Middletown transcript., 1911-02-18
DELAWARE SCHOOLS
Commission Advocates More
Power for County Boards

FOW6F lOF bOu1ly bOdFuS
The State School Commission has SUBJ
mitted the following report to the General
Assembly:
To the Senate and House of Representa-
tatiVes of the State of Delaware, in Gen.
eral Assembly met:
We, the undersigned, the State School
Commission, appointed under and by
virtue of chapter 70, volume 25, of the
Laws of Delaware, passed at Dover and
approved by the governor, April z, A. D.
1909, do hereby make report to you as
follows:
That after several conferences outside
the State with those high in authority in
school matters, and having studied the
school systems of several States and the
school laws and amendments thereto of
our own State and carefully noting the
results obtained, we call attention to some
OF the most undesirable parts OF our pres.
ent school law as follows:
The composition of the State Board OF
Education and the authority given this
board, as set forth in volume 81, chapter
81. section / and of the Laws of the
State of Delaware.
The requirements for transferring prop
erty from one school district to another
and creating new school districts as set
forth in section 8 OF said chapter 81, above
referred to.
The requirements for uniting and con-
solidating school districts as set forth in
section 10 of said chapter aforesaid.
The powers of the local boards of educa-
ton as conflicting with those of the State
Board of Education and county school
commissions as set forth iu section 10,
aforesaid.
The notification of the election of teach.
ers, as set forth in section 16, aforesaid.
The'manner of assessing and collecting,
of taxes. as set forth in sections 18, 10 and
20, aforesaid.
The manner OF electing, ordering and
distributing Of text books, as set forth in
section 222 aforesaid.
The powers of county superintendents
in public schools as set forth in sections
%, "a and 25 aforesaid.
The terms upon which the school funds |
deposited with the Farmers Bank as set |
forth in section ~, aforesaid.
Approaching that amendments will |
only partially improve these sections and |
would be but temporary relief and bene.
6t and as the school laws are already so |
amended as to be difficult of interpreta.
ton, we feel that the task of effecting q
permanent remedy is too difficult to be
done in any other way than by compos-
ing an entirely new code of school laws.
As this will necessarily take much time
We have found ourselves unable to do it
satisfactorily to be ready for presentation
at this session of the General Assembly;
we therefore recommend that at this ses-
sion the Legislature pass such bills as will
bring at least temporary relief and benefit.
We recommend that the several county
school commissions be given authority
and power in an act:
To redistrict the county under its juris-
1iction into districts and appropriate
money for that purpose.
To enforce their orders and instructions
10 local boards of education and school
committees.
To consolidate two or more districts
where the conditions warrant the same
without any formalities as are now re-
Iuired.
To close any school where the condi-
ions warrant the same and to make suit
Ible provision for the attendance of the
children upon the neighboring schools.
To make transfers OF real estate where
warrant the same, without Pc
ion, etc., as are now required.
We further recommend:
An animal appropriation for Delaware
]ollege.
An annual appropriation for the COL
red State College.
An experimental manual training school
Or each county.
kindergarten for each of the high |
chools of the State. 1
An increase of the State aid for pupils ]
ttending normal schools.
That provision be made for the higher
ducation of women (but not co-educa.
on