The Mankato free press., 1917-11-09
Youths Must Back Up Or
Remain From Classes
LETTER OF Mr.. SPERRY
Communications Were Sent BY
Superintendent to Parents
Of Young Men
From Fridays Daily.

From Fridays Daily.
High school boys who participated
in the "hobo" demonstration have
been called to appear at the high
school Monday morning at nine o'clock.
The boys have decided to meet at the
Y. M. c. A. at eight o'clock, and
proceed in a body to the high school.
They are now under temporary sus-
pension as has been previously stated.
From the opinion of some of the boys,
as expressed freely, they show no de-
sire or inclination to apologize.
Members of the Mankato school
board, interviewed by The Free
Press, express the following senti-
ments:
l.. T. Jefferson, president of the
Mankato school board, said: Il think
the ringleaders of the hobo celebra-
tion ought to be punished. / will GER
tainly stand by the superintendent
and principal, and if the matter is not
satisfactorily settled next Monday
morning a special meeting of the
school board will be called to decide
on the case.'
Judge Evan Hughes: 81 think the
superintendent and principal are per-
fectly right, and l am going to sus-
tain them
W. D. Willard: 81 can appreciate
the spirit of fun in which the thing
was gotten up. At the same time,
when the school authorities, for good
and sufficient reasons, forbade the
celebration the boys ought to have
obeyed. One of the weaknesses of our
country is refusal to recognize au
thority." .......
w. A. Beach: "My opinion is always
that the authority of the school should
be upheld, and while l might not
agree fully as to the discipline
would certainly uphold the school au-
thorities in differences with the chill
dren."
Mrs. B. D. Smith eff the boys will
fully violated the rules and regula-
tions of the school they should be
disciplined"
w. e. Palmer declined to be in
terviewed.
Eric Engwaldson: 81 feel that it
is a matter that should be left to the
faculty. It. will be brought up at
u,
/ think, and we will find out how the
things started and all about it,"
General Gustave Widell was not
seen as he was not in his office
when called upon.
Letter BY Superintendent.
The following is the letter sent by
Superintendent F. J. Sperry to the
parents of the boys who were sus-
pended: .
'Mankato Public Schools, Superin-
tendents office, October 81, 1911
think you have been notified that your
boy was temporarily suspended from
school for refusal to comply with a rea-
sonable request in a proper spirit. The
circumstances were that Tuesday after
noon the boys planned to come We'd
nesday morning to school in a body,
dressed as tramps and hoboes, osten-
sibly to create football enthusiasm.
Late Tuesday afternoon we got wind of
the plan and, knowing from last years
experience that such things while per-
tions that disgrace the school, we called
the leaders in and told them that we
did not want any such demonstration to
occur, although innocent in itself, be-
cause of the consequence almost certain
to occur. We told them to head the
demonstration off and that failure to
regard this request might result serious
ly for those who should take part. This
notice was also given to the football
squad among whom the plan originated,
and to the cadet corps; thus including
most of the older boys. The cadet corps
followed instructions absolutely but the
football squad apparently paid no at
tention to the request and when about
thirty boys dressed and acting in a way
school entered from the back way and
tried to go into the assembly room they
were told to go back home and come
properly dressed. On a refusal on their
of the leader, we told them that he and
all others who did not return home
promptly and come to school properly
were under suspension until such time
as the matter should be adjusted satis-
factorily. Outside the building the boys
as whole acted in anything but prop
here said they should all be under ar
rest for disorderly conduct
I'VE understood that there are some
boys, among the group who did not get
the notice and who may have come here
innocent of any wrong intentions. We
shall investigate fully on that matter
But the fact that as a body they re-
makes it impossible for us to admit any
of them today. Several that did do So
were re-admitted Immediately Since
there is no school in the upper classes
Thursday and Friday of this week on
account of teachers attendance at the
State. Educational association, which both
Mr.. Bate and myself are expected to at
lShu, VIC Siieii ue opHSeu 10 wait uHIu
Monday of next week before taking fur
ther action. AT a. m. of that day, how
ever, we want to meet all the boys and
receive their explanations if they have
any to make. Action in regard to re-
instatement will depend on the result of
that meeting. 1t is probable that ad-
justment can be effected readily in many
cases, but we cannot promise that in all
cases. We have disbanded the football
squad and cancelled the remaining games
of the season.
1--WE regret the situation but do not
see how we could do otherwise We
cannot tolerate open diSobedience of
reasonable requests. We have notified
the board of our action and have re-
ceived their approval-Very truly yours
F. ]. Sperry, superintendent"