Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-10-14
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER II, 1855.
Tne schools and the Circus.

The Board of L lucation has stri ngent
rules against dismissing the public
schools on any public occasion or festi-
witty except the regularly constituted
recognized by the law. Bat
Notwithstanding this fact about eight
thousand children were turned loose
upon the str eets on Monday TO run aud
shout after a circus, for after all II Is
very doubtful whether more than
thousand of that number went to the
oxh ibiion in the afternoon. Inc
morals Of circus-going are not 30 much
the question In this case as the breach
of the rules of the Board OF Education.
There appea red, very properly too, to
be disposition among the members OF
the Board on Monday,in discussing this
matter, to blame DR.. keables, one OF
the Committee OF No. l Boys High
School, he having led the way By dis
missing that school. Tho doctor, In
his defence, said every boy in the school
petitioned him 10 dismiss the school,
and had lie not complied with their re-
quest he would not have dared to show
his fAce In that school again. For the
sake Of good character And manhood OF
the boys Of the High School OF Will
mington, We trust the doctors Tears
were groundiess. What was he afraid
of? Was he afraid the boys in their
anger at the refusal Of their request
would maltreat and abuse hun II
there were any danger Of this, it does
not speak well for the training OF the
boys in the High School. But we shall
take the part of the boys. We do not
believe they. would have molested any
body for the fearless and conscientious
discharge of his duty. The doctor
says they petitioned for holiday and
circus was not mentioned In it. Cpor
the same grounds, hen, they can petition
ut any time for holiday and II the!
only look right fierce when they presen
it the doctor will be bound TO grant tn
request or cease his visitations to tn
school. We feel bound to defend Oh
boys in this matter for their characte
Is ut stake. We do not believe tina
anybody's life and limbs would hav
bee n endangered by declining to acced
to even o unani nous request fer hol
day when sound, sensible, reasons al
adduced for suoh deolination. Hs
these boys been told that there was
stringent rule against Diminishing II
school upon such occasions and tn
their request could not be granite
without q breach Of such rule, nobod
would have been mort willing to aequ
osce in decision so conscientious al
business like.
But No. school being dismisse,
there was a strong argument in favor
the dismissal OF other schools. 9th
committeeman say they dismissed the
SCHOOLS because No. was dismisse
- fhe children in their appeal said til,
had rs much right to lie dismissed
No. had. So they had IL is
inherent principle in the breasts
American children 70 consider ther
selves as good and entitled TO as ma
privileges as other children. We Ii
that spirit In children. So it went I
til all the schools in the city we q
told. with one or two exceptions, w
dismissed, and this was all done
the face Of s.rict rule againstit.
The Board OF Education should
be vacillating. When they max
rule they should adhere to it, and /
proves bad one 1t shOlid be rescind
At any rae il is folly TO have a T
upon the books against dismiss
schools on trivial Ire:exts, and
when such pret-xts arise nearly all
schools are dismissed.