The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-03-26
FOURTH EDITION
CENTURY WOMEN wANi TO KNow

WAY the Compulsory Educatisa nm Did
Not Have the Board OF Educatiou's APP
prevail
Mira. Benjamin Nields. Mrs. Charles s
Rowland. Mrs. Charles X. Miller, Mrs. b,
Lnndy Kent and Mrs. A. d. Warner com.
prising the New Century Club committee
having in hand the compulsory education
mai ter, were before the Board OF Educa-
tlon last night to gearB why that body did
not give the bill It's support. Aud they
got The reason nf the members before The
conference was over
After some talk Mrs. Miller was given
the privilege OF the tloor, and after speak
ing OF the interest that bad been takun in
compulsory education by the New Gem
fury Club concluded by Informing the
beard members that they We're educating
the men and women who twonty live
years hence must bear the responsibilities
of government and public affairs, What
they were aiming at was an educated bal
lot to combat the evils OF the uneiueated
ballot.
Mrs Warner said she did not contend
that education always did away with
crime, but it helped to do So. The static.
tics that have been gathered as to tue
relation OF Ignorance ana poverty show
eoncluslveiy that a great part of tho
poverty Is among unsdueated people.
Mrs. Nlelds IN beginning Ler address
said the members OF the club were very
much in earnest about the matter. and
after saying that they had Lot tho SLIGHT.
est idea OF the Ignorance winch existed in
the State until Il few weeks ago conclud.
ed by inqulrtng why there were 1000
vacant seats in the schools OF the state.
Mr. 0Donnsll was the first member OF
tho Board TO reply to the commtttee's
questions. he did not make reply to each
and every question, but hS answers took
In the full argument OF tue women. lie
was not In favor OF compulsory education,
as 1t was proposed in the bill before the
General Assembly He was not in favor
OF law that would make II criminal out
OF an honest man. and that would De tile
effect OF the measure. He thought that a
great deal OF good could lie done BY such
people as belonged TO the Now-Ceutury
Grub sending their children to the public
schools where they would mIngie with
the children OF the poorer people, Instead
OF this they seUd their children to academ.
les and colleges and even abroad for their
education. He did not believe that cd uca.
ton made people honest. Tue pickpockets
anu the expert thief were not llliterate
people aud the prisons of the country are
full OF persons who have received good
edueetions
In addition to this he did not think that
the Board of Education under Its charter
could have anything to do with the Uiii
before the Legislature.
The business of Tho board was to build
school houses and to assist in educating
the children of the people. What Was
needed WAS more money for the building
of SC col houses. For this they needle d
more money. II they hal this n: oney and
the school houses they would sue to II
shat the children would attend.
President Baird was opposed 10 Il law
that could not be enforced unless pro-
vision was made for the enforcing OF it.
The difficulty was tina. the penalty would
not fall on the boy but the father. lie
fgvored some system whereby au laCor-
eligible boy could be sent to ths Ferri.
Reform School or some other Institution.
Mrs Nields said that the members oil
the General Assembly all talked lavurably
about the bill, but she felt convinced tina
nothing would he done unless the Bourc
OF Education took tile Initiative in thu
matter
Mr.. Baynard said the members of the
Legislature wanted 10 shift the respon-l
billty OF the defeat of the bill onto thu
board. He thought there was no need 70
compulsory education In Whining ton
President Baird explained what h,
shouKht were scme Of the difficulties ant
eaid there should he "a school census takei
here If the school bill which alto we'd .
day for every worklng day by a schoo
teacher was pascal he thought tuer,
would he great Improvement In tn
schools OF the State superintendent
Harlan thought thore would he incorligl
bile ami truaut scholars.
J. B. Roberts. Geonge $. Mckay and u
3 BRSne. representing the Association
lor the Protection Of America ln5titu
tions wtre present and made rsluarks o.
The subject. Both committees left nfte
thanking the board FOR Its respaettu. hear
ing