Middletown transcript., 1898-03-26


Of the new school bill, has explained
the matter to the members Of the
General Assembly and he has issued an
address to the people. One feature Of
the explanation, which is very object
ionable, Is the large number OF amend
ments proposed by the author. Since
our State has no school system, how
ever, this bill merits the closest ex-
animation. We note
SOME OBJECTIONS:
/. How can one set Of examination
papers be used throughout the State
for examining teachers ? All the
teachers cannot be examined on one
day, and bright teacher examined
"to-day" "can give much information
to the teacher whose examination
comes tomorrow"
2. The control of the State Board Of
Education is placed virtually in the
hands Of the Governor. He names the
three senior /" members of the County
Commission who are members Of the
State Board. This should not be.
3. Why rot permit the County Com
mission to select its own officers. The
"senior may not preside well nor the
"junior make an efficient secretary.
Cut away the machine regulations.
4. If the examinations are to be uni
form throughout the State why not
make the certificates good over the
whole State alsop
5. The chief objection is that the
"system does not include incorporat-
ed schools. The pupils in country
should be entitled, when the grade has
been reached, to enter the advanced
departm ents of the town schools and
without extra cost to the pupil. How
far can pupil advance to-day in AN
ungraded country school ? The teacher
may lack no qualification for instruc-
tion, time is lacking or primary pupils
suffer and the incentive Of competition
Is lacking. Mr.. Ridgely lacked the
courage in drafting his bill to tackle
the greatest obstacle to Estate Sys-
tenn of Education 1.-THE isolated in
corporated school which says to the
country / will have none of you or
yours, but demand my share Of the
School fund" Any system should
unite town and country. The-fault has
been with the members of the General
Assembly OF previous years. They let
the opportunity of thirty years ago
slip by them when the town school was
not graded, when the towns had not
spent money to improve their schools.
Will the members OF this Assembly
have more courage than their pred
ecessors of quarter century ago ?
The writer had the honor Of introduce
ing the first school bill in Deloware
which looked to Uniform System. 1t
had no show, even at the hands of the
excellent gentlemen who composed the
General Assembly of 'S9.
6. The cost of the new bill is a con-
sideration. There are too many ''5
dollars day" men. What will be the
entire cost under the bill =? Will the
author tell US The division of the
school fund is set forth as follows:
The State Treasurer shall be sthe
Trustee Of the School Fund, and shall
apportion the fund annually, in the fol-
lowing manner, that is to say: Twenty
three parts thereof shall be set aside
for the use of New Castle county; thf.
teen parts thereof for the use Of Kent
county, and eighteen parts theretf for
the use of Sussex county.
The amounts so set aside for the use
Of the respective counties, as aforesaid,
shall be apportioned among each county
as follows, that is to say:
To each new or consolidated Dis
trict, sum which shall be equal to one
hundred dollars and City dollars for
every sub-district in the new or soli-
dated District; and to each incorporated |
District, an amount equal to one hum
dred and City dollars for each single |
District contained therein, as such |
single districts existed prior to the pas
sage Of this act. The aggregate sum |
thus appropriated to and distributed |
among the several Districts in each
county, shall then be deducted from
she county's share SO first apportioned |
20 It, and the remainder shall be divid-
ed among the new or consolidated Dis
tricts. and the incorporated Districts In
proportion to the number of children
enrolled in the schools thereof; provid-
ed, however, If in the apportionment
aforesaid, 1t appears that any time
are enrolled In the. school of the city of
Wilmington more than ten thousand
pupils, the said city shall receive its
apportionment OF the ten thousand
pupils, and for no more.
Provided, however, that the said
Trustee of the School Fund shall not
pay or distribute to any District Its
share or portion of the School Fund,
unless such District shall raise by tax
alton for the year an amount equal to
to one hundred dollars for each sub
district therein, or, in the case OF an
incorporated District, Tor every single
District contained therein.
The Trustee of the School Fund,
after the apportionment has been made
IS aforesaid, shall place the amount
Of the said respective District III tie