Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-01-28


which they receive. lie asked that the
State live up to the Fourtsenth amend.
mAnt.
William P. Bancroft. in addressing
the meeting, said that Delaware was
FAR behind neigh boring States in school
matters. He inclined to the opinion
that parts of the article proposed we're
not best for place in the Constitution.
In some respects il might not be well
TO make matters towards which they
were working part OF the Conati.
tuition, as changes might be found de.
sirable. He doubted thu ipropriety OF
the compulsory education idea az part
of the Constitution. lie made the point
also that section 8 made distinction
which might mean that any man with
out literary or scientific attainments
was eligible to every position but that
of superintendent.
President Charles Baird of the Board
of Public Education in discussing the
proposed article said that the State had
paid nearly $3.50, COO for school pur-
poses in one year, although the fund
had dwinded one year as low as
SSS, 900. He did not like the idea that
the fund was contingent unon the
licenses. The Legislature is TO be
asked to provide lump sum--he had
heard $50. 600 named-for equal dis
tribution. He thought there might be
a better plan of appointing the State
superintendent than the one suggested.
Az to section 5 he thought home in
Htruction .hould not be prevented. On
the question of the color line he re-
ferred to the attempt to strike the
word "white' out of the charter of
the Board of Education when it was
amended, but it was not dose. He
thought il mistake to make any dis.
tinctlon in the Constitution. but rather
thought that each town board should
be allowed to decide on the matter. He
believed that in some parts of the State
there was not sufficient provision for
colored children.
Miss Mather, president of the New
Century Club, made a strong plea for
compulsory education, IA truant officer
OF the city she spoke from experience
III dealing with children and indicated
how compulsory clause would be
beneficial.
DR.. William G. Pierce referred to
the necessity of educating the children
OF Polish and Russian Jews who live
their own language.
Superintendent G. G. Tindal of the
schools OF Kent county, discussed the
compulsory idea, and showed one diff
Guilty that would arise, namely that
some provision should be made for bad
pupils who are hard on the teacher and
drawbacks to the schoul. Although
such a scholar were turned out the law
no ha fal
might be well to have special schools
for such children.
Mr.. Tindal favored the continuance
of the county superintendent and said
| the conditions were favorable to have a
good school system in Delaware.
The discussion was given a new side
in the suggestion of Howell S. England
that only part Of the first section, end.
ing with the word ''educated' was
proper for the organic law. The Con
stitution should provide, be said, for
what is to be done, not how it is to be
done; for that is a matter for the
Legislature. He referred to points in
the proposed article which were re-
pugnant to him, such as section .. in
which he saw a slap at parochial
schools, and section ) containing the
compulsory clause. He held the matter
to he repugnant to the fuudameE tai
system of our government. and that il
was based on the fallacy that the
people belong TIC the State, whereas the
State belongs to the people.
Mrs. Charles s. Rowland drew at.
tention to the striking statietics which
had been put upon the blackboard.
They showed that Delaware had O
population of 16S, 900 and the Fiji
Islands, l2l, 1000; that Delaware had
81, 900 children in school aud the Fiji
Islands had 10000. In Delaware the
number of iliterates over 10 wears OF
age was Is, or II per cent: 10 Ohio
the percentage of illiterates is 3. DOL
cent Nebraska, 3. l (; Kansas, /; Oregon,
A.: Massach usetts, G.. 3. The expenditure
per pupil is, in Delaware, Sl3. 80; Ohio.
SCI Nebraska, 1922 Oregon, $40; Mon.
tana, $40; Massachusetts, $50. There
is compulsory education 10 20 States.
Cuba adopted compulsory education
law in 1880. Such a law is in existence
also IN the Sandwich Islands In tbs
following territories and States nc
modern language ur Greek ia taught
in public schools: Indian Territory,
Wyoming, Arizona. Utah and Delaware,
After this interesting presentation o.
facts Lewis Z. Eandegrift addressed thu
meeting and early made the poin that
citizens are not mado by good consti
tutional enactment, but by education.
Ile agreed with others that all that wal
in the article could not be nut in tn,
Constitution, and that part OF the frs
|, section was enough. He had a promo
sition that this county shoulG look tt
its own educational interests and, Il
!. this end. favored the calling of con
vention of all the school commissioner
of the county. lis would have tina
body made an executive board an(
have it control the school system o
the county. 1t would elect the super
intendent Thus the county woulc
have the education of the children i,
it's own hands and need not go to th,
, Legislature or the Constitutional Con
, vention. This scheme would also leay,
the matter out OF politics.
DIR. L. &. Shortlidge, in discussin.
the subject of compulsory education
, explained that he formerly opposed i
, because there was M reformatory insti
tuition TO which TO send those VINO can
mt be kept in the schools; but h.
, favored the compulsory clause now AM
thought it might result in securing
reformatory. lie suggested the presi
dent Of Delaware College in place q
the Chancellor ON tine State Board o
Education.
, William Michael Byrne agreed tina
part of section | anu modified form
Of section s should ne sufficient for tn
Constitution. lie himself was allie,
to ysystem of instruction not sun
: ported by the State, yet was liabl t.
rho Statn fOr his IropnFtion pf t,,xn