Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 February 1919 — SCHOOL CASE COMPROMISED [ARTICLE]

SCHOOL CASE COMPROMISED

UNION TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE AGREES TO HAVE MONTH x . MORE OF SCHOOL, - In the matter of >the mandamus proceedings brought by a number of school, patrons and taxpayers of ■Union township against Trustee Walter Harrington to compel him to give at least a minimum term of school in that township, an agreement was reached Tuesday by the attorneys in the case under a compromise that the trustee would have the school continue for another month. After Judge Hanley had dismissed the case from the record a further disagreement became apparent. In the meeting held in Union township to get an opinion as to the will . of 'the patrons and taxpayers in ref- | erence to borrowing money the vote had stood sixty-eight to fivtrin favor ; of borrowing sufficient funds to mam- ■ tain a seven and one-half month; , term. | In this agreement the teachers had obligated themselves to teach a half month without pay. Trustee Harrington was requested to consult an attorney as to the legality of borrowing sufficient funds as the township is now heavily involved. The trustee consulted Attorney George A. Williams, but, not on the question raised in the school meeting. The question which he asked for advice fro mtbe attorney was, “Can I be mandated to borrow money to contin we the school in Union township. Attorney Williams advised him that he could not be mandated. Upon beign informed of this attitude taken by the trustee a number of the school patrons and taxpayers secured the services of Attorneys Abraham Halleck and John A. Dunlap to bring h mandamus proceeding to force the trustee to maintain at least a six months term of school. It was the contention of the attorneys for the taxpayers that the six weeks the schools were closed could not be considered as a part of the term and that the pupils were entitled to at least the minimum length of school fixed by law. There is a legal point here that seems to be about fifty 'fifty either way. Therte is a misunderstanding as to whether the trustee is to pay for the additional nw_nth_of—School—promised or whether he is to pay for half and the teachers are to donate the other half. The trustee maintains that the teachers ate to teach for halfway. Whether the teachers are willing to give this amount of service without pay is not known. Their agreement in the meeting was that they would give a half month out of a seven and a half months term. The point with the teachers being that ''they were interested in giving each class opportunity to finish the year’s work so that each deserving pupil could be ready for the succeeding grade at the opening of school next fall. The additional month promised by the trustee will make just about six months of actual school. " ~ ; 77' The obligation to give to every girl and boy in Union township and everywhere else the opportunity of necessary educational, training is a vital one'and it is not only the duty of every school officer but of every parent. Let us hope that in this contention in Union township the children will not be the losers.

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