Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-01-09
Communicated
The School Convention and the school

The School Convention and the school
Law.
During nearly twenty years,a few persons have
agitated the subjest Of change in the School
Law of this State. Several changes have been
made, one providing for the election of one COM
missioner each year, two holding over, instead
of electing three in each district each year Most
of the suggestions of Mr.. Taylor have been made
time and again and pressed upon the Legislature
by different gentlemen at each successive meet
ing of the General Assembly. Bills have been
| drafted and laid before the members, embodyiug
all the best features of the laws of other States.
Once or twice Acts were nearly passed.
| The proposition to oblige District to maintain
a school at least four months each year is Judi
cious, and, while that is not all that should be
done, 1t is all that can be accomplished Tor some
years to come. Pennsylvania did not 20 farther
than to require four months of school each year !,
indeed, am under the impression, that even at
the present time Districts in Pennsylvania are
only required to keep school open, four months
in the year. The average tine for New Castle
Co., without compusion, is more than four
months.
The second proposition of Mr.. Taylor, viz
ScUDOl silUuiu DC clcctcu Ill each
district to ASSESS collect and disburse this tax and
have the general care of the school, is and al
ways has been part of the Law Of Delaware
, Sec chapter AZ g OF Free schools Sec. 3,
721, and Sec. II, q. 743, ct. seq. The term o
office of the Commissioners, as | have stated
above, has been altered by late amendment
the duties of Commissioners remain The same.
Mr.. Taylor proposes Sd, that a State and tire,
County Superintendent should be elected by thu
Commissioners. There is no need of three coun
, ty Superintendent. One active man can do al
the work in the whole State. The Superintendent
of Lancaster Co., Pcnna., has more schools undc
his charge than We have in Delaware; as large
territory and as many people in his county as ar
comprised in our whole State. II you multp
offices and salaries you will defeat your object
you will lose your point We need one State Su
perinten1cnt who should visit all the schools ex
anime all teachers, in the presence of some con
, slituted authorities, and lecture to the people
The mode of election, by the Commissioners,
is impracticabe and injudicious. have not room
to print out why.
The fourth point made by Mr.. Taylor is good
The present law is defective as to the manner q
: raising money to "provide school for the dis
trict" A school can moi be provided until yo
have suitable place, but many Commissioner
have hesitated to use funds for building n Dosei
which had been voted to keep school.
The last proposition of the speaker, abov
named, is a good ore, but, whoever appoints til
Committee should select some of those who hay
devoted attention to the practical workings Q
the present law ard who are well acqlainie
= with our present system, e.g. Hon. Willard Hal
!, Rev. Thos. Bradford, Judge Layton.
Let this question be agtatcd Some Of you
readers may have old reports of the Superintend
Q ents of New Castle Co. They will confer a fave
: by lending them, through the Editors Of th
COMMERCIAL TO PROGRESS.