Smyrna times., 1905-10-04
SCHOOLS Of KENT COUNTY
MAKE EXCELLENT SHOWING
SUPERINTENDENT J. E. CARROLL'S REPORT
TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
Smyrna Has Oue of the Finest School Build
Ing iu the County and Shows a Deep
Interest 10 the Cause of Education.

AT meeting OF the Otate DOaru VI
Education Thursday, Governor Lea
presiding, all three county superin-
tendents of public schools submitted
reports on the condition of the public
school system throughout Delaware.
Superintendent Carroll of Kent
County, submitted a report and made
an address upon it before the board in
which he said:
s'I have been much impressed with
one great result accomplished by the
public schools. 1t is the neat appear.
ance of most of the pupils, indicating
that the public schools are having a re-
fniug influence upon the people. They |
are making them more careful in dress |
and cleanliness of their children.
There are 12S school boards in this
county, 1O5 of which employ one
teacher each and twenty-three employ
ing from two to thirteen each. In the
single districts the average attendance
on my day of visit was 16 and frac-
tion. 1 did not average this in the
consolidated districts, but the attend
ance improves as the number of de-
partments there increase, and is very
good when there are five or more de-
partments; another argument for the
consolidation of the rural schools.
sDover, Smyrna and Milford now
have fine school buildings, showing
deep interest in the cause OF education,
while Wyoming and Clayton are max
ing additions to their buildings which,
when completed, will give them excel
lent school facilities. OF the seventy
seven one-room school buildings for
white children, 1 would make the fol-
lowing classification:
"New, 5; small but good, 10; old and
poor, Is; old but fairly good, 5; good,
IS; ordinary, 25. There were more re-
pairs during the last year than any
year during my term of office.
The number of rooms in the various
school buildings, Superintendent Car
roll classified as follows:
''Eleven with two rooms; four with
four rooms; one with eight rooms, one
with nine rooms and two with thirteen
rooms"
Turning his attention to the schools
maintained by the state for negro
children, Superintendent Carroll said;
'Only twelve of the thirty-one col.
A. ox~ 1Asahools have respectable furni
= ward docs not pay to spend money
for teacher IN a room without furni
ture. If no other way can be devised
/ would suggest that the county schoo
commission be authorized to clost
these schools for three months, ont
year, and spend the $50 thus saved il
school desks. The lost time could b.
made up in better teaching the mex
wear. These schools will not be fur
nished without some outside help.
'Here, as we'll as everywhere els
there is scarcity of qualified teach
ers," said the superintendent, return
ing to the subject of white schools an
referring to the condition of the teach
ers. I'VE are getting come Normi
School graduates and we hope that wi
be scource of help for the future
The state is now aiding twelve in a
tendance at the Normal Schools out
side the state and five or six of thel
will be graduated next year. l sc
some improvement In the teacher
work each year.
More than three e-fourths of ten ha'
taken one or two courses at the scho
r OF methods and have been great
helped by coming under the tutelat
of experienced instructors. There is
marked difference between these teac
ers and those who.enter the professiC
without any normal instruction whG
ever. With proper training the abili
to discipline a school increases al
better order is found in the schoC
than before.
Everything in my power is done
improve the methods of teaching
those who have had no special traini
IN the work. have held twelve lot
institutes during the year. We thu
take up the best methods and devil
and urge their use in the school. 7
teachers seem anxious to improve 8
then try to make use of any suggest
line of work.
The joint school at Marydel opera
by coalition between the Delaw
and Maryland authorities" has b,
put on satisfactory basis and
commissioners of Caroline Coun
Md, deserve praise for their liberal
in giving the people such good sch
facilities.
A healthy man is king in his O
right; an unhealthy man is an unha
slave. Burdock Blood Bitters bu
up sound health-keeps you we'll.
ssSnffered day and night the torn