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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (May 14, 1950)
Jackson By Richard D. Jewett Mail Tribune Staff Writei The voice of the solemn-faced magistrate sounded with author ity in the small, packed chamber as he asked, "Foreman of the jury, what is the verdict?" "Guilty, your honor," was the reply. The judgeturned to the youth who stood before him. "The jury has found you guilty of swearing and tearing another boy's shirt," he said. "You have broken a school rule. Your punishment will be suspension from the guard for two weeks. In addition, you will stay in Mr. Davis' room for 15 minutes each night after school for one week." "Case dismissed," the judge concluded. In School Court That scene was In no ordinary courtroom. Officers of the tri bunal were not adults. They were school companions of the guilty youth, students at Med ford's Jackson grade school. Since last fall similar scenes have been enacted almost weekly at the school. By participating in the enforcement of their school's rules and regulations, Jackson youngsters are getting basic preparation for their years -as adults. They are learning better the reasons for rules of conduct; they are gaining regard for law and order; they are acquiring respect for fellow students and their views and feelings. The youngsters are learning a basic requisite of society the ability to live in harmony with one another. They are discovering the virtues of democracy by democracy in action. Held Each Friday Court at Jackson school con venes on Friday afternoons. The press was permitted to sit in on a recent session. The trial docket was average. Seven cases were heard by Judge Ernest Tyler, a fifth grader sitting on the bench for the first time. Judge Tyler kept strict order in his court in character with a true magistrate. He reprimanded the court audience for disturb ances and at one point ordered two larger boys from the court room. They went. There was seri ousness about the entire proceed ing. One of the cases was that of the youth accused of tearing the shirt. A second lad was also sus pended from the guard (school boy patrol) for two weeks and assigned W 19 minutes in Faculty Member Don Davis' room each night for a week. He was found guilty of using bad language. Later this same boy was assigned to Davis' room for an additional five minutes nightly for alleged ly riding his b i c y c 1 e on the school grounds. First Offense Warning A girl, charged with riding a bicycle on the school grounds and not signalling for a turn, pleaded guilty and was warned. It was her first offense. The jury found a third youth not guilty of an accusation that he failed to signal for a turn while riding his bicycle. His case was a month old. Original re cords had been lost and Defense Attorney Steven Wisely put up considerable argument that the case should be thrown out be cause of the passage of time. Still another boy was suspend ed from activities for fighting on the school grounds. In the sev enth case the defendant was charged with running up and skipping stairs. Found guilty, he was sentenced to stay im Davis' room for 10 minutes one day. History Outlined During an interview with Davis, court advisor, and H. W. Gustin, school principal, follow ing the court's dismissal, the organization and history of the court was outlined. It was insti tuted last fall by the two men. Attorneys Manville Heisel and Stanley C. Jones Jr., gave the youngsters instruction in court procedure. There have been three sets of court officials so far this year. Davis said that it is planned now to have new officers every six weeks. They are picked from fifth and sixth graders who are school-boy patrolmen. Curr ent officers are all fifth graders. In addition to Tyler and Wisely, they are Prosecuting Attorney James Boyd, Bailiff Jack Lilly and Court Recorder Keith Bran son. In addition to the instruction from lawyers, weekly observa tion of the court in action gave the youths knoledge for their jobs. Schoolboy and bicycle pa trolmen. the school police, form 3 Jcwriemdk ""E" rJF i- "Her children arise up, and call her blessed." Chapel Across from PHONE Frank Morgah Funeral School Pupils Run Own Court; Learn Democratic Medford Second Section WITNESS TAKES STAND One of Recorder Keith Branson's tasks in the Jackson grade ! school student court is to swear in witnesses. Procedure is altered in the case pictured above as j Prosecuting Attorney James Boyd administers the oath to Branson, a witness for the trial. From the left are Branson, Judge Ernest Tyler, Boyd and Defense Attorney Steven Wisely. Court sessions are held almost every Friday and provide student participation in enforcement of school rules and regulations. the audience at court sessions. Boy Girl Jury Two boys and two girls each from the fourth, fifth and sixth grades form the the jury. A new jury is chosen for each session of court. Jackson student court has jurisdiction over student con duct on the school grounds and in the building and over bicycle operation including routes to and from school. It has authority to exercise justice for misdemeanors or row diness endangering safety in play; disorderliness at sports contests; rowdyism or loafing in the building; disfiguring or throwing paper and trash on grounds or floors, and rough ness, loud talk or scuffling in lines of march. Bicycle jurisdiction includes enforcement of riding regula tions and safe riding rules and Singer Company Sets Move to New Location Announcement was made Sat urday of the rental of the store building at 121 East Main street, by the Singer Sewing Machine company, now located at 40 North Front street. The Owl club, which at present occupies the East Main street property, will move June 1 to 32 North Front street in the building formerly occupied by Frohmayer's Furni ture exchange. The furniture ex change has located at IS South Front street. It is reported that renovations are now being made at 32 North Front street property by Owl club operators. Roy Minter. manager of Sing er Sewing Machine company, stated that while they will oc cupy the present location for the present, the East Main street store will be completely remod eled in line with needs from growth of business and a more desirable location for the store. The sewing machine company has already increased its person nel now being trained in antici pation of the opening of the new store planned for mid-July or August. TO GIVE PLAY Eagle Point, May 13 The junior class of Eagle Point high school will present a three-act costume play entitled "Huckle berry Finn." at the school gym nasium at 8 p.m on Wednesday, May 17. Four score and seven years ago on Nov. 19, 1863 Abra ham Lincoln delivered his im- mortal Gettysburg address. 