Monday May 24, 1937 Lima News
Pupils Strike at Ottoville
Student Body Resents Dismissal of Three Popular
Instructors
Ottoville,
May 25 – Resenting the action of the school board in refusing to renew the
contracts of three popular members of the faculty, approximately 75 students of
the high school division of the Ottoville centralized school walked out of
their classrooms at noon today.
The
students had engaged in a sit-down during the morning, remaining in their seats
and refusing to take part in any school-work.
When these
tactics did not appear to be securing results, the pupils walked out at noon
and were marching around the school building and through the village carrying
variously worded banners.
Supt. F. J.
Uhrich refused to discuss the matter when contacted over the telephone by The
Lima News, and the head of the village school board also stated that “I know
nothing about it.”
According
to early information, the school board, at a meeting last week, refused
contracts for next year to F. W. Koenig, Commercial teacher; Miss Jeanette
Wagner, Music teacher and Miss Susanne Mulaney, grade teacher.
Three Teachers Are Popular
The three
had been members of the faculty for the past 18 months and were said to be
popular not only with students but with town people also. The dismissal action
is resented by the village residents as well as the students, was reported, and
there were reports also that demands had been made that the school board
members and Supt. Uhrich resign.
A student
whose name was not divulged, told The Lima News that the dismissed teachers
claim the boards actions were based on “purely personal” reasons and not over
any dissatisfaction with their teaching ability.
The student
also stated that there had been considerable dissention among the faculty for
the past few months and it is believed the dismissal of the three is the
culmination of this situation. One of the banners carried in the parade about
the town, which boasts a population of 425 and is about seven miles northwest
of Delphos, stated “Cooperation Among Faculty.” Another demanded the rehiring
of the dismissed teachers.
Tuesday May 25, 1937 Lima News
School Heads in Putnam County Voice Warning
Reports Students Frequenting Beer Halls to be
Investigated
Both Sides Stand Firm
Walkout Over Dismissed Teachers to Continue, Say Pupils
By Vic Sheron Lima News Staff Writer
Ottoville,
May 25 – An ultimatum to parents to have their children back in class by
Thursday morning or face arrest, and reports that the state Department of
Liquor Control has been asked to send investigators here to probe reports
students are frequenting beer dispensing establishments, marked Ottoville’s
school strike today.
The only
break in the line of cheering students was primarily among members of the
senior class who are to graduate June 2.
Changing of
the school bell this morning failed to bring back many of the pupils who left
their classes in protest over failure of the school board to reengage three
popular instructors.
The
teachers, F. W. Koenig, Miss Jeanette Wagner and Miss Susanne Mullaney,
together with Supt. F. J. Uhrich, maintained a discreet silence on the
situation. C. D. Vermilya, Putnam County Superintendent, was emphatic in
declaring, “Steps are being taken to break up the strike and to punish ring
leaders.”
Meetings End In Deadlock
The
Ottoville school board, Putnam County school officials and Uhrich met Monday
night but refused to discuss the conference. It was rumored on the street the
meeting ended in a deadlock.
Students
were making much of their self-declared holiday. They paraded about town waving
banners, shouting and generally making merry.
The
situation appears to be unique in that questioning of men and women on the
streets reveals a large number of the populace back the stand of the students.
Manifestation
of this spirit was given Monday night when the marchers were invited to a free
supper in a local restaurant.
One of the
students said Tuesday that when a committee sought to present a petition with
approximately 150 signatures, asking the retention of the teachers, the door of
Supt. Uhrich’s office was slammed in their faces.
Boys and
girls gathered about the school building this morning and voiced a
determination to continue the strike. The mother of two striking students, indicated
to The Lima News reporter, they were marching with parental approval.
Supt.
Vermilya said Tuesday morning that he had made a telephone request to the Ohio
Board of Liquor Control to send a flying squadron of inspectors here to inspect
beer and liquor establishments on charges of harboring school pupils under 16
years of age. He said the inspectors would be here during the afternoon and
would also investigate charges that these drink establishments are providing
the leadership in the strike.
Parents Are Given Warning
The county
head said that the attendance officer has been instructed to warn parents of
striking pupils to have their children in school Thursday morning or face
arrest. He added that “definite action is being taken to end this strike, and
to apprehend all leaders in school and out of school, including members of
faculty.”
The
superintendent asserted that he was standing behind local school board and
superintendent in their actions in the strike and that the Putnam County
Sheriff is on duty here checking for any violations of the law in regards to
disturbances in the school or damaging of school property. Arrests are promised
if any violations are observed.
Supt.
Vermilya stated further that the three teachers were refused contracts for next
year because of “disability of inefficiency.”
Wednesday May 26, 1937 Lima News
Truce Reached in School Strike
Board Agrees to Reconsider Cases of Trio
Pupils Back in Class as Directors Ponder Retaining
Teachers
Citizens of Town Irate
Reports of Beer Drinking by Students Branded as False
Ottoville,
May 26 –At a special meeting Wednesday, the Ottoville district board of
education re-hired for one year three teachers whose dismissal caused a student
strike. Action of the board in reemploying the instructors was announced to the
high school student body when classes resumed Wednesday following the noon
recess.
