The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-11-07
The Franklin Township
High School.


Township high school, or rather
in the erection of a building for
it's maintenance. A brief histo-
ry of the developments that
brought about the establishing
of such a school will, no doubt,
be of interest to many Journal
readers. 1t is generally known
that the school law of Ohio has
made provision that all pupils
that pass successfully what is
known as the Patterson eXamina-
ton, shall be permitted to enter
any high school within the state,
and the township in which such
pupils reside shall pay the tuition
from the school fund, unless the
township maintains a high school
within her own borders or makes
provision for her pupils to attend
a high school near by.
Owing to the absence of a town
or village supporting a high
school and the isolated location
of the township from any street
car or railroad lines her pupils
were debarred from a great priv
ilege. 1t is true, many of them
attended high school elsewhere,
but this necesSitated their board
ing away from home where en-
vironments and influences were
very different and sometimes not
conducive to moral uplifting. In
a measure the parental care and
influence so necessary over pu-
pills of this age, was practically
severed. While the tuition ex-
penses were growing heavier
each year, which was divided a.
mongst about a half dozen cit
les and towns, yet there were
many young people desirous of
attending high school but be-
cause of the distance and eX-
pense they were not permitted to
do so. In view of these facts
our board of education made pro-
vision for establishing a town.
ship high school in the spring of
1905, in room that was not
needed at that time, for elemen-
tary school purposes. Several
practical schoolmen of the coun-
ty and state were consulted in
the arranging of a course of
study. A committee was ap-
pointed to submit it to our State
School Commissioner. By max.
ing a few changes in the course
it was approved, and by comply
ing with certain other require
ments a charter of the second
grade was granted with a pros
pect of converting it into a first
grade later.
The high schools of our state
are divided into first, second and
third grade. A competent high
school teacher was secured. The
first year IA pupils took the en-
tire year, Is more entered the
school, making it a heavy years
work for one teacher last spring
a goodly number passed the nee
essary examination to promote
them to high school. Judging
from the large number of 9th
grade pupils throughout the |
township there will be an in
creased number of Patterson
graduates by another year and |
no doubt each succeeding year
as the township schools are we'll |
graded through the use of an ex-
celIent course of study and a live
corps of teachers. Owing to
these conditions and the encour-
agement given by many citizens
Of the township it was believed
The interests of the people would
De best served by erecting a con-
'enlent and substantial high
school building in the center of
he township. This is 3 miles
rom where the school is now
'eing conducted in a crowded
ingle room by two high school
eachers and in one corner of the