Evening journal., 1903-01-12

Cef ain friends Of the Governor are
complaining at the scant attention his
message received. Only one paper pub
lished it in full. and that was after it
had become stale, and no further in
terest was taken in it. 1t is not gen
orally known, however, that the Gov
ernor refused to give the daily press
advanced copies, and, therefore, It
could not appear until it was too old
for news. The correspondents for the
Philadelphia papers urged the Cover
nor to give them advanced copies, and
informed him that they had the Presi-
dents message a week before it was
presented toCOngress, but the Governor
refused to let it go cut.
1t is doubtful whether there viii be
any good roads legislation, because it
is developing that there are all sorts
Of conflicting opinions as to what is
needed. The Governor proposes a fine
State road while many Of the farmers
say that the most important thing is to
have good roads leading to the railroad
stations and the steamboat landings.
There is an impression that a new
city charter for Wilmington is not like
" to pass. Tne total Union Republi-
can strength will probably be against
lit, and there may be other members who
Will oppose it on account of certain Of
tits provisions. Friends Of the measure
lare not encouraged.
If the voters assistant law is not re
lpealed it will not be the fault of the
Democrats. They propose to wipe it
out or put someone ON record. They
have an advantage in having with
them all the argument since the mea-
lsure seems TO have no defense. Should
it pass both houses it is thought that
the Governor would hesitate before
sending it back with his veto.
Legislation for Schools
The State Board Of Education, in or
lder to push its special legislation for
the better education OF the masses
among which Legislation is the closing
Of the rural schools and establishing
modern graded schools with a large
corps of equipped teachers and with
conveyances running for miles around
TO bring the little children and the big
ones into the school protected from the
matter.
Superintendent of Free Schoois
James e. Carroll, Henry Ridgely, Jr
Of Kent county, and Joseph l.. Cahall
OF Sussex, have been appointed by tho
board to press this legislation, begin
ming early when the General Assembly
reconvenes here today, and to be pres
ent at any time to fully explain the
new measures to the legislators. Al.
ready there is a conspicuous interest
amOng the members of the House anC
Senate, and the prospect Of a sweeping
change in Delawalres unsatisfactory
and costly school system is very
bright.
Superintendent Carroll, writing upo1
) the necessity OF the rural graded
J schools, says:
Our duties as educators are not fully
discharged until we get the best results
obtainable for the money expended
) There are still defects in our system
- that must be remedied. The isolated
[ ungraded school is the chief defect. L
) is getting more and more difficult 0,
r obtain and retain the services OF com
3 lpetent and enthusiastic teachers foi
these ungraded schools. They arr
) leaving these schools for positions il
| the graded schools of the towns even a
y a lower salary. The idea OF the new
e rural graded school is that of centrali
p zation, establishing a central schoo
{ with as many departments as required
p pupils at the public expense"
r The board outlines to the Legislatur
S these advantages in brief:
5 /. Small and consequently uninter
!, esting schools disappear.
r 3 Rural pupils have the advantage
b OF a graded school, each department o
=. (which is taught by one who has mad
= Especial preparation for that grade.
y 8. The transportation plan increase
n attendance.
4 4. Close supervision by a principa
i whose duty It is to visit the depart
o Iments.
It 5. In many places it would decreas
e the cost of the schools and permit Of
g llengthening of the term.
6. Improved sanitary conditions
r better heated and lighted and vent
II lated buildings, and children less e1
e posed to stormy weather.
e The committee to represent the boar
o before the Legislature has obtaine
l. some authorities on the success Of tn
II plan. State Superintendent John 7
l. Kirk, OF Missouri, says:
THE concensus of opinion anon
le the most competent judges all owe
le America is that all such systems G
IS ours, consisting of isolated and ofte
" impoverished, small school district
is must be abandoned and the small dil
'e tricts consolidated into others at deai
r four or five times as ours usually ar
,e With the consolidation OF districts wi
come provision conveying the childre
le TO and from school in covered wagon
n The question is: Shall our countr
a. boys and girls be allowed advantage
or to compare with those furnished eli
10 children? The idea of transportation
it not novel. New England, Michiga
ID Ohio and some other States are worl
er ling out the same idea"