Commencement for Negro Schools to be Held April 2, 1926

Lieut. L.A. Oxley to Address Negroes April 2

The last group commencement of the negro schools of Johnston County will be held in Princeton on Friday, April 2. It will be held at the school building and prominent speakers will be present. The outstanding address will be made by Lieut. Laurence A. Oxley of Raleigh, state director of welfare work among negroes, at 12:30 o’clock. W.S. King, principal of the Morehead City graded schools, will also make an address. The program for the day is as follows:

9:30—Grand Parade: School “Boost Song”. Each school grouped around its banner.

10—Opening Song, America.

Invocation—Rev. J.W. Brown, pastor of A.M.E. Church, Princeton.

Chorus—“Lift Every Voice and Sing,” (Negro National Anthem).

Word Recognition Contest—Grades, Primer and First Reader, One contestant from each school.

Spelling Contest (written privately)—3, 4, 5, and 6 grades, winning contestants to appear in the auditorium.

Story Telling contest—First and second grades. One contestant from each school.

Arithmetic Contest—4, 5, 6 grades. One grade selection from each school.

Commencement Address—W.S. King, principal of Morehead City Graded School.

Address by Lieutenant Laurence A. Oxley, state director of welfare work among negroes.

Speaking Contest—One contestant from each school.

Oral Language Contest—One contestant from each school. Selected from grades 4, 5 and 6.

Exhibits examined.

Remarks by Mr. M.P. Young and others.

Report of the Judges, Presentation of prizes.

Dinner at 2:45 p.m.

Note—All perfect attendance certificates to be given at the County Commencement on April 9, 1926.

Schools and Teachers in Group

Princeton—Mrs. Florence Whitley, Misses M. Jeffrys, M. Robinson, L. Hamilton.

Kenly—Mr. J.H. Skinner, Mrs. M.L. Feffrys, Miss Adamson.

Southern Grove—Mrs. Joyce McNeeley.

Pine Level—Mrs. Rosa B. Vinson, Miss C.B. Whitaker.

Micro—Misses Beatrice Wolfe and Frances E. Grissom.

Cedar Grove—Miss Lunada Clarke.

From the front page of The Smithfield Herald, Tuesday, March 30, 1926

Did you notice that sixth grade was the final grade in Johnston County's Negro schools?

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073982/1926-03-30/ed-1/seq-1/