The state herald., 1920-05-28


of the first ideals to be worked out
after the formation Of government
and we feel, that if rightly conduct
ed. is one of the bulwarks of Ameri-
can civilization and a protection
against visionary ideas of European
civilization which tend to destroy.
We have just been through anoth-
er commencement season and IN
Phillips County twenty seven young
men and women have been given ere
dentials showing they have compile
ted one step in the system of educa-
tion. The event was celebrated by
exercises thought to be i'll keeping
with the idea it symbolizes, and in
thinking the matter over, some OF
us on the outside are constrained to
ask what is the idea and purpose of
commencement week? Is it primar-
lily for the teachers, the parents, or
is it at least in part that those who
have successfully completed the
course to this point may, by approp-
riate exercises and ceremonies cele-
brate the occasion and gain more in
spiration for further endeavor? |
ask the questions because upon the
answer depends somewhat the an
swer to this article. Let me say at
the outset, the writer is heartily in
sympathy with the principle that
every teacher employed in the Pub
lie School or In college receive n
reasonable and Just wage, and there
is no intention of saying one word
against the payment Of proper sal
aries. Let me also say, do not
expect all will agree with the posi-
ton taken in this article The
teacher who reads may have differ
ent ideas and the writer may be
called antiquated because of the
ideas set forth. With all those who
differ, have no quarrel.
1t has not been many years since
the school commencement, as We
know it, in the School System as
sumed an altogether different as
pect. Formerly We had no Eighth
Grade commencement exercises.
People attached no special signifi-
cance to the fact that pupils had
spent time enough in school to learn
a little of the rudiments of the three
RS; the reaching of that point was
not even considered Il milestone in
an educational career Blu. now We
are told occasionally by people WHO
have not had the advantage Of eth
er high school or college education
and perhaps not even completed the
Eighth grade, that the pupils should
look to them for example and they
say, in substance, I'VE never went
to High School or college and see
what We have made of ourselves.
1t is not necessary for any of you
to take high school or college
course to make a success such os
We have made" The only answer
to such statements and such posi-
tion is, size up the man or woman
who makes them and measure him
or her by any standard of success
fuf life you chose in their chosen
calling, or otherwise and see the re-
suit, The comparison will suggest
the answer.
We not only thought il unneces-
sary to call special attention to the
fact that pupils had finished the
eighth grade but no ceremonies of
an Eighth Grade commencement
were INDUCED in and the pupils were
not given any idea that they had
reached point where they might
call their education finished. The
ceremonies of the High School Com
mencement Week were radically diff
ferent We will not say better. but
leave the reader to judge. The lux
ury of the Commencement speaker
was left TO the college and higher
institutions of learning, The grad
yates of the High School were treat
ed more like children in their teens
aud gave orntions of their own pro-
duetion, crude, you will say, per
haps, but nevertheless something
in which. they nt least, had few
idens of their own and II the orntion
were written entirely by someone
else, the high schol pupil gave 10 II
the personal touch by committing
and delivering before the public.
Someone muy toll you the clpss cN-
crciscs takes the place Of this but,
do they
One departure from these cerc-
monies was the commencement speak
er, and whyl In order that the pu-
pill might not have the burden OF
writing, committing and delivering an