The Mena weekly star., 1921-05-26
EIGHTH GRADE
 GAVE PROGRAM
Forty-four Graduates Received Ceru- fieates for Completion of Grammar School Thursday Night-Pro-
 gram.

To him who is interested in educa' lion and educational progress 1t was an inspiring sight when at o'clock on Thursday night forty-four pupils marched into the Presbyterian church for the graduating exercises. In the van of this splendid bunch of young folks was Miss Louise Durham, prin- cinal of the Central school and for many years past teacher in the city schools, in that time doubtless having done more to mould and shape the lives and characters of Mena boys and girls than any other individual in the city. She was accompanied by Miss velma Holman, teacher of the Eighth grade during the past year. and bv Misses Daisie Bell and Laura Bennett, teachers in the Central school who assisted in the music Tor the occasion.
 Still another outstanding feature, one encouraging in this age when folks are going wild on dress and tog- prv was the fact that thru the in fiuenee of Miss Durham ana otner teachers, all of the girls m the class were dressed in white middies ana sJyirts-all dressed so simply that " was a difficult matter to decide which one of the band of thirty-one glrls looked the best.
 Thelma Rabb, as salutatorian of the class. briefly but forcibly and well, re- viewed the history of the class thru the grades, urging her classmates to press on that 1925 might witness the largest class ever graduated from the Mena high school, suggesting that now they were just at the beginning. in closing, she graciously thanked the teachers, patrons and members ot ssse board for the opportunities given her and her classmates, and then bade all goodbye,
 Mary Bales, always favorite with a Mena audience, did especially well in her reading: Billy Brad and the Forbidden Fruit" This followed by the vocal solo rendered by Pansy Dor sey, showed the diversity of talents possessed by the class.
 George Ewing, as valedictorian, used as his subject, America and American Ideal" presenting strongly the necessity of loyalty to home, school. city, county, state and nation that American ideals may be perpetu- ated and strengthened.
 Mark r. 0lney, secretary of the Board of Education, and as the repre- sentative of that body, delivered the class address. In plain, forcible words he brought to the class the message of the necessity of preparedness, and while not nder-estimating the knowl- eage they had obtained in the progress thru the common school, he urged them to strive higher, gain high scno8i education, then go to college, and wth such basis begin prepara- tiVA TOT he. l4e urged well-rounded educational preparation, so that when life's GutIes come on they would be prepared to do well any task that they might be called upon to perform. He admonished the members of the class that they must be ready and willing to work usggesting that the great law gers, great doctors and surgeons, the successful business men and farmers had not reached their goal by whiting on dry goods boxes, loafing on the streets or doing the many other things that are part of the devils workshop. In closing he gave them the great message of this century whien is embodied in the words: Service and Unselfishness." As he handed cut the diplomas, there was no one in the gathering but was proud CT than ever that he was citizen of a country of free schools where the child of the humblest parent had an equal chance with the child of the millionaire.
 A rousing class song with Miss Daisie Bell at the piano and Miss Laura Bennett leading the singing, closed what is great event in the lives of forty-four bright, healthy and promising young folks.
 The class roll is as follows;
 Ollie Bonner, Flora Belt, Artie Bell Cunningham, Bessie Clelland, Dorothy Daniels, Louise Davis, Gertrude Jop- lin, Jessamine Scoggin, Opal Ratliif Mary Bales, Grace Dyess. Pansy Dor sey, Agnes Gilbert, Ola Gregory, Luls Lilies, Myrtle Olson, Mardgy Putnam Bertha Peters, Ruth Randolph, Thel ma Rabb, Ethel Speedlin, VeTna Stur- gell, Elizabeth Thacker, Irene Thomp. son, Myrta Turner, Helen Wilson Jewell Foster, Mamie Stubblefield Esta Goss, Mable Hall, Hester Hinson Clarence Reed, Marion Turner, Dior Wood. Elmer Allen, Louis Averitt George Ewing, Harry Hamilton, Sid ney Graham, Charlie Lyons, Fish Nor ris, Lester Oliver, Ebert Smith, H. |