Middletown transcript., 1883-02-23

last few years public sentiment has un-
derg0ne a very remarkable change.
Very many who, few years ago, were
opposed to the Free School
system, are now numbered among its
hearty supporters" In the course Of
their official visits during the year, the
Superintendent, in the great majority |
Of cases, found the teachers "endeav-
oring faithfully to discharge their
duties, working hard and in the best |
interests of the State" The one thing
lacking was the "hearty cooperation
Of parents and school commissioners y
It is highly important, the Superintend-
ent well says, that the school com
missioners in each district should be
working men, ready to labor in season
and out Of season to promote the inter
ests Of the schools, whether paid or not
for their services. )" And now comes
passage from the Superintendent's re-
port that is chock full Of truth
Although teachers, parents and
school officers can do much to further
our educational interests, yet period
has now been reached, in the history of
our State, when any marked improve.
ment must be looked for from another
direction. Our Legislature should la
broadly and firmly the foundation Of 1
better system-a system that will fur
nish an effective safeguard against the
evils Of ignorance, despotism and big
otry, and enable Our citizens to keep up
with the progress and advancement Of
the times in short, system that will
send out into the world our sons and
daughters with minds well developed. \
The Superintendent does not favor
compulsory education. He is inclined
to think that we need nothing Of that
kind. He advises that thoroughly
equipped normal school be provided for
the special training of teachers and
recommends an annual appropriation Of
seyenty-fve or one hundred dollars to
defray the expenses Of the teachers in
stitutes. Under the head Of School
Accommodations, the Superintendent
says very pertinently that what we eneed
more than anything else, perhaps, is IA
strong public sentiment in favor of
better school accommodations and
he refers in fit terms Of condemnation
to the flimsily constructed, wretchedly
arranged, and poorly ventilated build
ings in which hundreds Of the youth of
ours State ''sit day after day. breathing in
the seeds Of sickness and DEATH" This
is a matter that needs the immediate
attention Of parents and school officers.
A change is recommended in the school |
law by which more liberal support |
may be secured for schools in some |
sections Of the State. In regard to the
present law governing the distribution
Of school books, the Superintendent
thinks 1t defective and recommends a
change that will make it incumbent
upon the Superintendent to select ten
places in each county for deposit Of
books, the depositary to be allowed five
per cent profit on sales Of books for his
trouble. In regard to teachers certifi-
Gates, the Superintendent recommends
that in addition to the three certificates
now issued, there be also a permanent
certificate. This is an excellent sug-
gestion, for as the report says, such a
certificate would be only just and
right to those who are making life
work Of teaching" The following,
one Of the concluding paragraphs
Of the report, brings before US some
plain truths that are worthy the seri-
GUS attention Of every sincere friend
Of education in Delaware "After
an experience Of eight years, we are
brought face to face with the fact that |
the schools Of Delaware will never
attain to that degree of excellence /
and Importance they 50 justly deserve,
and to which all earnest educational
workers hope they may, unless sufi-
cient amount Of money is contributed |
to properly conduct them. Our schools |
need earnest teachers, and such cannot |
be secured unless they are paid. Al
ready moge than half of our male
teachers and very many female teachers
have left the school room to seek mora
remunerative employment, because Of
the meagre salaries paid. Thus our
schools are losing, in many cases, the
talent they possessed, and are not offer
ing any inducement to the growing
talent in our midst. It is with great
difficulty that our schools can be sup
piled at this time with teachers. This
is a vital matter, that must be met |
now, or it will possibly be too late to
retrieve the loss to our children, The