The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-01
Largest Class In History Giuen Dipl

litical opinions, or religious denomi-
nations. and they are here to gain
the best things in the world for the
best set of boys and girls in the
world"
At this point. the Ohio educator
depressed to point out the value of
the various mechanical, agricultural
and industrial exhibits which could
be made as eXemplifying the re-
sources of Birmingham. and then de-
clared that the exhibit of boys and
girls on the stage who had taken adj
vantage of the educational opportu
mites offered them far surpassed
the value of any material exhibits
which could be made, regardless of
their monetary value.
You boys and girls have been en-
abled to gain your educations only
through the sacrifices which have
been made by your fathers and
mothers, and it is your duty in re-
turn to consecrate your lives tC the
service of making the world better
place in which to live" DIR. Corson
Numbered to his student audience.
biggest Institution In World
Continuing. it was pointed out that
the American public schools I'M
bodying as they did the principle of
free educational opportunities to the
masses as we'll as the more well-to do
classes was the biggest Institution
in the world At this point, DR.. Cor
son quoted Bishop Vincent of the
Methodist church, who said Thank
God for the free American public
school," and declared that the public
school was the one institution in the
United States which was making a
sincere attempt to make valid that
statement in the preamble of the
constitution that "All men are
created equal"
THE purpose of free education is
to make all opportunities available
the child of the rich,' said the
speaker.
Indulging IN discussion of the fl
nancial phases involved in the insG-
tuition of free schools, DIR. Corson
said that the American people were
not supporting education to as great
an extent as they should. He said
that the cities of the United States
were growing by leaps and bounds.
and that the educational facilities af-
forded the youth of the land were
not keeping pace with the great
strides made in material prosperity.
Exemplifying his point the speaker
compared sums spent annually on
such luxuries as chewing gum, to-
bacco ana gasoline with amounts
spent on the betterment of educa-
tional facilities of the land.
There are TWO elements involved
in the value of property which are
not included on the tax ticket These
are intelligence. and morality" DIR.
Corson said. Take your intelligence
and morality out of a city, and your
biggest business block wouldn't be
worth cent, and it is the educational
institutions of the community which
promote and develop intelligence and
morality.
In closing, the eminent educator
advised his student audience to con-
tinue their educations by going to
price of college education in the
work which would be required to
successfully complete college
course, and if not to stay away and
let someone else who was willing to
pay this price to use the educational
facilities offered by the colleges and
universities of the country.
The meeting was presided over by
Erskine Ramsay. president of the
board of education. AT the conclu-
sion of DIR. Corson's address, DR.. c.
b. Glenn, superintendent of educa-
ton, officiated at the presentation of
the diplomas. The names of the
graduates We're published in last
Sundays Age-Herald. Invocation
was given by DIR. r. \. Simpson, and
benediction asked by DR.. Frank Nc
Donald. Introduction of the principal
speaker of the evening was made by
DIR. c. A. Brown, assistant superin-
tendent of education. Music was
given by the combined orchestras of
and a solo was sung by Miss Sarah
ol