Evening journal., 1897-02-09
REVIVAL IN EDUCATION.
Supt. Knowles Favors Com
pulsory Education.
ADVOCATES UIVIL GOVERNMENT
WOULD HAVE TT TAUGHT IN THE
SCHOOLS AND THE TEACHERS
EXAMINED IN THAT BRANCH.
WOULD PURIFY THE BALLOT.

WOULD PURIFY THE BALLOT
How are the schools in your county
progressing?' asked a reporter OF Su-
perintendent w. w. Knowles, OF the
Sussey county schools. yesterday.
Finely" he replied. There has been
a revival in education in Sussex county
during the last two years. During the
two wears Just ended. there has been
more school furniture purchased and
more school houses erected and re-
paired than during any four years in
the history of the school system of the
state. The people in Sussex are GER
tainly manifesting great interest in
their schools, as compared to other
stages in cur school history, and they
are doing the best that their finances
will allow
Il believe the time is not far distant
when the ability of the teachers OF
Sussex county will rival the
ability OF the teachers OF any
county in the country, and the schools
will be as good as any that can be
found. We have some of the greatest
teachers Institutes down in Sussex
that are held in the United States.
"Are you in favor Of compulsory edu-
catior?"
81 am. do not know the real con-
dition existing in the other counties,
but can speak for Sussex. However.
/ have great reason to believe that the
conditions existing in Kent and New
Castle counties is just as bad, if not
worse, as it is in my own county. In
Sussex county / know there are at least
/ $50 white children from s to IA years
/ old, that never go to school single
day in the year. Strange to say, most
of these children are within sound of a
school bell and could go to school if
they would. In Sussex county 1 also
/ know that there are $50 white children
from s to IA years that so to school
less than two months in the year. A
worse condition exists among the col
ored children.
Hence. in view Of these facts, am
in favor of the passage of law that
would compel every parent, guardian
or other person in this state having
controi or charge of a child or children
between the ages of 8 and IA years To
send such child or children to a school
in which the common English branches
are taught, and that such child or chill
dren shall attend such school during
at least ten weeks of each year in
which school in their respective dis
tricts shall be in session, unless ex-
cused from such attendance by the
county superintendent and board o
school district in which the parent
guardian or other person resides, upon
presentation to superintendent anC
said board of satisfactory evidence
showing such child or children to b'
prevented from attendance at schoo
or application to study by mental OF
physical or other urgent reasons. Pro
videl, that in case there be no whit,
public school in session for white chill
dren within two miles of the neares
travelled road of the parent or the guar
b dian within the district, and provide,
that in ease there be no colored publ,
school in session for colOred children
/ within two miles of the nearest trav
! eled road of the parent or the guardian
: within the district, he or she shall no
be liable under such conditions; pro
) vided, that the principles herein state,
shall not apply to any child that ha
/, been or is being otherwise instructel
in the common English branches o
Z learning for a like period Of time; ant
p provided, further, that the certificate O
any principal of any school or educa
{ tional institution, or of any teache
e that any child has been or is being s.
e instructed issued to such child or it
/ parents or it's guardians. shall be suf
I ficient and satisfactory evidence there
n Of
n "Of course I have just given you al
G outline Of some Of the provisions C
which ! think the law ought TO EN-
k body. There are other very importan
Y provisions Of which I would like &
d speak, such as prescribing the penalt
n for the violation Of the law, etc, but
o have not the time to do so.
O "Itiss shocking when we thinko Of from1