Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-03-29
a Mosr COMPLETE SYSTEM.


wilmington's Educational system.
The West Chester Daily Local NelOs of
Saturday tells the following tlattering story
of Wilmington's public school system:
-Four members Of the Board OF School
Directors OF West Chester - Messrs. G.
Wesley Talbot, Joseph s, Evans, I. I.
Smith and William Dowlin-yisited the
inspected the public schools and public
school system OF the place. The directors
arrived i'll the city at about 1880 . clock
and, after making known their visit, were
taken III charge by Mr.. S II. Bnynard,
chairman Of the building committees Mr.,
l.. b. Jones, secretary and treasurer, and
MIR. d. w. Harlan, the popular supern-
tendent Of public instruction. Never
before did the West ChesterIans enjoy such
hospitable entertainment rs that ac-
corded them by the gentlemen whose
names have Just been mentioned; in fact
they seemed To take especial pleasure in
showing the visitors about and i'll other
wise assisting to make the trip an enjoyable
as we'll rs profitable one to them.
THE SUPERINTENDENT OF INSTRUCTION.
Our directors are loud in their praises Of
| Wilmington's public school system, and
declare il to be one of the finest in this
broad land of ours, this state of affairs
| being largely due to the capable and enter
/ prising management. To their surprise
| they learned that the city superintendent,
Mr.. d. W. Harlan, is an old Chester
countian, he having being born and raised
at Ercidoun. He also taught for many
years in this county, the last place being
at Kennett Square where lie was principal
of the schools. He subsequently located at
| New Castle. Dell, where he was made
| principal of the schools. but was after
| wards induced to accept the superinten-
dency of Wilmington's schools, which
position he has occupied for % years.
| ALL THE SCHOOLS VISITED.
But to Wilmington's schools. The wish
tors were furnished cabs by their genial
host, and were taken to and through each
of the - schools of the city. They found
the children were being taught all
branches Of instruction, including cooking
and manual training. In the former de.
partment the pupils were busily engaged
in making bread, baking biscuit &c,
under the personal supervision of their
lady iDstructor-a graduate of the DreXel
Institute.
THE MANUAL TRAINING DEPARTMENT.
Down in the manual training depart.
ment the visitors fingered long, and note d
many excellent points of this branch of
instruction. They found the boys at all
kinds OF work, from blacksmithing up to
carpentering. Eighteen big bellows were
making roaring fires, and the ceaseless
ring Of the hammer as il alighted on the
anvil made the place seem very business
like. Across in another portion of the
building some of the boys were industri.
ously working away at the lathes, while
others were turning ont some fine speci-
mems of woodwork. The visiting direc-
tors we're surprised to find the products OF
the shops to be of such high standard
The manual training department in only
one building was equipped .at a cost Of
$1,000.
IN THE CoLoRED SCHOOLS.
All the colored children are taught by
colured teachers and the latter are pro
nounced to be grand success. While pass
ing through one of these schools the West
Chesterians were pleased to find Miss Lena
| Brown, daughter of ex-Councilman Johr
, w. Brown, presiding over two score ant
ten children. She is quite bright younl
colored lady, and is graduate of our higl
, school.
: HOME AGAIN.
! At an early hour in the evening Messrs
Talbot, Evans, Smith and DOwlin bad,
their hosts an affectionate farewell, ant
. started for home, thus terminating one o
. the most pleasant visits of their oilicia
: career. They will long remember Viii
n mington, and will endeavor to reciprocal
i if ever an opportunity is offered.