New Britain herald., 1921-06-23
Exercises Held at Congregational
 Church Today '~.
ADDRESS BY L. s. MILLS
Ladies' Aid Festival Success-Parish Picnic Saturday to Lake Com Dounce-Zionists to Hold Meeting Other Brief Items of Interest.

pupils of the PlainVllle Grammar school at the Congregational church today surpassed any program which had been presented in previous years. The church was filled to capacity. and an orchestra furnished music during the rendition of songs by the class. Rev. Robert II. Burton gave the invocation, followed by an ad- dress by president of the class, Ed ward Hanson. Lois Freeman gave the valedictory address.
 IL. $. Mills, acting school visitor, presented the graduates with the di- plomas. Mr. Mills save an interest ing address relating co schools. The address is as follows:
 This is no time for extravaganza in school expenditures. Appropria- tions should be carefully examined and all unnecessary items eliminated. At this time we should apply the best business principles to the conduct ot all public affairs.
 "There can, however, be no re- trenchment in support of public edu- cation Money wisely expended for this purpose is an investment in citl- zenship and an insurance against
 
 those which exist in countries where people are illiterate and ignorant. Our free public schools are an integral part of our free government and are essential to it's life and prosperity
 The only secure foundation foI gcod government is an enAghtened and intelligent body of voters. A gov ernment of the people and by the peo- pie can be no better and no stronger than the body of citizens of which il s composed This fact was recog- nized by the far seeing statesmen who founded this nation and by those who made the foundation of the govern ment of Connecticut. William Penn declared that the only way to pre- serve free government was by educa- ton of all its citizens. He said spare TO cost for by such parsimony all that $ saved is lost
 Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Lincoln and Roosevelt taught that education of all the people furnishes the greatest safe guard for free insti- tutions.
 "The greatest need of our country, and state, and town, is competent well-prepared teachers to train the future citizens. We must let depart and state, and town, is competent and unprepared teachers. The school of tomorrow must be taught only by the. best of teachers and the profes- sion of teaching must be made so in- v.ting that it will attract and hold the best.
 The reduction of the salaries of teachers or any failure to properly appreciate the importance of educa- ton will turn from teaching those young men and women who are best qualified by nature to be secured for his most important field of public service.
 To a certain extent it is true that the salaries of teachers depend on the supply and demand.
 It has been found also to De Fundamentally true that when the salaries of teachers are lower than the salaries in other positions the quality of teachers entering the work is also low.
 The teacher who is low in natural and lacking in training is not an economically cheap money sav- ing proposition for any school at any salary no matter how small.s
 We may and should reduce appro- priations where ever such reduction can be made with safety. But if we are to maintain those ideals and which are nearest the hearts of the American people there can be no backward step in the development of a strong, intelligent, patriotic citizenry upon which most depends the preservation of the things for which we have made such sacri- fees in blood and treasure. The hope of America and Connecticut $ in free public schools.
 To secure good teachers, to elevate their standards, to promote the ef- hciency of our schools which are the greatest Americanization forces we have, should be the purpose of every parent and citizen of our town and state"
 The church interior was tasteful ly decorated with the class colors, yellow and red, daises and roses being used for the color scheme. The class motto is Ever Onward morning for short time and close for the annual summer vacation, opening up again in the fall.
 Trial Held Last Night.
 Justice Edward P. Prior discharged Thomas Dalton of Mountain View, last night at the Plainville court when he was arra aigned charge of breach of the peace and removal of the boundary line or land. Edward Popel1i, neighbor of Dalton, brought the charges following an argument over some land adjoining the two houses. Grard Juror William Foran acted as prosecutor. Judge George w. Klett of New Britain appeared for tn. defendant