The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1922-06-22
SPLENDID GRADUATION OF 1922" CLASS
FROM SKOWHEGAN HIGH SCHOOL
Former Students Attend Alumni Banquet and
Annual Meeting New Officers Elected.

ly lettered on the outside cover with
the title, "A Real Diary of a Real
Class. Miss Ames handled the his
tory Of her class in very happy
manner in diary style. leading the
class back in memory to the day OF
its entrance as Freshmen at the high
school building up through the years
to the time of graduation She re-
counted the important events in these
four years Of class work and her frank
remarks were often times greeted with
laughter by her audience.
THE ESSAYS
Margaret Colby Vail took for the
subject OF her clever essay. Student
Government in high School. " She
explained first that student govern
ment was management of school MAJ
ters by the public themselves and that
its aim was to teach them self re-
lance and self control She con-
tinued To speak OF the advantages of
student government from both the
view point OF pupils and teachers,
and how it taught students on
small scale what the national govern
ment is like. She said: Student
government has a real value to the
country as a whole This training
| IN school prepares the student for
citizenship by teaching them to vote
| If in school they learn to vote hon
estly they are likely to continue this
in their civic life. When a pupil
sees what i'll effects the dishonest
ballot brings by electing the person
! incapable of carrying on his duties.
| he tries to prevent bribes and unfair
! voting In closing Miss Vail said
Student Government is not a Joke,
but reality; it is not a fad but a
natural principal of conduct for the
American youth who in Imagination
still hears the most inspiring voice
OF all American history say. "A Gov
ernment of the people. by the people.
and for the people ..
Another essay was de ed by He
len Clara Gates and her slbiect was
| out of the Air" She brightly
opened with. There are people living
| today, not So very old at that. who
! can remember when there were only
| fourteen or so telephones in the lar
| gcst cities. Calling central for the
| time of day was quite a diversion In
| those days, and the proud youngster
| given the honor perhaps still remem-
| bers the incident After a time the
| telephone became a fad of the we'll
to-do but IL is today a necessity OF
| our civilization Miss Gates dwelt
at length upon the radio. speaking
| also of the telegraph. the telephone.
the wireless and the airplane nav
ing made themselves vital parts of our
civilization. In speaking of the ra-
dio Miss Gates said: What a marve-
lous thing It would be if our own
Skowhegan high school. like hundreds
of others today, can be supplied. with
A receiving set that will enable not
only members OF the school. but it's
interested friends as we'll to share in
the entertainment and education
which may be ours. out of the air. We
feel very sure that the efforts and
interest OF some OF the members of
ShoWhegan high school will in the
near future see promise of fulfill
ment through the medium of a SYM
pathetic and generous public Be-
fore closing Miss Gates spoke partic-
ularly upon the future for the radio
The third essay of the evening was
by Claude Joseph Bouchard who spoke
upon Our Schools and Citizenship.
He said: The call of the times in
the United States. IN Maine. yes in
Skowhegan, is for public spirited ci-
tizens because The fight is one for de-
moeracy, within as we'll as without
Enlightened public opinion and pro-
per patriotism are essentials in
public spirited community. Pro-
per patriotism means the abandon
ment of extreme iudiyidualism and
false ideas of patriotism. such as
race hatred and national jealously.
1t means kindling of loyalty. Where
shall we find this training in citi-
zonship? We shall find it in the
schools and colleges of our nation
Mr.. Bouchard spoke of universal edu-
cation as an American Ideal and went
back to the beginning of education in
1871 He spoke OF the progress in
education since the Ciyll War. and of
the pupils being under uIvic instruc-
ton. He spoke Of the different me-
thods OF teaching American Ideals and
of the growing tendency Ia keep con-
stantly before the pupils the IDEAL of
knowledge and service as the funda-
mental OF citizenship. The end and
aim of our modern school syatem is
to make citizens that are not Just
good but good for something
THE PROPHECY
Olcna More Viles as the prophet of
the 1922 class said. Twas a dark
stormy night, when. sitting in coy
chair was gazing into the open fire
half asleep. | was dreaming OF the
day twenty Years ago when the class
OF % was about to set out upon the
highway of life, having completed
twelve happy years of school e" The
prophet then said she Wds awakened
l,nnt,,,.-..l -.