Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 April 1920 — COUNTY EDUCATIONAL NOTES [ARTICLE]

COUNTY EDUCATIONAL NOTES

(Co. Supt. Sterrett) The board of education met Mon day in the office of the county superintendent but was unable to transact legal business owing to the lack of a quorum. Bowie of Wheatfield, Duggleby of Kankakee, Fairchild of Keener, Postill of Marion, Rush of Newton and Huff of Jordan were present. The board resolved itselt into a committee to act upon a recommendation from Purdue university of a young man by .the name of Mahorton, who applied for Mi. Learning’s position as county agricultural agent. The committee was assisted by Frank Welsh of Jordan and Russel Van Hook of Marion. The latter were drafted unsolidtously to represent the farmers. It was the impression of this committee that the young man be selected. A recommendation was made that Mr; Mahorton remain over until Wednesday when the president called a special meeting for 10 a. m. that day. State Supt. L. N. Hines will deliver the commencement address at Fair Oaks Wednesday night, April 21. Music for the occasion will come from Indianapolis. Fair Oaks is planning to give a program for this commencement that outdoes any school function that has been held in their building. Eleven eighta grade pupils from various parts of Union township have enrolled there. They are Loretta Lockard, Alice Kiersma, Dean Zellers, Ivan Cedarwall, Lester Ogle, Agnes Cedarwall, Roy Gunyon, Ora Whited, Alva Whited, Hazel Lowman and Edith Sanders.

There were a number of the eighth grade applicants on the diploma examination who passed. The highest general average was made by Joseph L. Wuethrich of the Fairview school in Gillam township taught by Alpha E. Kerlin. The second highest average was made by Alice Sayers of the Oak Grove school in Walker township taught by Betty Royster. The former made an average of 93.1% and the latter 90.8%. About 45% of the applicants passed the examination in March free of conditions. The next examination will be held April 17. a The Jasper county board of education met in special session Wednesday on a call of the president to consider an application from D. M. Mawhorter of Noble county for the position of county agricultural agent. The following members of the board were present: Porter of Carpentei, Lefever of Gillam, Poole of Hanging Grove, Huff of Jordan, Fairchild of Keener, Postill of Marion, Wood ot Milroy, Rush of Newton, Harrington of Union and Bowie of Wheatfield. The board re-established its reputation for debating ability. The newly elected county agricultural agent heard those opposed to his position

in terms free from sugar-coated camouflage. Everything was openly and fearlessly attacked by Porter, Harrington, Bowie, Poole, Postlll, Rush and Fadrdhlld. After the stormy atmosphere cleared the chair closed the discussion and called for motions. Rush of Newton moved that Mr. Mawhoyter be employed by the beard for the rest •of the year at $2,000 salary and $740 expense money. The motion was seconded by Fairchild of Demotte. The secret ballot was demanded and the results gave six favoring- the selection and four against. Should the entire board have been present it would mean a gamble as the outcome of the vote. Duggleby of Tefft was in favor of an agent, but no one knows the sentiment of Davisson and Pettet. Their presence might have changed the vote very materially. The last township institutes in Jasper county for this year will be held this month at Wheatfield, next Saturday, and at South Marlon consolidated Saturday, April 17. The schools at Fair will close Friday, April 23. On Wednesday the high school will give their commencement at Fair Oaks and an honorable position will be given to the eighth grade pupils who were promoted or graduated from the common branches.