Another story appeared in the Minonk Journal of October 21, 1882 under the head "Asserts his Authority" in which Mr. Lucius Fuller of El Paso was praised for taking hold of a bad situation in the Cruger School where children had been running things to suit themselves. Apparently Mr. Fuller received objections from the parents of the culprits, but was upheld by the board of directors. Another incident described in the March 18, 1882 issue of the Minonk Journal told of the experience of a "prominent and experienced teacher by the name of Oliver P. Burger" in the Secor School who was arrested by the parents of a boy who disobeyed Mr. Burger. When the boy ran from the building he was later punished by the teacher. The pedagogue was acquitted by the justice of the peace and the article in conclusion editorialized as follows: "If this father had given his son a good sound whipping when he went home, instead of rushing off to the justice of the peace, he would have shown better judgment. When parents want worthless, ignorant children they uphold them in all their little troubles with their teachers. The citizens of Secor fully endorse Mr. Burger and believe he acted property in the matter."
Absence from school in the old days was so prevalent as to call forth appeals through the local papers urging parents to send children more regularly. One such letter to the editor stated very bluntly: "The reason (for irregular attendance)is that such persons look to the money side of life and whenever a dollar can be earned by one of their children, he is called from school and put to work, though the mental loss
Jefferson Park Grade School, 1954.