The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-06-09
'112 STUDENTS0
NORMAL SCHOOL
GIVEN DIPLOMAS
Former State Superintendent
of Schools Makes Pre-
sentations.
CHICAGO MAN SPEAKS
.Dr. William B. Owen Traces
Progress of Education
in His Address.
CHICAGO MAN SPEAKS

One hundred and twelve stu
dents of the Fairmont State Nor
NAL School were awarded diplo-
mas by Thomas G. Miller. former
state superintenden ent of schools, at
the commencement exercises
which were held in the school
auditorium at 10 o'clock this
morning. DR.. William B. Owen,
president of the Normal College,
Chicago, ILL.,, delivered the com
mepcement address.
The week of commencement
celebration opened with the bae-
caluareatc sermon on Sunday
morning, by the Rev. r, T. Webb,
former pastor of the local Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, South, and
now president of the Morris-Har-
vey College in Barboursville, and
throughout the week there have
been many festivities.
Except for a few ferns and
palms on the platform the audi
torium was bare of decorations
this morning. Promptly at 10
o'clock Miss Katherine Beltz-
hoover, school instructor in instru-
mental music, played the process
ional and the graduating classes
filed into the auditorium, the
young women in simple white
frocks and the men in conven-
tional black, and took their seats
among the audience.
Seated upon the platform were
DR. Owen, Mr.. Miller, the Rev.
, Charles Baird Mitchell and Joseph
Roster president of the school,
| The inv ocation was given blythe
Mr.. Mitchell, after which
1.-THE boys: and 3fgifl stS:gf feegcI Inbs sang
!aSister5 Month y ohnsto one-sF Fol-
lowing the song DR. owen gave.
his address: A pretty piano duo
by Lack, was played
/ BY the Misses Daisy Cross and An
ma Bogdonovich.
! When the time came to present
| the diplomas, Miss Beltzhoover
played a piano selection, and the
students taking the standard nor
/; NAL course, led by J: F. ShreVe,
! their class advisor, took their
places on the platform. In the alb
. sence of George s. Laidly, member
/ of the State sBoatd Of Education,
/ the diplomas were presented to the
| students by Mr.. Miller. In present
| ing the diplomas Mr.. Miller said
! that lust forty-nine years ago he
! received his normal school diploma
4 in the building which is now onwed
and occupied by The West Virgin
| ian.
After this group had received
/! their diplomas, the normal short
course students, led by E. S. Lively
! their class advisor, took their
/! places on the platform and were
| presented with their diplomas, the
Z; academic students led by their
| class advisor, Miss Laura Lewis, be
ing the last to receive their diplo-
mas. af
Owen introduced
Following the song by the glee
clubs, President Joseph Roster IN
| troduced DR.. William B. Owen, the
/ speaker of the morning, whom he
designed as the speaker of the
hour in educational circles.
/ DR.. Owens opened his address by
| speaking of the youth Of America,
! and the responsibilities which It
will have to shoulder. When Amer
/ lea was established" DR.. owen
1 SAID, the pTOD4eIuSa "SISy SoAiS'SAAi AiS y
/ with existence. Now, Anserlca IS
1 concerned with the education of life
and elstence. There is.;a termendi
Gus respect for the people who Will
help to develop educational Amer1- ri
ca. There are great problems in In
this fundamental project, the bus.
mess OF education in America, and al1tt
the people must learn to overcome rtle
them
Reviews Changes
DR.. owens then reviewed the he
public attitude taken towards edu-.
lcation in the past.i.'When America
was young he said, school teach
ing was considered menial. Public
/ schools were put ON a basis with
talmshouses and insane asylums,
for their purpose was to educate
the chiIdrenSof the poor. Raw Amer
lea made riches and not culture, I'M
, pressive."3&Dr. Owen then gave an an
account OF the public spirit follow.
CONTINUED on Page Four) 34as.
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