Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-04-10
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC
EDUCATION.
Report Of tho Board Of Public Education IN
Wilmington, ,oith Statement Of their de-
counts Of the past year, published according
10 The Act Of the General assembly, for Mo
6cneft Of Publte Schools IN RiLminQton.

The Board occupy ten School Houses; six
they have built, viz: Nos ., 3, 4, Q, Z, 8; one
they have purchased, No. 10 one they re-
ceiyed from United School District, No. L;
two they hold under the City Council, Nos
| and0. The Board have sold School House
and lot No 1, at the corner of French and
Sixth Streets, reserving possession Of boys
department until the vacation in July, and
of girls department until April, 1867, and
intend to supply equal school accommodation
when the necessity occurs.
In these houses thirty -four Schools have
| been kept during the past year, graded from
the alphabet through reading, writing, draw
| ing, arithmetic, mental and written ortho-
graphy and defining, geography, history,
bookkeeping, algebra and physiology. Tho
schools generally are primary, comprehend
| ing under this term, reading, writing, ortho-
graphy and defining, drawing, geography,
and primary lessons In history and gram.
mar. All the Teachers are females. The
Board heretofore have carefully examined
and largely discussed the point of the aptness
and ability of Females to teach schools of
the grade of ours; their conclusion was that
for these schools they arc better teachers
than males; the experience and observation
of years have removed doubts of those who
at first hestated, and corroborated the opin-
ions of those who upon clear testimony and
what they deemed convincing reasoning
| had reached this conclusion. The teaching
has been not only more economical, but
! better.
But the Board have no doubt that there
ought to be schools under the instruction of
a male teacher, with competent assistants to
confer higher grade of English education,
\ such us every man of business should receive,
and youth by the age of sixteen or earlier
can acquire Our primary schools are of
| incalculable value. No one can overestimate
the importance of forming in children early
habits of school going, and saving them from
the ruinous effects OF sauntering on the
| streets, idling in vicious companionship and
other forms of Incidence; but it is obvious
that the interest of our citizens and the cause
of education, require that there should be in
our schools provision for higher grade of
inst1 action than has been yet introduced;
this is indeed the regular progress of our
system; beginning at what was at first seen
to be necessary, and proceedinga as our wants
have unfolded themselves. Every youth of
our city should have in our public schools
means Of a good business education. There
| are many who have never been in them that
should be attracted by higher advantages
than they have heretofore been able TO offer
The want OF funds and reluctance to contract
debt have restrained the Board from doing
what they have felt the undivided benefit OF
our citizens and public welfare of our city
required. When objection is made on ac.
count OF the expense, we ask, in what sub
ject of expenditure is our city so directly
interested, and on what is there so full and
liberal requittal TO the citizens, in good order,
moral influence, and permanent prosperity,
as the education of our youth?-preparing
them for worth and usefulness
| BY last quarters reports of our Schools,
| December, January February, fair sam
pie for the year, } IL is shown, that there were
in the schools that quarter twelve hundred
and eirhty-two boys and one thousand three
hundred and forty three girls; whole number
of scholars, two thousand six hundred and
| twenty-five, and fitty-two teachers, princi-
pals and assistants The time of four of the
principals is unnecessarily devoted to the duties
of Superintendence; there thus being forty
eight teachers ofclasses, averaging upwards
of fifty five scholars to each regular teacher.
| In the three largest houses, Nos 2, 6 and T.
each regular class contains sixty-four; in tho
others, except No. 8, the average is less than
htty-fiye; but even as the schools are graded
the whole energy of every teacher is requir-
cd for the performance OF her duties. There
arc existing committees of the Board for NIL
the Schools and il is only Justice TO the
Teachers to declare our belief that n more
faithful corps can no where be found
To keep fresh in the minds of the teachers
the knowledge they have acquired, and en-
courage them to proceed to higher prof
cheney, tho Board have instituted for their
benefit Normal School, open every other
Saturday morning, from nine O'Clock till
twelve, noon, taught by a member of the
Board.
The salaries of the teachers are limited by
the means within the power of the Board
They consider them too low, and would
gladly increase them. Seventeen receive a
yearly salary OF two hundred and fifty dol
lars; nine salary of two hundred and
seventy-fvc dollars; eight n salary of three
, hundred dollars; six Il salary of three hun
dred and twenty-five dollars; four salary
, OF three hundred and fifty dollars; three a
salary OF three hundred and seventy five
$ dollars; three salary of four hundred dol
, lars; one a salary OF live hundred dollars as
principal of school house No 4, and of two
hundred dollars as principal of school house
No. 3; the lowest not sufficient, the highest
barely sufficient, at present prices, to board
{ and clothe them; and this for services faith
I fully rendered, and deserving grateful remu.
L neration.
/ 1t is desirable to impress upon all sendina
scholars to our schools, the importance o
punctuality and constancy of attendance
] Both these are essential TO u scholars form.
&, ing love of school, or making satisfactory
c progress. Absence for halliday loses moi
7 only the time of absence, but a part, and
c sometimes an important part, of what had
e been acquired, besides putting the scholar tc
: disadvantage in the class. Being tardy may
: lose lesson or hinder preparation, and tends
to the forming of careless, negligent habits
Under the strict rules of the Board, there is
!, improvement in both these respects, but
q there needs greater improvement, for the
d frequent absence or tardiness of scholar
n cannot fail to discourage the teacher. These
/, two faults, absence from school and tardi
/ ness in attending, of which parents seem tc
4 think so little and which some encourage
c complaining of the rules which restrict them
\ Will greatly affect progress of learning and
Il habits of conduct, which must have a con
n trolling agency in forming, for good or fol
l. evil, the condition of life.
n JOHN T. ROBINSON, Treasurer,
n In Ace't with Me Board Of Public Education
To Cash Of late Treasurer. ...,"..$ /, 1907. AZ
9 Proceeds of note, dis
q counted. .......... ....... ........ 3, ,462. O.
:. 10 Cash of City Treasurer ......... 90 4O3. Z.
e State Treasuror.,.....,. 2,062. 81
O Teachers for use Of Books,
&c;,..,......... ........."...."...., 1896 Il
To Cash proceeds of Note discoun-
n ted-."....""...,..,..,.........." 5s74
o $50, 4s9. O.
/ By Cash, per Teachers and Jani-
g tors Salaries. .,.....,.,,....... $16, 5ss 8
n BY Cash paid two notes...."..,.u. 1900 O
$, Interest ."n.......... 300
9s Books, &c........,,. 2,946 8
II MiscellAneous..,.. 2,197.9
IL Balance in hands of Treasurer. 290, 8
n $50, ,4s9. 6
III