Goose Lake Consolidated School

This is an article from the Clinton Avertiser, November 1920

GOOSE LAKE SCHOOL WILL GIVE GREAT FACILITIES
(This is the fifth of a seriew of special articles on new consolidated schools in Clinton county.)

Several years ago some of the people of Deep Creek township came to believe that the ordinary one-room school was not affording their children as good advantges as town school nor as good as they thought they should have. They believed their teachers were doing all they could under the conditions they were required to work but they felt the system was not as efficient as it should be, therefore a movement toward consolidation was inaugurated and an election was called to vote on the question of establishing such a school. The vote at this time was unfavorable mainly beause of lack of information on the subject and partly because of disappointment with the outcome of a meeting that was called at which time the subject of consolidation was to be discussed by P. G. Holden. During the meeting Mr. Holden discussed ohter agricultural problems and avoided the consolidated school, hence many believe that there was something wrong with the plan. The idea however, still persisted in the minds of many and in the summer of 1919 the question was brought forward again by the proposed consolidated school movement at Charlotte. the voters in Black Bird district preferred Goose Lake as a school enter and encouraged the circulation of a petition of an election, which was done. The election was called and the vote revealed a decided change of sentiment. It stood better than two to one in favor of forming a consolidated district. The new district included all the West Deep Creek, Black Bird, Center Deep Creek, Goose Lake and District No. 2 Center Township which comprises about 23 sections of land.

The board of directors were elected and a special election was called which authorized a $60,000 bond issue the proceeds of which was to be used for purchasing a site, erecting and equipping a building thereon. An excellent and convienient site in the east part of Goose Lake was purchased and a building is being erected. The building will be modern in every particular but not as large as the other buildings being erected. The district is small and it was not thought necessary to put up so large a building. There is a decided advantage to this district in being able to connect with the high power electric line which passes through Goose Lake, as well as the city water system. The building will accomodate 15 to 200 pupils when completed.

No high school is attempted in the district this year. All pupils from that territory attending high school go to Clinton and Lyons. A complete consolidated school program will be established next fall as the building will be completed by that time. It is planned to emphasize the agricultural side of the curriculum and make it a really rural school with a complete twelve grade course. The twelfth grade will not be offered, however, for a few years. The personnel of the board is:
President -- Paul N. Harksen
Secretary -- Adolph Stampe
Treasurer -- Herbert C. Jepsen
August Kruse
Carl Kruse
John Hansen
Peter Eggers

Only those who have gone through the organization of a consolidated school can fully appreciate the services a school board renders to the community.
Goose Lake is admirably located as a center for a consolidated school and in due time this school will come to hold a large place in the affairs of the community.