Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

A local real estate dealer was suing the Spokane School District after his 7-year-old son was suspended after a fight.

It all began when the 7-year-old “defeated” a 9-year-old in a fight blocks from Hamilton School. The principal found out about it and – based on testimony from the 9-year-old – punished the 7-year-old by ordering him to “walk three blocks out of his way every day” on his way to school.

“It seemed petty to me to have the principal of a school take up a quarrel among two little fellows, that occurred after school hours, and penalize one without hearing the side of the other,” the father said. “So I had my boy cease to tramp the three extra blocks every day, after which Principal Miller suspended him indefinitely.”

The father appealed the suspension all the way up to the school board. He received no satisfaction. So he retained the services of Smith & Mack, attorneys. 

From the gymnasium beat: A feature story noted an interesting phenomenon at the S.A.A.C. gym: Older men, 60 and up, were participating in lively games of handball.

Many of Spokane’s professional men were convinced of the value of hard daily exercise. One man, Judge Huneke, was so “boyishly eager” on the court that he often jumped high in the air.

That kind of exercise, noted the reporter, can add 10 years to a man’s life.