Middletown transcript., 1897-02-20

for enrollmentl
We had not an ticipated such q thing
the displacement of Prof A. R. .Spaid as
the editor of our Round Table-but here he
has sent "copy" including an interesting
article on Pestalozzi when in our opinion
the thoroughly prepared argument for bet
ter schools made by himself before the
Constitutional Convention on Monday
should be given preference. We have done
it, taking the authority out of his hands,
for this week and herewith submit the ad-
dress made in Dover which should have the
attention fall who are anxious for better
education in Delaware:-[ED. TRANSCRIPT. j
PROF. sPAID SAID.
Mr.. Chairman, Gentlemen of the Corsti-
tutional Convention and Friends of Educ
cation:
The first constitution of Delaware which
went into operation September 81, 1776, did
not mention the subject of education. How
ever, in 1902, the following provision was
inserted, and was continued in the consti
tuition of 1881 (Art. VII, Sec. 11) and is still
in force. "The legislature shall as soon as
conveniently may be provide by law. " y /"
for establishing schools and promoting arts
and sciences"
The articles relating to education in the
old constitutions were drawn in general
terms. Legislation, left to the legislature
had been carefully excluded from them,but
about the year 1885 the public began to
realize that legislators do not always do
the magnanimous act; that they do not al
ways appreciate a good sugg gestions. So,
since that time, the tendency has been to
put into the constitution of each state an
article describing fully the educational
system desired by the people. This has
been productive of much good, as it has,
to certain, extent eliminated politics
from the school question.
Delaware, however, has remained true to
the democratic theory of government
that was in vogue hundred years ago;
and, consequently has allowed her school
system to suffer from partisan legislation.
We believe that we should no longer hesi-
tate to demand change. New York has
had a state superintendent of public In
struction for seventy years, yet we are ad-
vised to 60 slow,a thing we have been doing
for a century, and in the wrong direction
at that. Let US face about and go in the
right direction at least.
T6a nr4;oIa ,1,;o1, x5a hovo droup hos 90
rule, met with favorable comment, and
we believe that when it is better understood,
1t will meet with general approval; hence
the following exposition:
''Section /. A general diffusion Of
knowledge and intelligence being essential
to the preservation of the rights and lib
critics of the people, the General Assembly
shall provide for the maintenance and sup
port of thoro ugh and efficient system Of
public schools wherein all the children Of
the commonwealth may be educated, and
shall appropriate at least one hundred and
fifty thousand dollars each year for that
purpose"
OF the eight sections Of this article, the
first is the most important 1t contains the
fundamental principles of the entire arti-
Gle. 1t is to be considered as the pream-
BILE, and the remaining sections are drawn
in harmony with the first, and point out
what is meant by Thorough and efficient
system of public schools"
So far as we have been able to learn, no
one has found fault with the first section
with the exception Of the last clause. For
this, it is claimed by some, to be purely
legislative function, which we admit. The
appropriation is left to the General Assem-
bly, to look after, only they are prohibited
from allowing the yearly appropriation to
reach the low-water mark. The state can
not have an efficient school system with
smaller appropriation than is named in
the section. The sources from which the
school revenue is obtained have not proved
constant in the past. What assurances
have we that they will be in the future2
The last two lines of section 1, in our judg-
ment, are the most important of the whole
article. What can we expect to accomplish
without a good, unchangeable financial
system7
The school funds should be kept separ-
ate and distinct from other funds. This
will prevent the necessity of making fight
every two years to prevent the reduction
of the school appropriation. 1t also takes
this important matter out of the hands of
cheap politicians.
NOT A NEW SCHEME.
The scheme is not new one. The sug-
gestion is taken from. the Constitution of
Pennsylvania, which has been in force
since 1873. The constitution of that state
declares that at least one million dollars
shall be appropriated yearly for public
schools. To-day Pennsylvania is justly
proud of that wise provision. The original
amount has been increased from year to
year until it has reached the magnificent
sum of five and one-half millions.
There is another reason for appropriat-
ing "lump sum" out of the state treas
ury for school purposes. Delaware has a
law requiring all teachers to intruct their
pupils with special reference TO the effects
of alcoholic drinks, stimulants and mar
cotios upon the human system; and that
mo certificate shall be granted to any per-
son who has not passed salts factory exam
ination in physiology and hygiene, with
special reference to the effects of alcoholic
drinks, stimulants and narcotics upon the
human system" The law is excellent, and
Delaware appears in the list Of the forty and
more states that have similar laws. Yet
abe shows her inconsistency by declaring
that one-fourth Of the money derived from
the sale Of vinous, Bpirituous and malt Zig
nors shall go to the school fund. As teach
or we protest.
Theoretically our teaching must finally
destroy the liquor traffic, which would de-