Milford chronicle., 1889-02-08

-N-~a aNASAS ~ lilSul obtain puDlCilyi aut
he proceeds 10 send in such report, o
which the Senate has already ordered so
copies to be printed, and of which tn,
House Will probably print 900 additiona
copies.
For this report, though voluminous, il
well-timed and loaded with information
as well as suggestions
He opens, after explaining the short
coming Of the law alluded to above, BY
comPlimenting the county superinten
dents for faithful service in visiting
schools, conducting examinations, grant.
ing certificates aud holding teachers in
stitutes. He informs the Legislature that
the said county superintendents have col
lected the textbooks, left over by Super
intendent Williams administration, from
the agents who held the same for the
State, and have duly sold these books to
the highest bidders as directed by law.
He recommends that the meagre annual
appropriation ofSIoo to county institutes
be raised to SI5o or $500; moderate ad-
vance which certainly would not bank
rupt the State treasury. At present the
superintendents are compelled to conduct
evening lecture courses to raise the funds
to exc out the necessary expenses ofthese
reunions. He advocates lengthening the
term of these superintendents to at least
two, and preferably four years, and to re-
qhire special qualifications of scholarship
ahd successful experience in teaching as
evidence Of the fitness of candidates.
With regard to the work that has been
done in the institutes, the report praises
itF very practical character and consid-
ets that teachers who haye failed to re-
ceive benefit therefrom must have been
prejudiced against the system or lacking
in teachable frame of mind. The law
requires the attendance of all teachers.
The report finds room for considerable
improvement in our school districting
system. The creation Of each hundred
into a school district or the apportion-
ment ofhundreds or fractions thereofinto
incorporated boroughs is recommended,
a plan which would encourage the ulti-
mate establishment of rural high schools
of grade capable, : fit students to enter
colleges and profe, 3onal schools. The
attention given to The study of temper
''''ee ana hygiene ing tne past Two /
ears IS rei~- %, with the comment
hat this has varied greatly in different
ichools, and that it is sufficient to say that
= law so loosely worded, as the act de-
igned to promote this study, cannot be
expected to accomplish considerable re-
suits in a short time
The subject of free textbooks receives
conspicuous attention. It may be neces-
ary to explain to some Wilmington read
rs that outside of the city, parents are
equired to buy the books which are used
their children at school. This outlay
IS felt by many father or mother as a
serious drain. The expenditure for a
family of several children may reach
rom $40 to $40, or even more, per year.
From this expenditure, the parents of
Wilmington have been exempt so long
hat it requires an effort to realize that
stepping outside the city limits brings
one into a region where school books
must be paid for President Raub would
ike to see the use of textbooks made
rec and enumerates the advantage that |
would follow, aside from the relief to a
many slender pocketbooks. One of the !.
most obvious and important of these is
hat it would bring into the schools many
'hildren whose parents are either too
Door or too shiftless to buy the necessary {
looks. Another that it would secure uni
orinity, since, under the present system,
eachers in rural schools must yield point
nd permit children who lack the ap-
'roved textbooks to use such as they
lave. Thus it may happen that while
ONE boys in class may be provided
Nth the most recent and approved arith- o
netics, biographies and grammars, others Il
the same class may have to get along c
S well as they can with obsolete and di- Ct
apidated relics of bygoue generations. al
IL that Mr.. Raub says on this subject is Il
Iell deserving both of public and legisla- ei
we consideration.
Other topics upon which the report -
eats are the advisability Of harmonizing :,
lie incorporated schools systems; the adj e.
antages of biennial school census; the &,
of at least reirnbursing the or
LENDERS of the State Board for their nee a
'sary travelling and stationery expenses;
lie need Of a State normal school; the ga
ibstantial progressof the colored schools, R
1d the desirability of Delaware "arbor ty
ny" Though this latter topic seems Dc
tile foreign, at first glance to a report = =
4 the condition of the public schools, =
little reflection will show that Mr.. Raub II
very properly desirous Of inculcatine :,
e tree-planting idea in the rising gener- ~
ion; that, it being necessary, advisable A,
d wholesome to plant trees, the young IN
ca cannot too soon be given bent in
is direction, and be taught and encour- SUI
ed to 60 on in the good work until da
cry schoolhouse in the land shall be Tr
Uncovered in perennial verdure or words
that effect en-
alb
wonderful Popularity. W. ",