By Lisa Hawk
While doing some research on schools in the Middletown and Falk Creek area, I stumbled upon the short piece of history.
In 1899, the principal, Mr. Porter, made a new dress code for all boys in the school. The rule states that all boys must wear a coat at all times during school hours. Now by coat, it was ment that the boys would wear a suit jacket.
At this time the weather was extremely hot. So, due to the hot weather, the boys, about a dozen of them, went to their class without a jacket. The results…. They were sent home. Then the boys refused to return to school until the new rule was abandoned! Now the classroom teachers were also determined to have an appropriate rule on clothing, so, they appealed to the school board for a firm ruling.
Well, the appeal filed was in vain. And, the parents didn’t want to encourage subordination.
So, the boys provided themselves with a “Duck” coat and then they returned to school.
As for the school board, they felt the boys, although uncomfortable, would make better progress if they were obedient to the rules of the school. The board did assure the boys they did not intend any hardship on the pupils of the school.
This photo was provided by Wade Farrell. Those in the photo are L-R
Ed Sweet, William Miller, Claude Greenlee, Jim Hedrick, William Kelly, Wade Farrell, Keith Griffis.
Reference:
School Memories of Middletown & Fall Creek Township, printed by The Middletown News.
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