Evening journal., 1912-10-15
HIGH SCHOOL
FRONT DOOR
STAYS CLOSED
Education Board for the Pres
ent Believes Rule in Best
Interest Of Children
BAYNARD AND COOPER
DEFEND THE ACTION

ing or a communication lIOlu tHC
Alumni Association of the Whining
ton High School bearing on the rule
adopted by the board closing the
front entrance OF the Wilmington
High school to the Senior students
attending that institution. While
nothing was said IN the letter from
the Alumni Association on the point
relating to another rule fixing the
time when the engineer at the school
is in charge of the building, several
of the members took occasion to talk
more on the question OF morals rath-
er than the closing to the scholars
the front entrance of the institution.
The letter of the Alumni Association
follows:
The President and Members Of the
Board of Education, Wilmington,
Del
Gentlemen: The Alumni Associ-
alton OF the Wilmington High School,
interested as it is in the welfare and
success of the public school system
of this city, would respectfully bring
10 your attention a condition of af-
fairs that has arisen at the Whining
ton High School which we think con-
Germs every member Of your board,
every student in the High School and
the parents OF every pupil.
The condition to which we refer has
to do with the new rule promulgated,
as we are informed, by the High
School Committee Of the members OF
your Board. prohibiting the use OF the
Delaware avenue entrance to the
High School building by any student
al that school AS we understand 1t,
a rule has been in effect for several
years permitting only members Of the
senior class to use the Delaware ave
nue. entrance and at the beginning
OF the present school term this privi-
lege, heretofore extended to the
seniors, was withdrawn.
We would respectfully ask your
Board 70 carefully consider this sub
iect with a view 10 restoring to the
seniors the use Of the Delaware ave-
nue. entrance. In thus requesting
your honorable body we feel and trust
you may share our view inasmuch as
our common purpose is the ad-
yancement Of our school system, that
some distinction should be accorded
TO the members of the senior class.
This class is composed Of young men
and young women who have advanced
after many years attendance to the
lOclllOU IN rAnOJl .WlIlN ln"A tiHNN
alton with the responsibilities OF life
10 come with the ending Of school
dass is distant but a few months. We
feel that entrance into the gradu-
alton class should bring with it, if
possible. any honor or recognition
that will tend to increase class and
school dignity and instill deeper into
the minds of the seniors an appreci-
alton Of their position As members OF
the foremost class in the highest pub
lie educational Institution OF the city
We understand that some such
recognition Is bestowed upon senior
classes Of High Schools in many
cities. and feel that we are not ask
ing for an unusual privilege in re-
ouesting your Board to restore the
rule permitting the seniors 70 use the
Delaware avenue door Of the High
School for entrance and exit. We are
sure you will agree with US that the
members OF the senior class can be
expected to comport themselves in a
= manner to reflect credit upon them
selves and their school if permitted
to use the Delaware avenue entrance;
for il they cannot be expected to COM
port themselves in a manner above
criticism. then serious question
could be raised as to whether or not
the public school system has failed
of its purpose.
Trusting that this communication
will be received in the friendly spirit
intended. We are
Very respectfully.
Alumni Association Of .he Wilmington
]. christy Conner, President.
H. c. Mahaffy. Secretary.
Mr.. Baynard Defends Rules.
At the conclusion Of the reading
Of the letter, Samuel II. Baynard
chairman of the committee on the
High School. who was acting presi-
dent last night in the absence of DR.
z. G. Shortlidge. called Mr.. Burton
of the Eighth ward, to the chair.
Mr. Baynard considered the OPEN
ing of the front door of the High
School to the seniors, would be class
legislation. He said there are fami-
lies whose children can get no farther
in the High School than the first
class, circumstances demanding that
they leave school to work, and he
considered these children as much
entitled to receive honors as those
who are more favored and reach the
ulEutcl punt
In referring to the rule governing
the management of the school by the
engineer and the superintendent, Mr..
Baynard said that in adopting this
rule the committee considered the
safety and morals of the children.
He said the committee had learned
tnat abuses had crept in among the
children when nobody was in charge
of the building and the committee had
reached the conclusion that the en-
gineer should be in charge Of the
school prior to $50 o'clock in the
morning and after o'clock in the
afternoon, so that the interests Of the
children could be guarded at all
times
Or. Cooper Yexed.
DR.. T. O. Cooper arose at this juno
ture and before he had finished his
talk he was quite vexed, over what
someone had written and sent to a
newspaper bearing on the rules,
Dr. Cooper produced a newspaper
clipping, saying that he would not
take the time to read it but added
that the committee on High School
was not guilty of the charges stated
In the article.
DR. Cooper said that he felt the
members. of the Alumni Association
wrote the letter. read In the meeting
In good faith, but he contended the
communication lacked force He con-
edered one child as good as another
when II comes to privileges at the