American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-02-13
REPORT
OF TIE SCHOOL CO.NNiTTTEP

lowing report on the Goth day OF January last.
1.-THE Committee are thoroughly convinced >,
the necessity OF doing something TO improvs H.
condition of schools in this state. 1t is lamsns
Bile fact, that while in some neighborhoods in dH.'
ent parts of the state there no schools in nb.
where they arc established, they are in many i
stances, from the ineompetency and mmoral,v =,
the teachers who conduct them, in the most unr,,.
porous state. This is an evil which oupb, ,on.
remedied at as carly period, as the means og d,
ing it can be commanded. But until the mesn,,,.
acquired 10 such an extent, as TO be able IN -,
about 1t efficiently, no attempt can be made, which
will not result in disappointment. Nor is ths, b |
worst consequence that is to be produced, F,w,,
less attempts will, BY useessly dsapatihe the nm.
ceeds of funds already possessed have The n.,ni
cous effect OF rearding the time, when this de,ir
BILE object may be successfully undertaken Sucbm,
deed, will be the consequence ofthe pre- matur. A.
preparations from the school fund, made in he vss
1917, 1878 * 1891, under which several thou,,nd
dollars have been expended for the education n
poor children, without materially promoting lke
instruction. These children, except at schools h
a few oil the towns have been taught Tor such shpn
u irregular periods, that they could not have mad
any sensible progress in acquiring knowledge Of
the first rudimcnts of learning, And the uneou
distribution Undersigned it is ADMITTEDLY among n,
several counties, oil the money appropriated BY III.
law OF 1891, is an additional reason why the appro.
prialion should not, in the, as yet, too dminutr.
state OF the school fund, be continued. That Gn5
amounts now, with the appropriated money in the
treasury belonging to il, to 10000 dollars and
will produce an annual interest of 200 dollars Bu
OF this sum, 5000 dollars annually, for the nerO1
OF years, 10 wit, from the year 1923 10 The wear
1897, both Inclusive are, under the act passed al The
last session OF the Legislature authorizing SUBJ +
scription TO the stock of the Chesapeake and Deb,
ware canal, applicable 10 that improvement. Til,
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
VIII grow TO an amount OF not less than %, 900 DOL
lars IN years from this time. Atthe EN- Of which .
period also. the canal having been completed, the
$4,000 dollars subscribed for stock OF that descrp
lion, 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
by the interest annually accruing will .
IN years thereafter rise to the amount of al least
100000 dollars. When has accumulated TO this
sum, the interest Arising thereon, enhanced still BY
he proceeds OF marriage and tavern licenses, oil
producing sum annually Of not less than lj,OOO .
dollars, will, II is believed, after the Hundredsi1
he several Counties shall have been diwdedinlo
school districts, be sufficient, with the
Voluntary subscriptions Of the citizens in those dis.
riots, TO give all needful improvement 10 the schools
hat may be then established and TO institute such
additional schools as may be required.
There ought to be, it is computed, not less than
800 schools III 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
ng them $4,000 dollars would lie a sum suHi.
n Admit of 6oIIarr ha;o 49,
eacher, OF every school. As in some school dis.
riots there would be greater number OF paup,r
hdren than in others, and consequently greater
public aid would be needed in such districts the
most eligible mode, il is conceived, OF appoItion
ng that aid, would be on an account being first To-
zen OF the Pauper children in the several districts .
ot 10 allow the teachers an equal sum, but TO com
'ensate them according to the number of paups
hildren taught by each. In this way might
ehool be maintained in every school district, and
2 every season OF the year. Although at present
mere De IN some neigborhoods several of the In
aollants who have children they arc able to school,
et there being an insufficient number to support
;acher they are obliged to do without any, or to
1Nn their children to schools at an announcement
ls'ance. Now in all such neighborhoods, could
,achers receive small compensation for instruc-
ng pauper children, it would put it in the power
persons who are able to pay for schooling theirs
employ them.
The General Assembly which passed the law in
20 lot creating the school fund, might probably
ave had some such plan as this in contemplation.
IS quite certain they could not have been SO vis'
mary, as to suppose that this school fund would,
ON the lew and slender sources of revenue assign
is nave IN any reasonable time SO accumulate
TO afford an interest sufficient to establish all the
Nv schools that might be found necessary, and 10
lpport those already instituted, in the several
undreds OF the respective Counties in the state
sum 10 he commensurate with that object, should
mount to nearly, if not quite, 100000 of dollars
5 mere Is no probability that the school fund.-
'we'er carefully managed, will ever rise to that
mount, or if it should the lay must be far distant
may be Justly inferred that by "the establishment
sc hOOlS the e