Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-14
Dexter CLIMAX
Friction Among School
Graduates and Board
Thursday Graduation Exercises
Declared Off

Dexter, Me-, June 13.-(SpeciaD.-
Because of friction between the mem
bers of the graduating class, the SUI
perintendent of schools and the school
board over the granting of diplomas
the graduation exercises scheduled for
Thursday evening have been declared
of. The unfortunate situation has
been developing for several days and
came to a climax Wednesday when
eight members of the graduating class,
following class meeting, informed
Supt. Leland A. Ross and the school
board that they would refuse to take
any part in Thursday evenings exer-
cises. AS result this was considered
hnal and the exercises were abandoned.
Inc friction comes primarily from
the fact that two girl members of the
class OF 1917 have taken special
courses during the greater part of the
tour years past and when the matter
OF diplomas came up this spring the
school board decided, after careful de-
liberation, to issue to the girls spe-
cial diplomas for the course taken by
the girls, which had been approved by
the school board. This was done and
was followed by a protest from the
other eight members of the class, who
maintained that the girls had not TAX
en- a regular course and were not en-
titled to diplomas. The class held a
meeting and took q unanimous vote
against the granting of diplomas to the
two students in question. The feel
lngs OF the cSlss members were made
known to the school board but the
members of the board Messrs. Albert
l.. Davis, Nathan G. Bucknam and
THOMAS A. Smart, refused to alter
their decision in any way and infer
red that the members of the class We're
attempting to interfere with the man.
agement of school affairs.
On the other hard it is understood
five members of the faculty are rather
inclined to stand behind the members
of the class in their stand against the
granting of the special diplomas on the
ground that the two girls have not
completed a regular course and that
there's no reason why they should be
granted diplomas in place of the usual
certificates usually granted to students
who are somewhat behind in their
studies at graduation time.
Another matter over which there
has been much friction is the determi-
nation of the members of the class to
take a sightseeing trip to Boston fol-
lowing graduation. This has been
planned for several years but some
months ago, following the declaration
of war with Germany, the school board
and the teachers of the high school
asked the graduating class to abandon
their trip on the ground that it would
not be exactly in good taste at this
time to spend a large sum of money,
particularly while many of the other
schools in Maine were curtailing on
graduating expenses and devoting the
money to worthy causes. The class re-
fused absolutely to listen to the advice
of the school authorities and continued
in their preparations for the Boston
trip. They now claim that they will
leave here Monday morning for Bos-
ton for weeks trip, also that they
will hold their annual Commencement
ball on Friday evening at Town hall
even if they are obliged TO hold it I'M
der private auspices. The members Of
the graduating class are: Clarence
Coushlin, Harold LaBree. Helen Bow
ley. Leroy Libby, Margaret Hutchjn-
son, Veletta Aucock Leone Hayden and
Louise Bates. Mildred Widdoes and
Amy Morsridge.