Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 February 1912 — “Joy Kiss” Causes Strike in School [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

“Joy Kiss” Causes Strike in School

FREEHOLD, N. Y.—As a sequel to that historic “emotional kiss,*' the boy and the girl students of the high school side by side marched out on strike from the classrooms the other day anti paraded the streets, announcing that they were out to stay until Principal Roy Leon Smith was reinstated. Only those students who feared the parental slipper remained and it is expected they will also go out later. There were eighty odd in the demonstrating procession and they , made more noise than five times . that number of men would have done. While they were marching along they came upon Samuel 'R. Smith, president of the board of education and shouted to him that they wanted Principal Smith back, President Smith says some boys not only shook thMr fists at him but insulted him in otherways.The girls chorused. “Smith, Smith; we want our principal' hack!”

. In the primary schools .all is unrest. The younger children have caught the strike fever. They are In general charge of Miss Carrie Atkin-, sen, whom the hoard of education named as temporary superintendent when Mr. Smith Friday refused to take the position pending the settlement of trouble following the removal of Village Superintendent Barnes on charges that he was seen with a teaches on his lap kissing him. JBarnes aHeged the kiss was due to hysterical gratitude because he had assisted the teacher in passing an exanflmrtlon” Various petitions are in circulation asking the board to reconsider his dismissal.