Middletown transcript., 1911-11-18
nIDDLErOwN. DEL, nov. Is, 1911
nIIp PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Look to tne IouhuaSlOS'
building may be faulty 10 ccn'
struction or out of repair in its
superstructure and still in the
main be safe and useful; but an
error in its foundations, endang'
ers both the building and those
that use it.
The foundation stones OF tne
public and private character up
on which the future Common
wealth is to be reared, are large
ly being formed and fashioned
in the Public Schools OF our
State and any grave lacks or er-
rors there, will be far reaching
in consequences for evil.
The alluring possibility OF q
new Agriculture that shall double
aye quadruple the returns for the
farmers tolls, is indeed one OF
the foremost questions OF the
hour, and the States moneys are
wisely expended that advance
that great public cause.
But far the transcending in
importance this improved, mod
ern tillage of Delaware's soil, is
the improved, modern tillage OF
the minds and morals of its
youth.
The Every EUening in its ac'
count of the monthly meeting on
November 18th, at Dover, of the
State Board of Education, gives
the following report of the Gem
mittee on Building and Grounds:
"On October Is h this Committee
with Superintendent Spaid, spent the
day visiting schools in northern New
Castle County. By using an automo.
bile we were able to investigate the
conditions existing at IA schools, two
of which we're for cOlored pupils. Par
ticuIar attention was paid to the loca-
ton OF the building, its size, and its
suitability for school purposes, with
special reference to the lighting,
blackboard space aud heating, and
the outhouses. Before going into de-
tails, it may be said that Delaware,
like other States, has no uniform sys
tenn Of building or tqnipping its rural
schoolhouses. In consequence, many
of them, measured by present day
standards, are most unsuited to their
use. OF the IA schools visited only
four bad separate closets, and OF the
IA only three could be considered in
fair condition. In come cases the
pupils were obliged to walk through
the filth Of the ii, sets and would un-
avoidably carry more or less OF it in
the school room. In other cases, the
closets were exposed to the flies in
an inexcusab,e manner.
This is shocking! Such condi-
tions breed at once disease and
immortality.
Then the report speaks of i'm
proper modes of heating the
small school rooms; of "pupils
facing the light; of buildings
totally inadequate for their
purposes, and wisely adds:
1--WE feel that if our rural schools
are to fulfill the purposes for which
they are intended, there should be
definite policy concerning the con-
cerning the construction; arrangement
and equipment Of the school building
and grounds. II the State Board Of
Education has the authority to ont
line and enforce such policy, we are
willing to undertake the task. Other.
wise, we believe that any efforts in
this direction are futile, and will ac'
complish little, If any good.
The State is contributing large
sums of money annually to the sup.
pert Of our public schools. But, on
sccpunt of the imperfect methods Of
seating, heating, lighting and venti.
lati1g, they are not efficient, and the
StatS is not receiving the returns it
shoul q for the money expended. Be-
cause the schoolhouses are 60 imper.
feet, they cannot fail to be primary
cause Of the lack Of desire on.the part
of the many country bows and girls
for more schooling than the Law abso-
lutely requires.
The TRANSCRIPT believes that
Chapter SO, of the LsWs of 1911
(vol. 26, ip. 1917 ct seq which
amends the original school law of
1893, gives this power to the
State Board of Education, for
after comforting specific powers
to regulate the sanitary equipm.
ent and inspection of school build
ings it, says
}"And toltake such other action
,ras it may deem necessary and expedi
ent to promote the physical and NOR
al welfare Of the children Of the free
schools OF this State"
The manifest spirit, if not, in.
deed, the letter, of the law, would
seem to give the Board power to
prevent those evils, not less than
to remedy them after they have
arisen. In other words, power
to accomplish this wise sanitation
of health and morals by requiring
the erection of proper school
buildings Of an approved modern
type, instead of later applying
remedies for evils due to3 the |
fanltv conditions that produce