In closing up his fourth scholastic year as Superintendent of the Weldon Graded Schools, Prof. W.B. Edwards has more firmly established himself in the hearts of the Weldon people than ever before. By his kindly interest in each pupil, large or small, rich or poor, he has manifested to all that his desire was that all should have justice; that while discipline must be maintained, all violations of rules punished, the offenders were to be encouraged to better things and admonished to “go and sin no more.” His interest in individual pupils has been demonstrated in his willingness to personally help the weak or backward pupil and in every way save him from the embarrassment when possible. His fair dealing and interest in athletics has endeared him to all, both boys and girls alike, and through this interest and his careful management, the school has made a fine record along this line. In securing a faculty that would elevate the school and encourage the pupils to higher ambitions he deserves the thanks and appreciation of both patrons and pupils. By his interest in our civic affairs, he has shown that he was not monied interest alone, but that every elevating and forward movement met with his cordial approval. His impartial oversight of the colored schools and his efforts to provide them with better equipment, has magnified the spirit of brotherhood and service which emanates from all truly great and won the regard and esteem of the better class that part of our constituency. We are glad that while he could fill with honor a chair in some one of our State colleges or equally well accept the supervision of a much larger system of city schools, he has elected to spend at least one more year in Weldon and is rejoicing in the fact that his senor class next year will outstrip in numbers that of any previous year of the school’s history. For this we extend to him and his most excellent wife who shares his interest in the school in every way the heartfelt thanks of the entire community and trust that his days may be long with us.
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A Successful Year. . . Closing Exercises of the Weldon Public Schools
After a season of hospitable entertainment to the faculty and upper grades of the Weldon High School, the closing exercises of a most successful year were held on Friday evening last when the members of the Senior Class received diplomas and other prizes were awarded. There were 10 members of this class, five boys and five girls, the largest class to graduate in the history of the school. In the class “Honors were about easy” as, while Frank Grainger Pierce won the valedictory, the highest honor in the school, Margaret Hudson gave the salutatory and Louise Hayward besides making an admirable address of welcome as president of the class, won the loving cup given by Mrs. W.M. Cohen through the Book Club in an essay which she read on “The Influence of Education on Civilization. Charles Vincent was happy in his prophetic vision of the future of the class and while giving a review of its history Miss Louise Pierce also made some predictions as to its career. Miss Sadie Silvester made an interesting disposition of the “goods and chattels” of the class, and Bessie Jones gave the class poem. Mrs. W.M. Cohen in a pleasing manner awarded the honor of having her name inscribed on the cup to Miss Hayward, and Dr. W.G. Suiter presented the music prize to Miss Helen Rowell and rewards for improvement to Virginia Pope 8th, Annie Joyner 9th, Lucile Allen 10th, and Louise Pierce 11th grades. He also presented to Miss Elsie May Crew a beautiful silver medallion for being the best all-round pupil for the entire school and her class (the junior) a beautiful banner for general improvement. These were given by the American Legion.
Bernice Dixon won the prize in the Palmer Method of Writing, Lillie Boseman for improvement in Latin, and Walter Lee Scott was awarded special mention and a fountain pen for good spelling. In the music memory contest given by Miss Annie Wear Smith, the following girls were given prizes: Ellice Bounds, Lucile Allen, Annie Joyner, Elizabeth Bounds, Eugenia Hudson, and Helen Rowell.
Prof. W.B.B. Edwards, who has manifested such interest in the school, gave a most appropriate and interesting address to the graduating class, commending them in many ways and urging them on to the higher ideals of work and service. He also stated there were more honorary promotions than ever before in the school, Lillian Piercy Williams 4th grade making the highest average and Ola Belle Whitehead giving her a close second this being 98 7/10 and 98 5/10 respectively. In reading the promotions Prof. Edwards stated that Colie Bob Clark, son of Mr. Colie Clark, who has been an invalid for the whole year and unable to attend school, had been tutored by a private teacher who has given him a clean sheet in examination and mental progress and is promoted from the 5th to the 6th grade should he be able to attend next session.
In presenting the diplomas Hon. W.E. Daniel took occasion to thank the large audience present for the manifest interest in the school in the passage of the $75,000 bond issue for the erection of new and improvement of old school buildings for both white and colored, and expressed the hope that the commencement exercises for 1923 would be held in a new and larger auditorium. This was greeted with applause which shows how the Weldon people stand on the subject of education.
From the front page of The Roanoke News, Weldon, N.C., Thursday, June 8, 1922
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