FOREWORD

The Commencement Program was prepared at the suggestion of several county superintendents of public instruction and rural school supervisors. Reduced to a sentence, this was what they said: "School commencements are in a rut; can not the Extension Division do something to make them different, really interesting and practical, and to broaden their scope?"

We asked Professor H. D. Meyer of the University faculty, knowing he had already written several practical bulletins which are being widely used in the State and Nation, to prepare such a bulletin. In doing this the author made use of the project method in one of his sociology classes at the University by allowing the members of the class to do some of the research work and collection of material. During the course of the research it was found that as far as could be determined no publication on this subject, dealing so directly with the making of the program, has ever been published in the United States.

I believe that those who study this bulletin will agree with me that The Commencement Program should be of great usefulness to every school which receives a copy. It is hoped that county superintendents of public instruction and rural school supervisors will see to it that each school in their county is supplied with at least one copy.

CHESTER D. SNELL, Director,
University Extension Division.

AIDS FOR SCHOOL COMMENCEMENTS

COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER

LOAN OF MATERIAL FOR PREPARING ORATIONS

FIELD AGENT TO DIRECT A HOME-TALENT PLAY

LOAN OF HOME-TALENT PLAYBOOKS

ASSISTANCE IN DESIGNING STAGE EQUIPMENT

LOAN OF MATERIAL FOR DECLAMATIONS

FIELD AGENT TO PLAN FOR THE BEAUTIFICATION OF
SCHOOL GROUNDS

LOAN OF MATERIAL FOR A DEBATE

LEADERSHIP FOR A COMMUNITY SING

PLAY AND RECREATION DEMONSTRATION

LEADERSHIP FOR AN EDUCATIONAL RALLY

SCHOOL SURVEY

The only expense connected with this service to be paid by the school is the travel and subsistence expenses of the members of the faculty or the Extension Division when a visit to a school is made upon request.

For further information concerning any of these services address:

UNIVERSITY EXTENSION DIVISION

CHAPEL HILL, N. C.

INTRODUCTION

Celebrating the commencement season is a time-honored custom. The commencement program is one of our American institutions. The time calls for festivities in every community of the Nation. When the schools come to the close of a session they center the community interest in the commencement program as a climax to the work of the year. It is a great event in the life of the community. The people come together with happy hearts and sincere interest to "take stock," as it were, of the children. growing about them. These children have accomplished something. As future citizens they are marching on. The whole community turns out to show loyalty and appreciation, to note progress, to discern growth, and to be stimulated for greater and better things. The occasion should be marked with the spirit of duty well done and determination for future growth.

As a custom, it has become the duty of the school officials to arrange, direct, and carry out the commencement program. These leaders are unusually busy toward the close of school; there are so many duties crowding in at the end. It is with this thought in mind that The Commencement Program is written. It desires to offer suggestions, plans, organization helps, sample programs, materials, and bibliographies to aid school authorities in working out the commencement program. Aids in the matter of decoration, publicity, music, plays, pageants, games, drills, folk dances, exhibits, and novelty ideas are given. Some sample programs are outlined. They do not cover all the types that may be used but are suggestive of forms and types. A county commencement program is explained in detail and the events listed.

When the call came from the Extension Division to write this bulletin I turned to the class in field work for assistance. These students are in close touch with the schools and have had experience in aiding communities along this line. They have undertaken the task with interest and it is hoped that the work may be useful to the schools.