Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-11-19
For the Delaware Republican.


During the past nine or ton years my atten-
tion has been drawn to Delaware College,
which, many of your readers may remember,
it is located in the village of Newark; during
this period, in which at least two generations
Of young men might have graduated, only a
few, say five or six, have completed their col
legiate course in this Institution. In fact,
Delaware College had not been u popular or
successful Institution. l desire to ask some
of the friends of that College why it has failed2
Why at least eight different Presidents, and
probably at many faculties, have been unable
to establish fourishing Academy in Della
ware
Can it be that the Trustees have always
selected incompetent and inefficient menu
do not believe this. ifsuch has been the case
in one or two instances, it has not always been
so, and am confident is not so now. Della
ware College is gasping for life. Delaware
College is, at present, useless Institution. l
make this assertion in the hope that some
friend of the school will be able to reflte it,
and show that the Recitation r looms have been
crowded, and that the extensive Phil 1sophical
Apparatus has been made a means of instruct
ing hundreds Of young men. 1 speak in sor-
row, asa friend telling wholesome truth; not
to taunt or irritate.
This College has received large sums of
money, still it cannot sustain itself. The Trus-
tees resorted few years ago to that very in
judicious mode Of building up a school, the
establishment of scholarships. This plan has
| been detrimental. In view of these facts,
propose that the College should he indeed
what tits now only in name, Delaware College.
An Institution in which the sons Of our far
mers and mechanics as we'll as those OF
| professional men, should receive a thorough
scientific and classical education. The city OF
Wilmington, alone ought to furnish at least one
hundred students, New Castle County, should
send another hundred, and two hundred more
could be attracted to the school from other
| quarters.
How shall this happy and prosperous state OF
affairs be produced. First move the College.
| Now the question arises ssto what placer" ]
| suggest that the ease of access and number OF
inhabitants of the new site ought to be consid
cred. Wilmington is easily reached, from
Jersey, Delaware, Philadelphia and Chester
county, as we'll as from all southern parts Of
I the country. " rfmington alone, as I have
stated could send more students than the Col
lego had ever numbered before. The school
should offer inducements to families to come
/ and reside in its vicinity. Many persons pre-.
| fer to retain children under the parental rule
while the latter are receiving their education,
| Wilmington, having delightful climate, good
water, gas, cheap rents, good boarding house
and beautiful surrounding country, offers un'
usual attractions, to parents in these respects
this city, there are always capitalists ready tt
| supply the demand for new houses.
| The college, if removed, should be establish
ed on the most liberal footing. The course o
instruction ought 70 be adapted to the capaci
| t. and future business of the student. Mathe.
matics, Drawing, Natural Philosophy anC
| Chemistry Gin a practical course) ought to b.
taught and modern languages, French and
German given precedence to Latin and Greek
A young man ought to BIO allowed to ente
and take partlakcourse, say in Drawing AMI
Chemistry or Drawing and Mathematics or
French and Natural Philosophy as suited the
bent of his mind and the business he may in
tend to pursue. Again, those who desire tt
be teachers should be examined and subse
queutly trained in those branches in which ht
may be deficient, and which will be most use
tut to him at Teacher of Public School
while the .art Of Teaching should be made al
especial subject of study and practice in {
Model School, attached to the College, which
may lie under the care Of the Board Of Lduca
ton Of this City. ALuMNUS,