Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1921-06-09
RURAL STUDENTS
GET DIPLOMAS
FIRST ANNUAL EXERCISES
HELD FRIDAY AT
HIGH SCHOOL

/ Last Friday the first annual COM
mencement exercises for eighth grade
county school graduates were held in
the high school auditorium, in the
forenoon. This was an innovation in
the years program of the county
schools but the success of the event
assured its adoption as a permanent
annual feature. There were about 900
people in the audience at the high
school, composed of the pupils and
their teachers, relatives and friends,
all of whom had been cordially invited
| for the occasion. The interest aroused
by the commencement was attested by
the large gathering and the fact that
over twO-thirdS of all the children of
the county receiving diplomas were
| present to receive them from the hand
of j. E. Giessel county superinten-
dent.
Song and Program
The program began with songs and
exercises by the pupils of the model
school department of the Marathon
County Training school, the children
being directed by Miss Margaret Bent
/ ley and Miss Agnes Monsen under the
/
of the Training school faculty. A SER
les. of folk dances and dumb bell
| drill were carried out with exceeding
applause, as did also series of illus
trated spring songs
/ A. L. Kreutzer's talk was interesting
and inspirational and held the audi
| ence closely. He complimented the
| HOW
| past years, and the relatives and
| friends for their kindly spirit in COM
ing to see the young folks receive
| their reward for their earnest efforts
4 in the schools. His plea was for all
the graduates to make the most of
| their opportunity to keep on with their
education, to continue with high
school at least and as many as pos
sible to attend the colleges and re-
ceive the higher training that will fit
them to receive the best gifts of life,
a privilege that is open to all who
have an earnest desire for culture and
development.
He cited cases of some of the great
est minds of our country who received
their initial training in the country
schools, and to whom, as to these,
|
poverty. Any persons future is what
he or she makes it by hard work and
adherence to the higher ideals of life.
The blessings of equality upon which
the institutions of our country are
based bring within the reach of all
those who honestly desire it, the rea-
lizatiOn of those ideals.
To the fathers and mothers present
| haI ,n1,t re- o.,sk
to teachers. Upon them rests the re-
sponsibility of laying the proper foun-
dation of the future, the development
of the schools so that this future has
the benefit of the best that culture and
training can give. Surround the chill
dren with wholesome atmosphere,
give them good books to read and
make it possible for them to attend
properly prepared to make use of the
opportunities they may meet
S. B. Tobey. city superintendent of
schools, spoke on Educational Oppor-
tunities." He traced the development
of civilization from prehistoric times
to the present and showed how educa-
ton was responsible for the advance
ment of the race, telling of the mar
i
| ing that there was no limit to ad-
vancement if pursued with courage
and determination. His appeal was to
the graduates to utilize every oppor-
tunity, to persist in earnest efforts to
go forward.
Home Work
Miss Mary A. Brady, county home
demonstration, urged the continuance
of school work and presented strong
arguments for the advantages of home
work. She urged the graduates to
/ stick to the farm home. to beautify
the farm, developing the vision of the
| good things presented there She
| said it was her hope that many would
continue their education through high
school and beyond if possible.
d. A. Swartz, principal of the Mara
thon County Training school, gave an
address on 'Some of the Worthwhile
/ Things" Work, he said, and service
are the two big things of which all
must realize the value. Character and
will power depend on these and to rea-
lie the ideals of youth both are me-
cessary. He urged further study and
| further growth to make the home and
the community better and more ideal
/ Following the addresses three songs
were given by the pupils of the Train
ing school under the direction of Miss
Waldron, and the diplomas were pre-
sented by J. e. Giessel.
At noon a basket lunch was served
at Marathon park and conservative
estimate places the number who at
tended at about $50. A half hour Of
singing followed the lunch and the
rest Of the afternoon was spent in
competitive games under the direction
of Miss Phoebe Wilson, Miss Ream
Wakelin Mcneil, W. F. Pfaff and F. B.
| Coon, the entire party returning to
the city about four o'clock.