American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-02-24
REPORT
OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE

nor message as relates 10 education made the TO
lowing report on the Goth day of January last
"Ihe Committee thoroughly convinced o
the necessity of doing something TO improve tn
condition OF schools in this state. 1t is amenta
bic TACT, that while in some neighborboods in differ
ent parts OF tine state there schools, in other
where they are established, they are in many in
stances, from the incompetency and immortality c
the teachers who conduct them, in the most unpros
porous state. This is evil which ought to b
remedied at as early period, as the means of do
ing it can be commanded. But until the means ar
acquired to such an extent, as TO be able to sc
about II efficiently, no attempt can be made whic
will not result in disappointment. Nor is that thu
worst consequence that is to be produced. Fruit
less attempts will, by uselessy dissipatng the pro
ceeds OF funds already possessed, have the PERM
cious effect OF reardng the time, when this desirs
Bile object may be successfully undertaken Such, in
deed, Will be the consequence OF the premature an
preparations from the school fund, made in the yea
1917, 1918 & 1921, under which several thousan
dollars have been expended for the education q
poor children, without materially promoting thei
instruction These children, except at schools il
lew OF the towns, have been taught for such shor
K irregular periods, that they could not have mad
any sensible progress in acquiring knowledge O
the first rudiments Of learning. And the uneaua
distribution undersigned it is ADMITTEDLY among tn
several counties, OF the money appropriated by tn
law OF 1921, is an additional reason why the appro
prlatlon should not, in the, as yet, too diminutiy
state OF the school fund, be continued. That func
amounts now, with the unapp opraled money in tn
treasury belonging to it, to 10000 dollars anc
will produce an annual interest OF 200 dollars Blu
OF this sum, 5000 dollars annually, for the perot
OF years, to wit, from the year 1928 TO the yea
1897 both inclusive, are, under the passed at tht
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 an amount Of not less than q, 900 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 il
now exists, increased by the two last named sums
will then amount TO l67 900 dollars, which sum
augmented by the interest annually accruing, will
in years thereafter rise to the amount Of al eas
100000 dollars. Whenit has accumulated 10 this
sum, the interest arising thereon enhanced still BY
the proceeds OF marriage and tavern licenses, all
producing sum annually Of not less than $4,000
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.
ricts to give all needfu improvement to the schools
that may be then established, and to institute such
additional schools as may be required.
There ought 10 be, it is computed not less than
500 schools in the state, in all OF which there is a
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 suffi
cient 10 admit of so dollars being allotted to the
tRarher nj ccboni 40 IN H..
tTicts there would be greater number OF pauper
children than in others, and consequently greater
public aid would be needed in such districts HE
most eligible mode, il is conceived Of apportion-
ing that aid, would be on an account being first ia.
Ken OF the pauper children in the several districts
rot 10 allow the teachers an equal sum- but to COM
pensate them according 10 the number Of pauper
children taught by each. In ithis way might a
school be maintained in every school district and
m every season OF the year. Although at present
mere BE n some neigborhoods several of the in
oabitants who have children they are able to school,
get there being an insufficient number-to support a
teacher they are obliged TO do without any, or Ia
send their chlldreA 10 schools at an announcement
distance Now In all such neighhorhoods, could
teachers receive small compensation for nstruc.
ting paupeF children, it would put it in the power
OF persons who are able to pay for schooling theirs,
70 employ them.
me Gehersi Assembly which passed the law in
'95 for creating the school fund, might probably
nave had some such plan as this in contemplation
It is quite certain they could not have been so Wis
onary, as TO suppose that this school fund would
from the few and slender sources Of revenue ASSIGN
ed IT. have in any reasonable time so accumulated
as to afford an interest sufficient to establish all the
new schools that might be found necessary, and 10
support those already instituted, in the severa
hundreds OF the respective Counties in the state
n sum to be commensurate with that object SHOULD
amount 10 nearly II not quite, 100000 of dollars
rs there Is no probability that the school fund
however carefully managed, will ever rise to tina
amount or u should the day must be far distant
81 SC hnnls in the seysral LI....,.. p -