Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 309, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 December 1913 — STACKED THE BOOKS; ATHLETICS SUSPENDED [ARTICLE]

STACKED THE BOOKS; ATHLETICS SUSPENDED

Disorderly Conduct During Vacation Results in Application of Punishment Unless it is discovered who stacked the books in the assembly room at the high school building during the vacation, all athletics for the high school will be suspended during the remainder of the season. The athletic ban started this Monday morning when it was reported to Superintendent Dean and Principal Sharp that the books Mad been removed from the desks and piled up in the rwr of the room, the writing tablet destroyed by tearing out the pages and scattering them about the assembly and over the stage Superintendent Dean visited the school building Sunday afternoon • and everything was all right then, so the act must have' been committed Sunday night. Access was gained through a door on the east side of the building, which could be unlocked with an ordinary skeleton key. (Many of the pupils have been- unable to recover their books in consequence of the miscellaneous pile in whieh they were placed. Prior to three years ago this was a rather frequent practice here. Two or % three times each year the books would be stacked, pencils and pens stojen, the tapper taken from the bell, ete. Mr. Dean was principal at that time and he decided wisely on a severe disciplinarian method and boys were taken before a justice of the peace and punishment inflicted. This time it has not been discovered who the guilty person or persons were ai?<i yet it is neces--sary to mete out punishment that will he severe enough to break up the rowdyism at once.. Superintendent Dean decided to suspend all athletic contests and the use of the gymnasium to alLpnpils until the guilty ones- are discovered. It Is believed that the matter will be cleared up soon, and Principal Sharp reported to Superintendent Dean soon after dinner that he expected to ascertain who were guilty arid then inflict the punishment on them and not on all, innocent and guilty alike. A basketball game is scheduled With Medaryville for Friday night and this will not he played unless in the meantime it is discovered who stacked the books. It is thought probable that the guilty, when they realize that their act Is responsible for punishing the innocent, will make full confession in a manly manner and take the punishment whatever it may be. The door through which entrance was made will hereafter be fastened with a Yale lock and it is hoped thus to restrain those from the building who have no right there.