Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 121, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 May 1913 — The Union Township High School Question. [ARTICLE]

The Union Township High School Question.

Yes, we agree with the writer of the article in Tuesday’s Republican that this high school problem is no political issuer but should be settled by the patrons of the school ahd taxpayers, and we wish them to understand that we have a good many here in Northern Union who claim the honor of being both patrons and taxpayers, and as to the movement being led I>y~F. M. Goff, it was” no more Ted by him than any other citizen of this community In fact, nearly all this part of the township is in favor of locating the high school building in Fair Oaks, and as this is the largest town in the township, and situated so far from any other high school building, also on a railroad, making it convenient for pupils to come in here from other points, it seems by far the best location, and in regard to other places furnishing all the graduates for the past ten years, we will just say are prepared to state facts in regard to the town of Fair Oaks. There have been 27 graduates in the past few years, that we can name from this town alone, leaving out all from the surrounding country. We will just name some who have graduated within the past 4 or 5 years: Ruth Gundy, Florence McKay, Mil ton McKay, Faun Casey, Eliza Thompson, Flossie Gundy, Minnie Cox, Gladys Halleck, Amy Bringle, Ross Wood, Hazel Helsel, and Lawrence Halleck. We are prepared to give the names of the rest further back if required. Now if anyone is doubtful about this Statement a postal or a telephone message to any of the above persons will be sufficient to prove it. Fair Oaks has had from one to six or eight graduates every year tor the past ten or twelve years. Four or five years ago there were six from this town, and we have the picture of them, with others taken on the platform here in the park, where the commencement took place. There are many more who quit school at the eighth grade without the formality of graduation for the simple reason that they had no prospect of a high school to go to, it being too far to drive to any one of the high schools in this county. Speaking of the country north and east of here being occupied by tenants, we admit that this is partially true; but there has been a school wagon coming in here every school day for the past four years, loaded with school children, and we are under the impression that their parents are patrons of the Fair Oaks school, and their landlords are among the biggest taxpayers in the county. As The Republican stated, that Fair Oaks was the first on the ground and got a majority of the patrons of the school on their petition, just give our place the preference.—Patrons and Taxpayers of North Union.