Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-03-24
THE NEW EDUCATIONAL BILL.

fact that tho thousand copies OF tbs
Educational bill now undor corsidera.
tion in the General Assembly, ordered
printed by that body for distribution,
can only reach small fraction OF those
deeply Interested in tho measure; and
OF tho further fact that the length Of
the bill makes it matter OF doubt
shat many of tho actual recipientH OF
copies will have sufficient time to gain
n clear comprehension of its provisions /;
and of the yet further fact that am
constantly in receipt of letters asking
for copies and explanations of various
portions of tho bill l havs been re-
ouested by numbor of our Legislators
tugiye a simple and concise explanation
Of the termH and plan of the proposed
measure, which. through the medium
OF the press may ruach TO the rBmoteRt
part of our State.
For the better understanding OF the
public, therefore. ask space for tho
following in your columns:
The new bill is long one, but it is
from one-q quarter TO one-third shorter
than our present school laws, whose
place it purposes TO BILL.
The bill is far from being perfect
one which should bo enacted as 1t
stands. 1t was only at tho urgent in
stance Of the legislative TO educational
committee That the hill was introduced
In its PRESENT shape. II was intended
to gIve the measure thorough revision
before its introduction, but the com
mittee considered it best to avoid
further delay, and to have the general
plan end policy of the bill under con-
sideration and discussion, at tho Same
TINS that the process of revision was
being carried out by amendments in
committee. l have already some dozen
amendments to tha bill 10 course OF
preparation amendments which would
not have been necessary had tnUro time
been given for revision.
For the above roasons, sbull give an
explanation which embodies also tho
purposud amendments OF which l have
spoken.
The hill itself begins first with the
State control, and then the county con
troll OF the free schools; but IN ex-
PLANTATION, it il simpler TO start with
the district CONTROL This part OF the
bill commences with section 8.
1t must be borns In mind that this
portion OF the bill does not relate tu
nor effect incorporated districts.
Under our existing laws, the school
district ia the well nigh absolute and
independent seat of school government.
Its boundaries were drawn over half a
century ago, subject only to the altera
tions of succeeding Legislatures ano
Levy Courts The location of the school.
house was tho controlling factor in the
marking of those boundaries and altera
tons Of them have fallen far short o
keeping pace with the growth anc
fuctuation of population.
The school district, as now consti-
tutod, is but a small segment OF oul
territory, based upon absolutely ne
political or geographical division. Their,
nre some 800 OF these independent seati
Of school government within the limited
area OF our little commonwealth. Eact
IL a separate and complete sovereignty
in itself 80 far aH. school mattera arr
concerned, and not one haH an Interest
common to another, except it he tha
each is sharer in the general nchoo
fund of the State. Ono school distric
may land facts show the actuality ,o
this possibility establish methods ant
systems discordant aud conflicting will
those maintained in another district
separated from one another only b,
hutuo ~ ledt VI HuDllC Iuhut ~ lar al
any mutually OF Interest is concerned
each school district might be separated
from ali Its fcllows by the entire breadth
OF our nation.
These are the present conditions. /
would be difficult to match such al
anomaly.
The now Educational bill proposes II
clear the pathway to a community o
fntnraot AID and ao.fata1na amnnn thao
school districts, and aims at uniformity
10 school methods and SYSTEMS.
10 this end, 1t takes the new Repre-
tentative district as the unit. Tn
school district, as II now exists, ie NO
changed or abolished. 1t is, however
termed a sub district; the Representa-
tive district being called the Scbou
district. 1t must not be thought tina
the addition of the prefix Subj works
OF itself. any revolutionary change Il
existing conditions A clear cumpre
hension OF this portion OF the bill can
not he gained IL the fact that the terri
sub district simply means the schuc
district as now bounded, 10 once los
sight OF.
Each sub-district then holds ii
election just as at present: the onl
difference being that one instead q
three commissioners Ia elacted. 1t ma
be we'll to remark here, parern thetically
that the qualifications OF school voter
are. for males, the same in tho bill a
now by law; bur women may vot
under property qualifications. Page "a
when READ 10 connection with page
Of the printed copies, will make thi
clear. 1t may be wise to add furthe
10 this connection, that the colore
voters can only vote for the sub -distriG
commissioner Of the colored sub dis
trict, and have no parcel in the sui
district for white schools.
Tho one commissioner ia substitute
for the present three because, first,
centralizes the responsibility, 40
second. because experience has show
that, in tbs majority Of caHes, til
present system means one coupetel
and two incompetents.
Each sub district comm isRioner the
meets with all the other sub distriI
commissioners elected In tho same Rel
reaentative district, and they all I,
gether elect from their own number
kind Of executive committee, tarmet
in the bill, the District School Con
mission. Each sub district commi
sioner acts, primarily, for his own sui
district, but this COMMITTEES acts for a
the sub-distriots lying within tho Rel
resentatiye district. This commit,
first prepares an estimate OF the picl
able expenses for the ensuing yea
This estimate must be itemized, az
particularize the sum deemed nece
Bary for each sub district Ii ia the
to be submitted to the sub -distri
commissioners and approved by then
or rejected and new one substitute