The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-05-27
bACCAL AUREATE IS
DELIVERED SU NDAY
BY DIR. s. 7. PORTER
OKLAHOMA CITY PASTOR GIVES
STRONG ADDRESS BEFORE
GRADUATES.

and Young ladies', rohed In their gray
caps and gowns. marched down the long
hall to the march of Keep the Home
Fires Burning" played by Miss Anne
Thompson
The services We're simple but impress
sive. The principle musical numbers
We're an anthem, led by Miss Peterson,
and a solo by Miss Vida Booth, one Of
the alumni.
The baccaaureate address delivered
by the Rev. Dr. $. y. Porter of the First
Baptist church OF Oklahoma City, was
in part as follows:
Text: "That our sons may be as
plants grown up in their youth; that
our daughters may be as cornerstones,
polished after the similtude of pal
ace" Psalm 144:12.
Eleven years ago | visited this city
What changes have taken place in this
time, What growth, what enlargement.
The fame of Ardmore which has reached
me so frequently, / find is amply iusti-
fled by the facts Having heard many
fine reports of the excellent school sys-
TEN of the city, I am grateful for the
y Qaportunity accorded me by Superin-
'ent Richards of coming to see for
ttuysru and of bringing a message TO
the teachers, pupils and supporters oil
the educational program of this typical
thriving community.
"In the educational enterprise there
are three equally interesting groups
the teachers the pupils, the parents.
What difficult delicate task is that
of teaching. 1t is, indeed, a high and
sacred calling. In a quaint old book
the true teachers character is outlined
as follows: His eyes are lifted up to
heaven; the best of books are in his
hands: the law of truth is written upon
his lips. and the world is behind his
back; he stands as if pleading with
men. and a crown of gold hangs over
his head This picture reveals four
things The teachers vision, which
must be as broad as the universe, and
as high as tn. heavens. The teachers
equipment. which must be truth. pure
and unmiXed, and a passion for il. The
teachers two-fold attitude-that of re-
nouncing selfish gain and that of plead
ing with men, and. indeed, all teachers
have been great plcaders. And, final
~. the teachers reward, a crown which
will shine with increasing splendor as
his pupils gain in strength and service.
Teaching is an honorable calling.
The great man who occupies the first
place at the worlds peace conference,
the man who has guided our ship of
state through the most terrific storm
that ever beat on the sea of human his
tory-President Woodrow Wilson-was
school teacher, and is still II teacher
,rrft, Ia wi, ,yn1,lI ttnG41 his tilitipn
And another man, in the same class
AsNth this president teacher, is Mr.. Taft
/who, upon retiring from public life, en-
tered the school room, as did eX-Pres'
dent Cleveland and the immortal Rob
ert T.. Lee. Jesus, himself, was pre-
eminently II teacher. Not once in the
gospels is He called a preacher, and
only eleven times is it said that he
preached. while in the same gospels he
is called teacher A. times and 40 times
the verb teach is applied to him.
THE teacher then stands in a noble
succession. which challenges to the
highest aims and the purest endeaVor.
It is said that the ancient Persian mon
archs selected for the training of their
princes the four best men in their king
dom-the Wisest man. the most just
man, the most temperate man, and the
bravest man--n order that the princes
might best BE- fitted to be the kings
and rulers Surely our own youth
should not be denied equal advantages
in those who teach them, seeing that
they are greater than kings and are
rulers in day and land of democracy.
And the qualities that We're sought in
II .,s.,
accustomed to look for in each individu,
al man or woman who enters the class
room; and let it be said to the honor
of the teaching profession, that very
rarely are we disappointed. The great
est thing teacher brings to child
is not the subject matter, but the up
lift which comes from heart contact
with Il worthy personality. Since that
is true, how necessary that every teach
er should know that greatest of all
, teachers, of whom a discriminating
A,ewish nobleman said: Master, we
Know that thou art a teacher come from
Cod; for no man can do these works
that thou doest, except God be with
him. a teacher come from God! And
God with him What fine ideals for
the teacher whose great business is to
offer ideals to boys and girls and lead
them forward to selfreaization. 1t is
like the officer who won a battle by
seizing a flag, and planting it far in
advance, shouted: Bring the men up
TO the colors" SO the teacher plants
the ideal far ahead of the pupils and
then pulls them up to it. The lesson
and daily tasks are only the track over
which the teacher is to lead the pupil
to conflict and victory.
Builders of Nations.
THE true teacher is the builder of
the nation, the builder of society, the
beautifier of life. The teaching pro
fession has not come into its own among
US yet. | make the plea for fine and
fuller and more liberal recognition of
the rights of teachers. Respect for our
selves and children requires that
throughout the land. teachers have
better opportunity and an increase in
salary so that capable and aspiring
young men and women may not be de-
tered from choosing teaching as n ca
reer. Teaching is not a money-maling
business; and those who give them
selves to this high task should be ac-
corded fair pay, for enough to be re-
lieved from financial strain and embar-
srassment Where this is not done, the
hole educational program suffers, and
with it the best interests of the com
munity.