3n Med Proverbs 31:28 1 Mortuary the Courthouse 2-8030 . Harold SnodgrasJ Directors MEDFORD, OREGON, laws regarding storage, treat ment and borrowing. Complaints made by patrol ment or other students are hand ed to the judge who prepares the trial docket with assistance of the court recorder and the super vision of Advisor Davis. Determine Punishment It is Davis' purpose to see that punishments determined are neither too easy nor too severe. Although possible penalties are talked over by Davis and the student jurist, the sentence to be imposed is determined by the judge. Davis reported that he has never had to countermand the judgement of the court. The court avoids corporal retribution, although at least one boy has been sentenced to his father to inflict punishment. While some penalties require" labor, work is not the emphasis. Stress rather is on the time taken up by punishment t i m e in which a youngster might be en joying some other activity. Effort is made in the court to explain to children why they are punished. A severe penalty for a patrolman is suspension from his police duties. Davis brought out that this sentence is handed Osteopath Licensed To Proctology Practice Dr. Francis M. Neff. Long Beach, Cal., son of Mrs. Gertrude E. Neff, 217 West Sixth street, was recently certified as a specialist in proctology, and has been named secretary to the board of directors of the Long Beach Osteopathic hospital, it was reported Saturday. He is also chief of staff of Magnolia hospital, with a staff of more than 100. Dr. and Mrs. Neff ' plan to visit his mother and other rela tives, and friends, in Medford this summer. I ! I" ' . . 1 : if;, tv ; 0 o x . 4u ..J MVA: WiT vv vj Imagine! Styling In linoleum that ii to rich and perfect that it requires no border, no feature ttrip, no insets! Gone is the dull "sameness" of effect so common with conventional linoleums. Pabco "California Originals" bring wall-to-wall beauty that needs no gilding! $965 , ftrf sq. yd. BARNARDS FLOOR COVERING SPECIALISTS 317 East Main Phone 2-5487 SUNDAY, MAY 14, 1950 down when a youth's actions in dicate that he is not capable of looking after himself and, there fore, is not capable of looking after others. A suspended patrol man will be reinstated if he keeps out of trouble and main tains his schoolwork. If not he may be dropped permanently from the patrol. Don't Play Favorites Davis stated that, when the court was first functioning, there was a tendency among those in charge to play favorites. That tendency has been over come. Thus a lesson in fairness, squareness and equality has been driven home. A community rath er than clique spirit has been fostered. Those convicted in the court are made to realize that not. individuals, but the group is trying them. The Jackson school program has proved effective. Children have shown more interest through their opportunity for self-discipline. Discipline has im proved. There has been a re duction in the number of viola tions. Principal Gustin reported. Youngsters take the program seriously. Teachers Responsible Teachers arc still responsible for discipline In their rooms and to an extent in the halls. How ever, Gustin stated that the stu dent court has lessened the efforts of teachers. So far there have been only two cases of parental objection. Both cases were straightened out when the facts were explained and the fathers learned that their youngsters were not being "picked on." Gustin and Davis began the program in connection with the safety of the children. It was then enlarged to cover enforce ment of other rules and regula tions. Gustin said that plans are being formulated to expand the program for next year. FA3 LINOLEUM, iiiinipiiu Tribune Pages 1-8 Relief Fund Sent to Canadian Townsfolk Employees of Kogap Lumber industries and associated com panies this week raised a fund of $100 during a lunch hour for relief of residents in the yueoec town of Rimouski, which was largely destroyed by fire. A reply to a wire informing the city of this action was re ceived Thursday from Dr. Marcel Catellier, mayor of Trois Pistoles, a nearby community, who said he would extend the sympathies of the Kogap group to the pe Die of Rimouski. On May 11, the night shift at the Kogap mills decided to add their contributions to tnose maoe hv dav shift members, and an additional $38.20 was collected by Forest Martin of the planing mill. The total of $138.20 was forwarded Friday by wire to Mayor Victor LePage of Rimou ski. Cape Agulhas, not the Capo of Good Hope, is Africa's southern most land tip. 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Despite added amounts for principal and interest on the new bond issue, the levy will be about two mills less than last year in the consolidated district and four less than in the former Central Point district. The youngest regular coin still in use in the United States is the nickel, authorized by congress in 1866. Camellias for Mother As Low As 50c Potted Plants Gift Wrapped Tomatoes, Lettuce, Cabbage Whole and Retail MARSHALL NURSERY 12th and Newtown St. Phone 3-1657 Open Sundays Del. Service $1095 I AND UP $ 95 Vf AND UP S29.75 $34.75 These Sun-Tan chain are the lilt word in lummer comfort , , they're made by Simmon, with tturdy fpring tteel construction , . will last tor yean! 18 I
