Illegal German School Monday, November 21, 2005 Segregation,
racism, religious differences – issues such as these have not
typically been common within North Dakota schools. But they have
existed in different forms during the state’s history. One high-
profile case erupted in the town of Expansion, a tiny port on
the Missouri River that never got beyond a population of 75. The
townsite was later covered by Lake Sakakawea after the building
Garrison Dam. This area in Mercer County had a large population
of prosperous German families whose children entered public
school unable to speak English. The parents felt this
disadvantage was a large problem for their youngsters. These
families were predominantly Evangelical Lutheran, and they
desired more religious instruction for their children, as well.
Sometime in 1915, a number of German Lutheran farmers decided
they needed to have their own school. They organized, adopted
resolutions and petitioned Mercer County Superintendent of
Schools Thomas to approve their plan