Evening journal., 1908-04-30
URGE MONEY FOR
The SCHOOLS
Committees Of the Board Of
Trade Address the Men,
berS Of City Council
TELL OF THE NEEDS FOR
EDUCATIONAL MATTERS

Educational Committees last evening
anneared before City Council which sat
as a committee of the whole in Council
chamber and presented pleas for
larger appropriation for the pubic
The idea Of the Trade Board Com
fnittees visit was TO show TO Couhcn
that 8. body representing the business.
manufacturing and professional NE OF
the city was deeply interested In the
ryelfare Of the schools and desired to
sec their facilities and ethciency I'M
proved. The committee urged Coun-
I'll to increase the appropriations for
school purposes, the money to be used
in building new school houses, repair
ing others. providing for the enforce
ment of the compulsory educational
law providing for the instruction OF
backward pupils, for vacation schools,
eouipping the buildings with nre
ESCAPES and increasing the salaries OF
the teachers.
About twenty members Of the Trade
Roard's committees were present
marching from the headquarters OF the
Board to the Council chamber in
body. President Shortlidge, Dr. I. o.
Cooper and other members Of the Board
of Education, together with Mayor
Wilson and other city officials were
present and considerable interest was
manifested. The visitors were given
a courteous hearing.
The increase asked for in the pleas OF
the committee speakers is $4,000 as
shown by the budget OF the Board of
Education.
Chairman Twitmyer Speaks.
Superintendent George w. Twitmyer.
chairman of Board OF Trade Committee
was the first speaker for the delega-
ton. Mr.. Twitmyer said that he ap-
peared before the Council as a repre-
sentative Of the Board OF Trade and
as a citizen. He made an earnest plea
for a larger appropriation for the
schools. He spoke for a while in gen.
eral terms Of the Importance of the
education Of the young. how the future
of the country depended upon the ris-
ing generation and how necessity
that wilmington should keep abreast
of the times and of the work that is
being done in other cities. There arc
about 1900 backward pupils IN this
citv who need attention. They are not
backward through any fault Of their
own and could not be classed as de-
fectives. but there are various reasons
for their baclkwardness. Adequate pro-
visions should be made for caring for
this class. Mr.. Twitmyer told how
such schools kept the children from
the streets and from falling into VI
cious habits. II was better he said,
10 invest money IN the public schools
than to make the young boys become
subiacts for the Ferris Industrial
school. Money would also be needed
to enforce the compulsory education
law.
Salaries Of Teachers.
Referring to the teachers salaries,
Mr. Twitmyer said that with one ex-
oeption, the salaries Of the teachers of
Wilmington were lower than what
teachers receive In other cities Of sim
liar size throughout the country. Coun-
cilmen Lyons and Kyle questioned Mr..
Twitmyer about the disposal Of the in
creased appropriation which was given
the Board OF Education last year and
asked how the salaries we're arranged
The reply was that the increased money
had been divided pro rata among the
teachers of all grades. Mr.. Twitmyer
read the report Of the finance COM
mittee, which has been printed. of the
Board Of Education stating the sums
that would be needed In the opinion
Of the Board for the schools.
Captain -. L. Rice, member OF
the Board Committee, made a brief
address supporting Mr.. Twitmyer and
referring to the need for more school
buildings and for repairs to the schools
The cost of constructing the buildings
had increased and Wilmington would
have to confront these conditions. No
school buildings Of the city, he said
had been finished as they we're planned
by the Board of Education, simply be-
cause Of a lack Of funds.
Alfred D. Warmers Plea.
Alfred D. Warner, of the committee
made an earnest plea for the appro-
priation. Mr.. Warner took the view
that the Council should pay heed to the
opinions OF Mr.. Twirmyer and the
members OF the Board of Education
because they were experts and spec
ialists in their line, who should know
better than laymen the needs of tho
schools They should be relied upor
70 do what is right. Mr.. Warner alsC
touched upon the Importance of edu.
cation for the welfare Of the State.
James f. Price asked some question.
about the fire escapes on the school.
and added that he thought such ia.
cilities should be Increased to avoid tn,
perils Of fire.
PAY Of the Teachers.
II. W. DlOcluo lNlilSu Oul Aildl llli
private schools were on the watch fo'
teachers from the public schools. Th'
best teachers are secured often from
the public schools by the private in
stitutions which are able TO get then
because Of the increased salaries tina
are paid. Mr. Twitmyer supported
Mr. Brosius in his statements and a.
interesting talk on this line developed
The necessity for good teachers 20
the public schools was urged.
President Maclean of the Board o
Trade told of the small pay teacher
receive in comparison with the sal
aries OF young women in other occupa
tions. The city should be able to pa.
its teachers as much as the govern
ment pays its women employees in po
sitions. President Shortlidge of tn
Board Of Education made a few re
marks thanking the Board Of Educa
tion and Council for the meeting. II
said that Il did him good TO see tn
citizens interested in the school as sue
interest ENCOURAGED the members o