Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-02-13
The Public Schools of Wilmington

Especial Contribution 10 tho Commercial
No. /.
The ranks of the earnest advocates of more
thorough School System for this State have re-
ccivcd strong accessions of late. The friends OF
Public Education are constantly increasing in
numbers, and their efforts in this direction are be-
ing well organized for the future.
The idea that the present laws which are in
tended to provide educational facilities, are sadly
deficient In their adaptation TO the wants of the
State, is taking deep root: and with this con-
scousness, there is hearty desire so to modify
those laws, that the proper establishment OF ii
School System may be secured and practically
operated, the advantages Of which may be shared
by all sections of the State.
We have evidence OF these facts in the wide
spread interest that has been awakened, by the
agitation of the subject, by the Educational Con-
vention that was recently held ut the Capitol, the
many articles bearing upon the matter that have,
from time to time, appeared in the Daily and
Weekly prints, and by the general rcstlcssncss of
the community in view of the School Laws now
existing.
This growing desire to educate public senti-
ment up to the conviction of the necessity of a
mites to endure more chcerfuy than is their
wont, the burdens Of school taxes annually I'M
posed. naturally directs our attention to the Free
Schools of the City OF Wilmington, and leads us
to institute the inquiry ''are these Schools such
as our city should be proud Off" Is the mode
of maintaining, and conducting them. ono tbnt
W.. shou,d 10 coptont with tbc teocb;ng or s;xteon
Years determining us2 Or does the plau adopted
eave ia much to desire md strivc forp and IL ia
pronosed in this series of pauers tn stndv this
pan and observe ts results in the variou, schools
which have boen or,oin,,ed nnder tia on.r,i;or
in this city.
The school law upon which our public schools
are based, nav be said to be circumrcribcd in-
deed. II was framed with special reference to
Wilmington, and its growing needs /; 1t is In op-
eration in no other section of the State. Passed
by the LEGISLATURE in 1852. sufficient time has
been allowed to test the strength and efficiency
of a system then given us.
This act consolidated nine school districts, in
the city, aud made provision for the union OF the
tenth, whenever it wished to unite, which 1t sub
sequcntly did. Provision was made for the for
nation of a Board of Public Education, to be
composed of fifteen members, three from each
Ward the members to hold their offices for three
years, and to elect their own President and Sec
retary.
The powers entrusted to this Board arc ample
The terms of tho act arc that the corporation
shall have charge of tho education in Public
Schools In tho city of Wilmington; shall ncrc ,se
their number and improve their condition, ms
they shall deem judicious and expedent, until it
shall satisfactorily appear that there are sufficient
public schools to accommodate all the white
children and minors whose parents, guardians or
masters desire for them the benefit shall have
nutho,itv from time TO time TO rent. purchase or
puiiu sehool houses'ohc OF more W procuro io's
of ground, employ ana dismiss teachers, appoint
Visiting cohiiii'tees, 'haNc r's"h''iohS anu h"'e
stated mohih'y ihee'ihes.
Inc same pill proviueu that INC boaru shouiu
| lay before Inc Cny Couhci every year coi'pu-
m'ion' Ill o'ucr tn'' 'nc "'iou". " W. i''se" py
tax Tor public use, might NC de'ermheu' .ii''
schooi TAX 10 DC assessed ana coiicc'eu as o'her
taxes and PAID into the hands oil inc oty lrea-
surcr, anu paid out by MN upon orders drawn
by the Board under the hand oil thc PRESIDENT.
In addition to this revenue from iaxos' Inc board
the credit Of the len school districts from the
npd for establishing schools in the State.
Such, in substance are the provisions oil law
which started and las iostcreu our common
schools. Some subsequent rnactments were pass
mi, rootnros os this lin ,emoin NJ nr.scnt The
same. II NAV he commended AS having civ en-
the Board OF Public Education much scope ma
tor;o, moons with vh,c, IN opcratc and discre.
uon,,v now.r IN cm,Jov tbo,, means in dcveop.
inp and ,tr.pplbcniny an educational system
o.nat,o os ovno,.,or "a ,hc exnandiny cit,
demands ;ncreassd school facilities.