The Wilmingtonian., 1886-12-04
School Chat from Sussex.

"Just this morning." replied Mr.. Will
liams with his usual pleasant greeting, ~
go down again to morrow. ara on my
| regular rounds visiting the Sussex. schools
and am only half way through as yet. y
How are educational matters down therep'
well, 10 one word, they are improving"
"The Ssssex Schools" continued the su-
perintendent "show real, genuine advance
ment for the last three years. AS rule they
are now kept open for q somewhat longer
tion. A great deal of needed repairing has
been done, although there are some school
houses still in very bad condition, espec-
ally In the country, that IL outside the
towns and villages. Tie schools of Sussex
County will, in my opl,,ion (here Mr.. Will
lisms spoke very emphatiesll,) compare
favoiably with those of any State in the
country"
"There is one bad phase noticed" con
tinued the Superintendent. 1t is that in a
block of thirty-fse schools of this county
that have just visited | found only five
teachers who taught in the same district last
year taking up their old schools this term.
This should not be. There is something
extremely wrong about it. 4 continuous
change of teachers impedesiths regular pro-
gress of education.
"How do you account for 1t ?" asked the
reporter "or, how would you remedy the
evil ?" swell, 1t is etily ..sceounted for
but the remedy is not in my hands.
You should know that the school commits.
sioners too often try to get the cheapest
teachers obtainable. That is right in one
sense. But in a much more impol tant sense
it is seriously wrong and harmful. The
average pay is $50 per mouth for winter
teaching, and from $50 to s25 for the Spring
and Fall terms. Theie is no Summer term
| in Sussex.
what can you say" asked the reporter,
Gin regard to the general intelligence ami
appearance of the scholars In the country
schools Of Sussex ?"
"They are very bright as country children
and generally appear clean and well dressed
at school. What hurts their progress is that
that referred to, the schools are not kept
open long enough, averaging only five
months in the year.
"You understand" said Mr.. Williams az
am speaking of Sussex County. Kent County
averages about seven months school term,
while this county, Nrw Castle, keeps open
ten months in the year, just twice what the
Sussex County have.
"What can you say" continued the report
er ''of the general standing of the Sussex
teachers for intelligence aud professional
ability ?"
~ have to say thy are usually sefmade
teachers, that is not normal, or college grad
yates. But some do wonderfully good woi
for the opportunities they have had. They
are mostly Sussex-born men and women.
All through Western Sussex, the district |
have just come from, these teachers are do
ing faithful work.
The school attendance this season is bet
ter thon during the last two years. The
school roll of course does not at the present
time show its highest quota, as the larger
boys do not join their classes as a usual
thing until alter the Christmas holidays.
SIS there any complaint from the teachers
in regard to lack Of school apparatus P''
YES" said the Superintendent, "the Sus
sex teachers ask for globes, maps, charts
etc."
Most of the schools are well provided with
text books and blackboards.
There was school down in Whitesville,
SUSSEX, nearly one hundred years old, an an
oient frame structure. 1t was considered
the poorest, most dillapidated school struc-
ture in the State. 1t dangerous ''for
man or beast" Il would be afraid" said
Mr. Williams to stay in it. The residents OF
that district have just erected a handsome
new building at cost of 5000. Il is a gra-
ded school now with two nice rooms. To
do such thing in a country district ia
quite an achievement. / have, with the peo
pie of the district, quite pride in the fact
'I have been trying ever since held Office tc
get the people to rebuild. They are SC
proud now of what they have accomplished
that they ask you on the road shave you
seen our new schoolhouse?" 1t is in full
running order with two teachers, male
and female, and fiom 90 to 70 pupils 10 at
tendance. Great credit Is due the Tt tsidenti
of Whitesville for their enterprise In the un,
dertaking.
They are sadly in need of new school
house at Greenwood, ,Sassex County, on The
Delaware Road. An effort should be mad,
at the next session of the Legisla