Smyrna times., 1897-03-17
A COMPULSORY MEASURE.
Intended to Compel the Patrons of Incorpor,
ated Schools to Share their Privileges
with NOn-Residents.


of the State; and the object of the act
is to compel those incorporated (the
schools of Wilmington alone excepted)
to admit as pupils, as many as posi-
BILE, children that have completed the
course of study in the former. The
bill provides that the trustee of the
State school fund shall pay annually
to the treasurer of the several incor-
pOrated or graded schools 'The sum
of twenty-five dollars for each pupil
attending said schools, according to
the provisions of the act, for the period
of a full school year, consisting of
not less than ten months, and pro-
portionate sum for shorter term of
attendance.
As the best method of providing for
the educational demands of the more
thickly populated districts of the
State, we have the incorporated school
system; and the schools, owing to the
advantages to be gained from numbers
IN society, are graded and we'll equip
ped; they absorb the best teachers.
and their curricula rival those of the
best colleges of fifty years ago. That
these districts may properly manage
their schools and regulate their grades
to suit the demands, the State Legis-
lature has thought it best to give
them power to do this for themselves.
and has, by granting charters, incor-
porated them. These schools, as thev
stand to-day, prove the wisdom of the
act. They are the subject of local
pride. They are attracting public at
tention, and this very bill recognizes
their worth by wishing to extend their
advantages to the non-incorporated
districts; but, at the same time. bv its
compulsory nature, it is unjust and
contrary to the original idea of the
power Of Incorporated schools.
The bill is unjust because it forces
upon the schools, children, whose par
ents contribute nothing towards the
sustenance or the advancement of the
institutions. Is it Just, that Mr.. A.
who lives in an incorporated school
district, and pays taxes to support the
school where his children attend. be
compelled to admit into his school the
children of Mr.. B, who paws nothing
for the same privilege the tuition of
Mr.. BIS children being taken from
state funds that should be spent upon
all the children Of the State alike?
Would it not be better to allow Mr.. A
to say whether OF not Mr.. BIS chill
dren shall be admitted =?
The following clauses set forth the
compulsion:
The incorporated and graded
schools, IN nearby towns and districts
shall be open to such pupils as have
completed the course of study offered
III the respective school districts in
which they reside.
The said principal or head teacher
snail assign said pupil to such depart
ment or classes of the said incorporated
or graded schools, as the said principal
or head teacher shall deem proper, con
slderlng the knowledge and proficiency
OF the said pupil"
NO pupil, complying with the re-
qulrements herein set forth and with
such reasonable regulations as NAV be
adopted by the board of education or
school commissioners of the incorpor-
ated or graded schools, he or she de-
slres to attend, shall be refused ad
mission to any school which he or she
is hereby given the privilege of attend
ing, except for lack of proficiency ON
the part of the pupil or lack of sufi-
clent school room"
When one of the greatest draw
backs, with which our schools have to
contend, is, that too many pupils are
being assigned to each teacher. is il
Just to the citizens of an Incorporated
district to have the individual atten-
ton that teachers would be able TO
give their children, taken from them
by an act OF legislation that compels
them to fill up the seats at school with
children foreign to the district
As 1t is altogether uncertain how
many months these non-residents will
be IN attendance, the schools know
nothing definite with reference to the
funds they are to receive from the
State, and are put at disadvantage in
arranging their teaching force. Chill
dren from rural districts are, as a rule.
needed at home to do work upon the
farm, with the exception of a few
months during the winter-the at
tendance at the public schools in Del
aware is very much effected, during
wnat we call the Peach Gathering and
Berry Picking Seasons. It is a diff
cult thing to procure a good teacher. |
to do advanced work, when it is not
known whether his services will be
wanted for two, three, or ten months. |
To use available funds, so as to give
the greatest benefit to the greatest
number, is the task given the commits |
slOners of each incorporated school. !
and they must have definite knowledge |
of their resources in order to perform
their work satisfactorily. The author
lty to levy and collect taxes is a high
governmental power. 1t can not be
exercised capriclOusly. The purpose
for which it is exercised must be clearly
understood and the object to be at
tanned must be of such transcendent
Importance to all the people as to un
justify the proceeding. One
may properly crafty his fancy, he may
speculate and experiment to his hearts
delight, with his own money, but he
has no right to do so with the money
of the people. That must be put only
to uses which benefit all, and then it
must be used in sufficient quantity.
and In such way as to accomplish the
object in view; what an uncomfortable
position the commissioners of incor-
porated districts, the custodians of the
peoples money, paid for school pur-
poses, must be placed in, when thew
are expected to provide a teaching
'orce for an unknown quantity, and
ihe state saying, we will pay you at the
'ate of twenty-five dollars year, pro-
to the number of montbs