By Herb Coates Lima News Staff Writer
Ottoville,
May 26 – Approximately 150 striking students returned to their classes
Wednesday morning following a two day strike in retaliation for alleged refusal
of the district board to offer 1937-38 term contracts to three popular
instructors.
Question of reemploying the three teachers
was to be officially heard by the board in a special meeting Wednesday. Students
promised another strike if action of the board did not meet their approval.
High school classes were resumed
after a committee of five parents conferred for over two hours Tuesday night
with three members of the district board in a fiery session. At conclusion it
was announced the board had agreed to "accept" the pupils Wednesday
and would instruct teachers not to reprimand or seek an apology from any pupil
for his
or her conduct in the strike.
BEER DRINKING RUMORS FALSE
Ohio Department of Liquor Control
operatives are understood to have reported that rumors striking students were
buying beer were without foundation. Officials in Columbus said a report may be
forthcoming this afternoon.
The board also agreed to hear pleas
of distraught parents and pupils who seek to retain the three teachers: F. W.
Koenig, a commercial instructor; Miss Jeanette Wagner, music teacher and
Susanne Mullaney, third grade teacher.
Partial settlement of the
differences which enabled resumption of classes Wednesday was effected after
more than 300 pupils and their parents gathered in a small hall, opposite the
school building, Tuesday night and picked a committee of five to meet with the
board of education, which was, in session at the same time.
Irate parents, with sympathies for
their children at boiling point, picked the following to represent them in the
board meeting: Harry Niedecken, Charles Looser, Arnold Lauer, Peter Fischbach
and Alex Miller.
Three members of the school board
who met with the committee were Joseph Hoersten, Anthony Koester and George
Rieger. Walter Wanamaker, president of the board whom students said sympathized
with them, was confined to his bed with illness, and William Dickman, another
member, were absent.
Martin J. Wanamaker, a Delphos
attorney, was retained by the parents
and took charge of their meeting. He suggested to the assembled group that they
ask the board
to permit the pupils to return "without discrimination
or apology."
Aloud "No" resounded
thruont the hall. When informed later of the board's action, the students
accepted with reluctance the decree they could return to classes.
"We want the teachers re-hired
first" was the comment from a least 100 mouths. To this Atty. Wanamaker
told the group the board had agreed to meet again Wednesday and
"re-consider" the action in refusing the three teacher new contracts.
In event the committee of strikers
and Ottoville board cannot settle the question of re-hiring the teachers, it
was agreed by both parties to take the matter before the Putnam-co board of
education.
DISTRICT BOARD REMAINS SILENT
The district board, however, has
declined to voice any charges against the three instructors since the strike
developed Monday when the students sat idle for several hours, then walked out.
Garrett Otto, restaurant operator
and strike sympathizer, said G. D. Vermilya, Putnam-co school superintendent,
slammed a door in his face Monday afternoon when he sought to present the
Ottoville board with a petition carrying 200 names of townspeople demanding
re-employment of the Instructors.
Monday afternoon and again Tuesday
they paraded the Ottoville streets carrying signs which denounced the district
board and F. J. Uhrich, Ottoville school superintendent. He has been in the
district's school system the past 28 years.
One of the placards read:
"Roosevelt is for Old Age Retirement — So Are We Students."
They said reference was to Supt.
Uhrich who has served three years past the retirement minimum fixed by statute.
Thursday May 27, 1937 Lima News
Quiet Prevails as Strike at Ottoville Ends
OTTOVILLE, May 27—Students of
Ottoville high school were peacefully
pursuing their studies Thursday and looking forward to the
close of the present term next week, following a two-days strike which
terminated Wednesday.
About 150 high school pupils walked
from their classes Monday in protest after the Ottoville district board of
education declined to offer three instructors new contracts.
Al Humphrey, head of the Ohio
liquor control enforcement division, announced from Columbus Thursday morning
his investigators were unable to find evidence in support of a charge permit
holders in Ottoville were selling beer to the striking students.
The liquor selling charges were
made to state officials during the heat of the strike and Humphrey dispatched
investigators from Toledo to Ottoville to delve into the allegations.
Students returned to their
textbooks and prepared for final examinations Wednesday morning following a
mass meeting Tuesday night at which a committee of five men were named to
confer with the board on the matter.
Following a two-hour confab, during
which both factions hurled verbal blasts at the other, the students promised to
resume their studies Wednesday morning providing teachers did not discriminate,
reprimand or demand an apology from them.
At another meeting Wednesday
morning, the board extended 1937, 1938 contracts to F. W, Koenig, Miss Jeanette
Wagner and Susanne Mullaney, the three teachers around whom the controversy
centered.
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