American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-03-05
REPORT
OF TIE SCHOOL C0.ullITTEE.

THE Committee to whom was referred in the
House OF Representatives so much ct the Cover
nor's message relates to education, made the fol-
lowing report on the goth day Of January last.
1.-The Committee are thoroughly convinced oil
the necessity OF doing something 10 improve the
condition OF schools in this state. 1t is lamenta.
bic TACT that while In some neghborhoods in differ
ent parts OF the state there are no schools in Others
where they are established, they ia many in
stances, from the incompelency and immortality oil
the teachers who conduct them, in the most unpros
porous state. This is an evil which ought to be
remedied at as early period, as the means Of do
ing It can be commanded. But until the means are
acquired to such an extent, as to be able 10 set
about 1t efficiently, no attempt can be made which
will not result in disappointment. Nor is that The
worst consequence that is to be produced Fruit
less attempts will, by uselessy dissipatng the pro-
ceeds OF funds already possessed, have the PERM
cous effect OF reiardng the time, when this desra
BILE object may be successfully undertaken Such,in-
deed, will be the consequence of the premature APP
preparations from the school fund.- made in the year
1917 1918 1891, under which several thousand
dollars have been expended for the education oil
poor children, without materially promoting their
instruction. These children except at schools in
few OF the towns, have been taught for such short
* irregular periods, that they could not have made
any sensible progress in acquiring knowledge oil
the FIRST rudlments Of learning. And the UNEQUAL
distribution undersigned it is ADMITTEDLY among the
several countless OF the money appropriated by the
law of 1921, is an additional reason why the appro-
priation should not, in the, yet, too diminutive
state OF the school fund, be continued. That fund
amounts now, with the unappropralsd money 10 the
treasury belonging to il, to 10000 dollars, and
will produce an annual interest of ECO dollars But
Of this sum, ZOO dollars annually, for the period
OF years, to wit, from the year 1895 10 the year
1897 both inclusive, are, under the act passed at the
last session OF the Legislature authorizing a sub
scription TO the stock Of the Chesapeake and Della
ware canal, applicable to that improvement. The
balance, 1900 dollars added 10 the annual proceeds
OF marriage and tavern licenses will probably make
about 5000 dollars, which sum, annually or semi
annually vested IN some kind Of productive stock
will grow to amount of cot less than % coo dol
lars in years from this time. At the end Of which
period also, the canal having been completed, the
$4,000 dollars subscribed for stock OF that descrip
ton, Will begin to yield profit. The fund as it
now exists increased by the two last named sums
will then amount to 10000 dollars, which sum
augmented by The interest annually accruing, will
in years thereafter rise to the amount Of at least
100000 dollars. Whrnit has accumulated to this
sum, the interest arising thereon, enhanced still by
the proceeds OF marriage and tavern licenses, ali
producing sum annually OF not less than IS 900
dollars will, il is believed, after the Hundreds in
the several Counties shall have been divided into
convenient school districts, be sufficient with the
voluntary subscriptions of the citizens in those dis
trlcts to give all neediul Improvement to the schools
that may be then established, and to institute such
additional schools as may be required.
There ought to be, it is computed, not less than
500 schools 10 the state in all OF which there is
greater or less number OF pauper children whose
parents and friends have not the means of school
ing them. $4,000 dollars would be sum sufi
cient to admit Of SO dollars being allotted to the
teacher, of every school, AS in some school dis
trcts there would be greater number of pauper
children than in others, and consequently greater
public aid would be needed in such districts the
most eligible mode, it is conceived of appor,ion-
ing that aid, would be on an account being first Ia
ken OF the pauper children in the several districts
not to allow the teachers an equal sum- but TO com
pensae them according to the humber of pauper
children taught by each. In this way might a
school be maintained in every school district, and
IN every season OF the year. Although at presen,
there be in some neigborhoods several of the In.
habltants who have children they are able to school
yet there being an insufficient number to SUPPORT )
teacher they are obliged to do without any, or t.
send their children to schools at an inconvenien
distance. Now In all such neghborhoods, couIt
teachers receive small compensation for instruc
ing pauper children, it would put it in the powe,
Of persons who are able to pay for schooling theirs
70 employ them.
The General Assembly which passed the law il
1856 for creating the school fund, might probabl,
have had some such plan as this in contemplation
/ is quite certain they could not have been SO Wis
'onary, as to suppose that this school fund would
rom the few and slender sources of revenue assign
cd il, have in any reasonable time so accumulated
as 70 afford interest sufficient to establish all tn,
new schools that might be found necessary, and &c
support those already instituted, in the severa
Hundreds otthe respective Counties in the state
\ sum 10 be commensurate with that object, shout,
amount to nearly, if not quite, 100000 of dollars
AS there Is no probability that the school fund