The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1898-02-05
WILL OUR SCHOOLS CLOSE ?
Mr.. Simon Benjamin interviewed BY
a Star Man on the Subject

Ocala Graded High School, in
charge Of Principal John j. Ea rle
and his efficient corps Of assist
ants, take in the work of the
school and its continuance, the
Star reporter interviewed Mr..
Simon Ben amin, one of the truS-
tees Of the Ocala school district,
who takes q deep and abiding in
tcreSt in the work of teaching our
young ideas how to shoot, educa-
JionalIy.
To the question: "Will the pres
ent scnool tcrm continue beyond
the five mOnths:' Mr.. Ben. jamin
said, 81 regret to say that our
board has made every effort to
continue the school term, but
owing to the unfortunate condi-
t1on of our county'S finances, the
loss of school money through
broken banks and defalcationS,
we do not see how it is possible
to do So"
"Then the Star is to understand
that it will be five months school
y ing for Our children and seven
months play"
"Just So" replied Mr.. BeDja-
min, "unless some plan can be de
vised whereby the present pa
irons are willing to band together
and out of a private fund continue
the term"
Mr.. Benjamin said he had been
approached by quite number of
the patrons on this question, who,
when they were informed that the
term must close at the end of
February, expressed themselves
as very desirous that school work
should continue and were per-
fectly willing to contribute their
proportion and even more if some
arrangement could be effected
whereby Professor Earle could be
induced to continue the good
work he has been doing for the
children of Ocala the past three
years.
We also understand that Pro
fessor Earle has been approached
on this subject, but, like the gem
erOuS and chivalrouS gentleman
that he is, declined, because it had
been intlmated to him that sew
eral of his assistant teachers had
expressed an intention of starting
a private school or schools at the
close of the term and he did not
wish to contest with them for
patronage, but such positive as
surance was rendered HIM by
deeply interested parents that he
at length, under protest, said he
would take the question into seri-
Gus consideration. The object Of
those patrons of the school who
desired the work Of educating
their children continue under
Professor Earle and his assist
ants is, that the present work ssOf
the school room as now consti-
tuted shall continue unlnter-
rupted and thereby the pupils
will receive the greatest benefit
from the courses now pursued.
Mr.. Benjamin's interest in this
work is unselfisn and TO be COM
mended and he, IN connection
with the other members Of the
local board, will leave no stone
unturned to keep the school term
going, if, as he believes, the in
terest already expressed TO HIM
in this work is kept up, and he
will deem it a favor if any one
who has On interest IN the work
of giving continued school service
to their children will speak to him
on this important subject.
The Star believes the work can
be continued and therefore hopes
not only patrons but friends of
popular education will lend their
influence and aid to this end.
George Giles has fenced in for
~ \ crnS Of La nd ad iOinin~ Malt