The daily gazette., 1875-03-16
The Public School BtLE.
Sr. GEoner's, Del, March 10, 1875.
For the Gazette.

Sr. GEoneE's, Del, March IS, 1875.
Mr.. EDiroR-Deor Sir: Please give
this place in your columns. My object
in writing is to call the attention OF your
readers to proposed amendment Of the
school law, entitled "An Act in Relation
to Free Schools in this State" for copy
OF which J Sm indebted to the politeness
of one at my neighbors.
The lst section provides for constitu-
ting Il State Board OF Education, the
members Of which are to be appointed
by the Governor; he, the Governor, be-
ing the President Of that august body.
1t further provides that they shall re-
ceive and consider their own reports i'll
regard to the condition Of the schools,
c.rd il.'t they shall make full report to
themselves ON or before the first day o.
December Of each year, they, Of course,
having tho right to hear and determine
hnailI NJ OH all matters of controre~s-
between themselves md teachers ana
school commissioners
Section End authorizes the State board
OF Education to issue u uniform series Of
blanks fur the use Of teachers and school
commissioners, but very generously al
lows the school commissioners OF each
school district to determine upon the
quantity and cost of said blanks -(see
Cssar's commentaries.
Section Sd, Modern Philanthropy.
Sections 4th, 5th and 9Th, duties OF the
State Board OF Education, reference be-
ing had thereto will more fully and at
largo appear. l cannot refrain, however,
from calling the attention Of your read
ers (some OF them may be school teach.
ers,) to the latter part OF section 9Th.
In granting certificates to teachers it
allows the State Board OF Education to
grade said certificates SO that mono who
can raise five dollars need 20 away sor-
rowing.
Section 7th, key to section Sd, requir-
ing sections 9th, 9TH, 10th. 1lth and 18th
to bolster it up.
Now, MIR. Editor, | am Interested in
having good public schools, but cannot
for the life OF me see how this will ben
eht US in that direction; hence con-
clude the real object OF the bill is to
create another office for the benefit of
som" Vt those who may be qualified and
deserving IN other respects, but whose
chief merit Is that they have per sever
lngly labored for the success of the par
ty in power, and do most earnestly ap-
peal to the people mot to party to pro-
test against such legislation, aud while
admit the necessity OF having a suffi-
cieht number Of Offices to answer the
purposes of good government and that
those who ill them should be fairly and
justly compensated for services render
cd, do as sincerely contend that more
than this make taxes unnecessarily high
But the worst Of it is the tendency OF
such policy towurds corruption. The
more patronage n government has the
greater will be the effort to get control
of 1t. For instance, gentleman might
possibly be u friend to education, sup
porter Of free schools, u most ardent pa
triot, an enthusiastic Democrat or Re-
publican, partly because he might forsee
the opportunity OF having it in his pow
er VI refusing TO accept SO very henora-
bic an appointment as that of member
OF the State Board Of Education through
the success OF ont or the other of the
parties named. There are other features
in the bill which appear to me to be OBJ
Jectionable which have not time nor do
l care to refer to them. My object is to
call the attention OF the readers of your
paper to the subject and they will Judge
ot its merits or demerits themselves.
Yours respectfully.
JAMRs McMULLIN.