Local hero Chang Chi-lang, a doctor, Hualien County commissioner, and Taiwanese member of the National Assembly, found the situation unconscionable. He fought for and eventually won central government backing for the construction of Fenglin Middle School, enabling more of the township's kids to further their education.
有鑑於此，台灣光復後第二年，1946 年，在鳳林鎮上懸壺濟世，同時也是花蓮縣議會議長、國大代表的張七郎醫師出面爭取，最後國民政府同意成立鳳林中學，鳳林子弟的教育才有了延續性。