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

ton High School hearing 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 il is in the welfare and
success of the public school system
of this CITY, would respectfully bring
to your attention a condition of al
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
at that school As we understand II,
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 was withdrawn.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 to carefully consider this sub
iect with view to 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-
vancement 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
position In school where their gradu-
alton with the responsibilities OF liIe
to come with the ending Of school
davs Is distant but a few months We
feel that entrance into the gradu-
alton class should bring with il, il
possible any honor or recognition
thai 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-
auesting your Board to restore the
rule permitting the seniors to 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 bS
expected to comport themselves in
manner to reflect credit upon them
selves and their school II permitted
to use the Delaware avenue entrance
for if they cannot be expected to com
port themselves in a manner above
criticism. then a serious question
could be raised as to whether or no
the public school system has failed
Of its purpose.
Trusting that this communication
will be received in the friendly spiri
intended, we are
Very respectfully.
Alumni Association Of the Wilmington
High School
]. Christy Conner, President.
II. c. Mahaffy. Secretary.
MI. Baynard Defends Rules.
At the conclusion Of the reading
of the letter Samuel II. Baynard
chairman of the committee on tn
High School. VINO was acting presi
dent last nigbk in the absence of Dr
F.. c. Shorthdge. called Mr. Burton
Of the Eighth ward, to the chair.
Mr. I3Svnard considered the open
ing of the front door of the Higl
School to the seniors. would be clas
legislation. He said there are fami
lies whose children can get no farthe
In the High School than the frs
class, circumstances demanding tha
they leave school to work, and h
considered these children as mucl
entitled to receive honors as thos
who are more favored and reach tn
highest point
In referring to the rule governing
the management of the school by tn
engineer and the superintendent, Mr.
Baynard said that in adopting th'
rule the committee considered th'
safety and morals Of the children.
He said the committee had learnel
mat abuses had crept in among tn
children when nobody was in charg
Of the building and the committee hs'
reached the conclusion that the en-
gineer should be in charge Of th
school prior to $50 o'clock in tn
morning and after o'clock in tn
afternoon. so that the interests of tn
children could be guarded at al
times
Or. Cooper yexed.
DR.. 7. o. Cooper arose at this juno
ture and before he had finished hi
talk he was quite vexed, over wha
someone had written and sent to
newspaper bearing on the rules,
DR.. Cooper produced a newspape
clipping, saying that he would mo
take the time to read it but adde
that the committee on High Schoo
was not guilty of the charges state
in the article.
DR. Cooper said that he felt tn
members of the Alumni Association
wrote the letter, read in the meetin
in good faith. but he contended tn
communication lacked force. He con
sidered one child as good as anothe
when II comes 70 privileges at N
High School He considered the &C
IN NJ the Alumni Aaeoofafion fav