The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-06-19
CLASS LAUNCHED.
CONTINUED from Page ~

final examinations with the others, but
is taking them this week.
The back of the stage last night
was bank of mountain pinks extend
ing to the wings on both sides and
bearing the numerals, 1920, in yellow,
the class color.
After the curtain rose the high school
glee club and orchestra, directed by
Earl A. Braman, musical director in
the schools, rendered A Shepherd Maid
Has Passed, and She Comes, She Comes
Rejoice, from Joan of Are, by Gaul
The marshals, Leighton II. Moves and
Henry G.. Lawton, escorted the faculty
to seats on the stage and then escorted
the class down the aisles to the stage,
walks being constructed over the or
chestra pit and banked with ferns. As
this was in progress the orchestra
rendered the overture, Parade of the
Dolls, by Gruenwald,
Rev. A. v Woodwork offered the
in, ocation, following which Principal
Warren presented DR.. Crothers as an
eminent preacher, scholar and author,
referring to his former pastorate here
and to the wide circle of readers of
his essays in the Atlantic Monthly and
other magazines
After extending fluctuations to the
class because of its good fortune in
having Brattleboro for a home, DIR
Crothers said he wished to speak or
the present condition of education il
this country and what we as lovers
of the public schools of America owe
to the schools and particularly to the
teachers There have been times wher
the great danger to the public schools
has been Indifference, but that is MOI
true of the present; everybody is in
terested, which is of tremendous i'm
portance in bringing things to pass.
All agree that the purpose of educa
tion is to fit persons for public serv
ice, service to the community. Thi
class of 1920, and others everywhere
which are graduating this year, ha
enlarged this idea of public service a
never before because of the participa
tion of women in such service in tn
times just past. Whatever we ma
think of the new responsibilities 70
women it is fact that every man an
every woman is equally responsible
for the conduct of public affairs. Won
en- have been shielded from responsible
Ivy III NtdiH Hdott bhN litINVlpl vi tiiV
will not be so shielded.
Education has something to do wit
politics, business and social life, an
the national and international work {
the world The future of the worl
is being determined by the schools, an
the teachers are the most importai
of the world IS public officials. TT
danger to the whole system of publ
education is that everyone has son
idea of his own as to what should
done and done at once and he looks
the schools to teach that thing, to Sc
tie the immediate questions of the hou
This throws the public schools in
partisan politics, and that by a patr
otic, earnest and honest people 1t
true that education has to do wi
these questions, but the schools are pr
pairing citizens to settle future que
tions while the questions of the pre-
ent must be settled by the adult peor
of the country.
There will be questions to be settl
in 1880 and 1885 and 1910, and it
important that they be settled rigI
but no one is now wise enough to knt
what they will be. We know that VIII
those questions come the country W
be safe only if the millions of men q
women are sound of heart, clear
Judgment and quick of perception, al
know the difference between
former and demagogue
The schools are not for propagant
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