25 High School Students on Strike - Ca. 1938

 Harold Joyce is actually Michael (M.J. Lydon).*

25 High School Students on Strike at Minooka**
Early Return to Classes Forecast; Group Had Refused to Take Exam

Twenty-five of the 29 senior commercial students at Minooka High School have been "locked out" from classes since Tuesday, they said yesterday, because they refused to take what they termed an unfair examination.

Vincent Dunleavy, principal, last night declared the misunderstanding was straightened out, and that the class will return to school today.

According to John Lydon [Sharkey Lydon] and Shamus Corbett, student spokesmen, the trouble had its inception more than a week ago, when the class was notified that it would have to take an examination in shorthand, failure in which would result in loss of senior ranking. Members of the class refused to take the test, they said, because each student in the commercial course had passed the requirements for junior shorthand and had earned credits in that subject. Upon their refusal to take the examination, the student spokesmen continued, Miss Grace Powell, commercial teacher, refused to conduct classes. Tuesday, they added, members of the group attended school as usual, but were denied instruction in all courses. They said teachers refused to conduct classes on Principal Dunleavy's orders.

Wednesday and yesterday, they declared members of the class reported to the school as usual, but were denied entrance to the building.

NOT ALLOWED TO RETURN

"We're not on strike," Corbett said. "We want to go back to school, but the school authorities won't allow us to until we agree to take the examination.

"We're not against taking the test, but we are against taking junior shorthand again, if we fail in the examination, because we all passed it once, and have credits for it," he added.

Mr. Dunleavy said the students version of the difficulty was grossly exaggerated, and pointed out that the question was wholly whether or not a teacher had the right to give examinations to the students.

MATTER OF DISCIPLINE

"The whole matter is strictly one within the school," he said.

"The misunderstanding has been straightened out, and the students will return to classes tomorrow. Their account of the controversy is greatly exaggerated. The test was merely a routine review, given by the teacher, and they refused to take it. The question is whether or not a teacher has the right to examine her pupils. They are coming into school tomorrow, and they are coming back under my conditions. There are two or three in the group who are causing all the trouble," he said.

A student committee met with Mr. Dunleavy yesterday afternoon, in an effort to reach an agreement. Despite the principal's statement that everything was settled, student leaders last night insisted they would not return to classes until they had received assurance that the proposed examination would have no effect upon credits they have thus far earned.

Miss Powell, the teacher, refused to comment.

Contributed by Michele Heenan

*According to Dr. Joe Lydon (Sharkey Lydon clan), M.J. Lydon gave his name as Harold Joyce, the Latin teacher.
*Reader Jerry Higgins believes the student (third from the left) is Bobby Murray.