10 address You
soHigh, since ny appearance As q pub,
lie speaker have been few aud far
between; but that feeling was over
come by the realization thar 10 Join
with you in this splendid recognition
e class that has striyen steadily
and successfully I'D :he ladder OF
public school AMI high school IS priv
l9ss Il IN return for the honor thus
accorded me an abe 70 contribute
anything that shall increase the IL
;erest o. any O. you III the welfare OF
Ne children and schools Of your com
u1unity ana O. our nation. shall ba
glad that / oyereama N sears and
accepted the invitation O. Pro-. Knox.
Webster tells US that vigor IS active
strength OF body CT mind; it IS capac-
~ for eXertioa. physical. intellectual
or moral; il 5 effective energy or
power: strength; potency.
Ne matter which Of these definitions
We choose 70 apply We viii. am sure.
agree thar the present day demands
;aan ever before vigor II education.
md what s education: Various def
;nilions have been given by men Of
great intellectual capacity and attain
Den5s. but for our purpose let us
consult Webster again. Education IS
the acquisition O knowledge. skill. or
discipline Of character; i IS the total
i;5y o. qualities acquired through In
l.y.iual instruction and social train
nag which further The happiness. eff
c.ency, ard capacity Tor social service
q ne educated.
Education, then, applies 10 every
ACTIVITY that brings growth mentally.
morally or physically. Bu. lez u con
me our thought Tor the present 10
.ha, part Of education that comes
through the system Of our public
grade and high schools.
FOR a hundred years and more. the
public school has existed in some parts
o. cur nation but il Is scarcely a half
century since the system was gener-
al.y adopted throughout the states.
Originally. as you know. IN most com
n.anities The public school was merely
place where Young people Of the
n4lghboraood went 10 rule OF be ruled
10 measure strength with the school
master and, if yanQuished By his birch
stick, 10 settle down 10 the enforced
acquisition OF the three RS and the
old time spelling book.
The methods and means OF imparr-
-ng knowledge 10 rA- young o. our
and have undergone various changes
WIN the passing o. Tine. Our whole
educational organization mas gradu-
aAy intensified and expanded until
Tie Harvard o. century and more
ego Is Dut tie high school o. today.
II the days Of long ago The idea Of
education was 10 train OILY the mind,
OF. rather. the intellect; 10 fill the
pupils head with all the formulas and
rules possible TO cram IN and, even in
the common school, 70 sift through
,Aese the dus- o. dead languages.
During later years progressive men
=ad women began % realize how few
ere ne boys and girls who we're able
Q survive the common school course,
and began . evolve ways 10 add 10
is practical l.ity and attractiYeness:
Even ii cur present day when our
school buildings and equipment have
eecome greatly improved. when the
5i-ch .od mas become largely obsolete,
waen cur teachers enter into the very
Tres Of the pupils AMI the community,
and many other elements are contrib
uting 10 the efficiency and attractive
ness OF the schools, statistics show
Us thai OF every 1oo pupils that enter
INTO the primary grade 10 drop out by
the end Of the fifth year, 10 more by
ne end OF the sixth year and, before
the close Of the eighth year = have
allen By thu wayside: leaving but
53es q the original number 10 receive
certificates OF comDierlon Of the com
Aca sc4ool course. Andlsis, IN spite
o the Tact that egesy state N the Tn.
ion has adopted compulsory school
attendance law. u can say this now
as Mississippi the last state TO act in
mis- matter recently passed such a
lawj
a large number Of those finishing
The eighth grade CO nor enter high
school ana when re follow 10 Inc
completion OF the high school course
We find that less taan ~ OF the orig
nal number entering the primary are
mere. The two young .adies gradu-
ating tonight represent 80 pupils who
entered me arsi grade What mas be-