Dignity of Labor
1928
In 1928, Rafe Blankenship graduated as salutatorian of Beech Bluff High School. He delivered the following address, handwritten in pencil on stationary from Beech Bluff’s W. T. Diamond General Merchandise; his children identified the handwriting as his own. As he gave the speech no title, I have called it the “Dignity of Labor” speech for his pronounced use of the phrase and its central themes of work and excellence. Rafe also had a typescript of a 1925 student address in his possession that spoke on influence, family life, and spirituality, and possibly used it as inspiration for this one. He is known to have given several addresses in his capacity as a teacher, but this one, for its use of “classmates”, was certainly that of his own graduation ceremony on May 3rd, 1928.
Mr. Superintendent, Teachers, Members of the Senior Class, Ladies and Gentlemen:
For many years we have labored here together. For what purpose? What have we gained? Have our minds developed as bodies have grown during these years? We believe so: our teachers have endeavored to train us so that there might be a steady growth along these lines.
The supreme wish in our high school training is not only to acquaint the students with facts, but also to develop the ability to sift out the fundamentals of a subject from the non-essential details, and to enlarge their mental powers in such a way that their viewpoints may be broadened. Thus we may become practical, logical thinkers, not theorists only. In this way our preparation for life is greater.
Today marks the ending of our lessons and recitations here, and for many of us the beginning of life’s serious problems of active, productive citizenship, and so we call this day our commencement. On this day, the vista of life opens up before us and down the lane of the years we dimly see future successes and future failures. This day is the beginning of life and starts us on our long, hard journey through the years of mankind and womankind. We might almost consider it the crossroads of life. We appreciate the importance of this turning point in our lives, but there is present today, and I hope there may always be, a memory of sweet, unforgettable associations throughout the years of school life. However, any feeling of sadness should not be outweighed by one of joy at the thought of our large class being at least partially prepared for the many and various places calling for equipped men and women. Someone must fill each one of these places. Why not push ourselves into the front rank?
Each one of us has some talent; why not develop it and use it to the best advantage? There is a position waiting for each one of us if we could but find it. As Lowell says:
“No man is born into the world
Whose work is not born with him
There is always work
And tools to work withal:
For those who will.”
We leave our school with a high regard for the dignity of labor. All labor that tends to supply man’s needs or to elevate him mentally or spiritually is honorable. Labor is the keynote of the nation, the bulwark of the people. Without labor the world could not exist, therefore labor is honorable. It is the hope of our class that we may join the real workers in the field of action; for our education was intended to fit us, not for leisure, but for honorable occupation.
Classmates, let us resolve anew, amid these happy scenes, surrounded by teachers and friends, to go forth bravely, and so live that we may be proud of each other, and that B. B. High may [not] be ashamed to admit that any one of us once studied within her walls.
There is a crying need for men and women who are willing to sacrifice their selfish desires for the good of their fellow men. We need citizens who live up to the Golden Rule every day in the week. Let us lay our debt of gratitude to our parents, to our friends, and to our school by years of right living.
Dear classmates, the time has come when we launch forth into the great world outside, when we bid welcome to the new life of mankind and womankind. We salute the future with hearts filled with high hope, although we leave behind us our faithful teachers and the school we so dearly love. And as we go out to meet the problems and difficulties of life, we will find as Elizabeth Barret Browning so beautifully expresses the thought:
“The world awaits
For help, Beloved, let us love so well,
Our work shall still be better for our love,
And still our love be sweeter for our work;
And both commended for the sake of each
By all true workers and true lovers born.”
For many years we have labored here together. For what purpose? What have we gained? Have our minds developed as bodies have grown during these years? We believe so: our teachers have endeavored to train us so that there might be a steady growth along these lines.
The supreme wish in our high school training is not only to acquaint the students with facts, but also to develop the ability to sift out the fundamentals of a subject from the non-essential details, and to enlarge their mental powers in such a way that their viewpoints may be broadened. Thus we may become practical, logical thinkers, not theorists only. In this way our preparation for life is greater.
Today marks the ending of our lessons and recitations here, and for many of us the beginning of life’s serious problems of active, productive citizenship, and so we call this day our commencement. On this day, the vista of life opens up before us and down the lane of the years we dimly see future successes and future failures. This day is the beginning of life and starts us on our long, hard journey through the years of mankind and womankind. We might almost consider it the crossroads of life. We appreciate the importance of this turning point in our lives, but there is present today, and I hope there may always be, a memory of sweet, unforgettable associations throughout the years of school life. However, any feeling of sadness should not be outweighed by one of joy at the thought of our large class being at least partially prepared for the many and various places calling for equipped men and women. Someone must fill each one of these places. Why not push ourselves into the front rank?
Each one of us has some talent; why not develop it and use it to the best advantage? There is a position waiting for each one of us if we could but find it. As Lowell says:
“No man is born into the world
Whose work is not born with him
There is always work
And tools to work withal:
For those who will.”
We leave our school with a high regard for the dignity of labor. All labor that tends to supply man’s needs or to elevate him mentally or spiritually is honorable. Labor is the keynote of the nation, the bulwark of the people. Without labor the world could not exist, therefore labor is honorable. It is the hope of our class that we may join the real workers in the field of action; for our education was intended to fit us, not for leisure, but for honorable occupation.
Classmates, let us resolve anew, amid these happy scenes, surrounded by teachers and friends, to go forth bravely, and so live that we may be proud of each other, and that B. B. High may [not] be ashamed to admit that any one of us once studied within her walls.
There is a crying need for men and women who are willing to sacrifice their selfish desires for the good of their fellow men. We need citizens who live up to the Golden Rule every day in the week. Let us lay our debt of gratitude to our parents, to our friends, and to our school by years of right living.
Dear classmates, the time has come when we launch forth into the great world outside, when we bid welcome to the new life of mankind and womankind. We salute the future with hearts filled with high hope, although we leave behind us our faithful teachers and the school we so dearly love. And as we go out to meet the problems and difficulties of life, we will find as Elizabeth Barret Browning so beautifully expresses the thought:
“The world awaits
For help, Beloved, let us love so well,
Our work shall still be better for our love,
And still our love be sweeter for our work;
And both commended for the sake of each
By all true workers and true lovers born.”