Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 February 1919 — COMMENDABLE SCHOOL SPIRIT [ARTICLE]

COMMENDABLE SCHOOL SPIRIT

UNION TOWNSHIP TEACHERS AND PATRONS WANT TERM EXTENDED. All of the teachers in Union township and about seventy-five school patrons of that corporation attended a meeting called by Township Trustee Waiter Harrington in Parr Saturday to discuss the advisability of having more than the minimum term of school during this year. On account of the building of two fine large school houses and of maintaining high schools at Parr and Fair Oaks, Union township has had a very heavy drain upon its school funds. Like many other corporations it has had to anticipate the June draw in order to give a term of school long enough and in keeping with the school sentiment of that township, which exTrustees G. H. Hammerton, B. D. Comer and other school men have built up.

Union township is one of the progressive townships in this county. It has a citizenship of high-minded, prosperous people that make it a credit to the county and also to the state. It not only contains some of the very bgst people to be found anywhere but it also has some of the very best homes, equipped with all modern conveniences which are a credit to the best communities. Her schools have been a large factor in stimulating fhis progressive spirit and in the advancement of the township financially, morally and educationally. When the present trustee found that it would be necessary to 'borrow money, just as Rensselaer and other corporations for a number of years have had to do, he felt a hesitancy and asked that a meeting of the taxpayers of the township ibe held. In answer to this call some seven-ty-five representative citizens of the township were present, together with County Superintendent of Schools Sterrett and the teachers of the township. At this meeting the trustee reports ed that he would have to borrow something like $3,000.00 an order to have the minimum term of school required by law, which is six months. Th'e patrons present expressed themselves, practically unanimous,-in favor of borrowing enough money to have a seven months’ term- The teachers present, very commendably, offered to teach two weeks without pay, making the term seven and a half months, the township to pay for seven months. The sacrifice thereby made by each teacher would be in excess of the additional tax to be paid by any individual taxpayer of the township.

Union township schools have been interrupted seriously this year by the influenza epidemic. The work has been broken into and disorganized. Much of the regular work that should have been accomplished before this time still remains undone. Unless the term is extended it possibly means that every pupil in the township, whether high school or grade, will have lost a year of school work. A short term under the past unfavorable promotions absolutely impossible. It is a very serious handicap and humiliating for a high school pupil to have to take two years to accomplish one year’s work. While more apparent it is no more detrimental than for the first year pupil to fail of promotion. The law wisely provides that every school in a township must have the same number of dayb. It is a commendable spirit shown bv the people of Union township, regardless of politics, in favor of pacing the training of the youths of that township above the paltry dollar. Patrons who have children and therefore vitally interested canvassed the township and found almost every one of the citizens of the township m favor of a longer term of school. One patron, thoroughly reliable, reports that Felix llrwin, Isaac Kight, Joseph Winslow and Abe Bringle, all of Pair Oaks and all staunch Democrats, said by all mean's have a' longer term .of school- Business engagements prevented their attending the meeting. John Lesh, a member of the advistory board, was at the meeting and was heartily in favor of a longer term of

school. It is reported that Trustee Harrington said at the meeting that had promised in order to secure ms election that he would reduce the tax levy of the*township. Ordinarily that Ja a good promise and one deserving of performance, but it had better be .broken many times than to be kept at the sacrifice of the training of the vouth of the township. Mr. Harrington’s disposition to be faithful to the trust imposed upon him by the people of his township is commendable, but his is not wholly a financial obligation The welfare of the youth under his leadership » paramount and should always receive preferred, con- | sideration. . • Union township’s credit is good, ' her citizens are high minded and pro- | gressive and they.are right in pacing the schools above, the dollar or any , other consideration. | The present trustee may see in the 1 administration .which he succeeds expenditures which he ♦ does not endorse. ‘ Possibly Mr. Hammerton will

admit that he may have made some mistakes. But the imiportant thing in the minds of the patrons of Union township is a term of school sufficient in length to give every pupil in that township, who has been faithful and studious, a chance to do the work necessary tp complete the grade in which he is now working, whether it be in the high school or grades. If it takes $3,000.00 per month to run the schools of Union township it must be remembered that the teachers are willing to contribute $1,500. Undoubtedly Trustee Harrington will accede to the will of th< people and place the future welfare of the youth of his township above the expenditure of money and the possible slight increase in tax levy.