The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-05-30
PRESIDENT MURPHREE'S
COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

the apparent necessity Tor some one /
to remark upon the unfortunate
editorial reference in Saturdays Star |
to the commencement address of /
President Murphree.
1t is said that it has caused "con- |
siderable comment" If this is the |
case it is hopeful sign for Ocala |
for it was unquestionably one of the
wisest and most patriotic addresses
ever heard here. It was as if one
were getting the matter from the
fountain head and have not heard
one single adverse remark with refer
ence to it.
1t was carefully prepared for dig
nified occasion and the class, the
school, the city and the county were
honored in having him as its guest
and his great address for food. 1t
was not prepared for the purpose
of entertaining the frivolous, not
appalling to the sense of excitability
but for the purpose of presenting
sane and sensible view of the neces
stiles of American life to a sensible
people.
In his contention that the best
and most patriotic action that boy
who is in school and doing well and
being well taught and going ahead
can take, is to continue in school until
he gets all there is for him, unless he
is called by his government. he is
squarely in line with the best thought
from the president down.
At the meeting of the state educa-
tional association at Daytona those
who were there will well remember
the advice given by DR.. P. P. Clax-
ton, the National Commissioner of
Education, who is probably as close
personally and politically to President
Wilson as any man in the country,
that the most patriotic thing a
teacher could do was to remain teach
ing and the very best thing good
able and intelligent boy could do
was to remain in high school or col
llege until he either finished or was
called by his country.
/ On May 21st, the very next day
after President Murphree spoke to us
Secretary of the Navy Daniels in de.
llivering the commencement address
at Rutgers College at New Bruins
wick, N. j., used this language: "The
President of the United States, the
foremost statesman in the world, and
the congress have called men to the
colors from q to 81 years of age
Young men in college from Is to q
/ SHOULD STAY IN COLLEGE until
, they reach the later age. All the
training they receive, mental and mil
itary, fits them for larger service
Could anything be more emphatic
right from the first authority?
In a bulletin from the bureau OF
education at Washington sent t.
principals and superintendent under
date of April 20 this language is
, used: "Boys and girls should bt
! urged AS A PATRIOTIC DUTY, tt
; remain in school to the completion
, of the high school course. and in In
, creasing numbers to enter upon col
lege and university courses, espec
! lialy in technical and scientific lines
! and normal courses, to meet tn
! great need for trained men ant
women" This is official and is il
exact line with the advice | have
given our boys who were in schoo
and making good progress in thei
work. Last year when war was de
clared advised against the tendenc!
for those in graduating classes t.
! quit their work before finishing.
appreciated their impetuous and pa
triotic impulses but / also had III
feeling that there was going tC b
plenty of war left for them after the.
had finished and that they woul,
Z need all the education that they coul,
possibly get and my forecast ha
been more than fulfilled.
This position of the government
and of the directors of educationa
thought is not for the purpose o
shielding these boys from the dan
gers and hardships of war, but flo
the urgent necessity of having som
: source from which to draw materia
for officers and skilled mechanics
and scientific workmen. These yo
cannot make from ignorant or indif
lferent material and you cannot max
lit all of a sudden either.
Have you not observed the prefer
ence shown all the while in selectin
: men for officers training camps, t
young men of the best physique an
the best educational attainment?
Commissioner Claxton said at Day
tona that it was the feeling of tn
government that it was better to pre-
pare for seven years war and hav
it last but seven months than to pre-
pare for a seven months war an
: have it last for seven years.
II Many people who are not in touc
with modern educational work hay
the mistaken notion that high scho'
and college work is kind of ki
glove business suitable only for so.
" skinned men. Nothing is farthe
from the fact. If you will take tt
time to visit your high school
Ocala you will find the body of tt
students hard at work in an earne
manner at that. If you will take o.
casion to visit your state universal