Evening journal., 1912-03-26
ASK FOR TWO
MORE SCHOOLS
Ninth and Eleventh Ward
Residents Ask for More
Buildings
CIVIC ASSOCIATION BACK
OF NINTH WARD REQUEST


new schools under an act of the Leg
islature, TO pay 4 1-2 per cent, and
mature in fourteen years, and also
heard a delegation from the upper
end of the Ninth ward beyond Wash
mgton street bridge, on the needs OF
new school for that section OF the
city. The question of new school IN
the Eleventh ward also was brought
up and both will be looked into.
Fully forty residents of the Ninth
ward, many of whom are members Of
the Ninth Ward Civic Association,
were in the delegation which paid a
visit to the Board to urge the erection
OF a shool beyond Washington street
bridge, in the upper end of the Ninth
ward. The delegation was headed by
William p. White, president of the
Ninth Ward Civic Association. On mo-
ton of Mr.. Baynard, representative in
the Board from the Ninth ward, the
regular business was dispensed with
in order that the visitors could be
heard.
Mr. White said the need of a schoo,
somewhere i'm the centre of the ward
was imperative. He called attention to
the great distance lying between the
Concord pike and No. School, at
Eleventh and Washington streets,
which small children had to traverse
in order TO attend that school. He
wanted il understood that the plan for
a new school had not originated in the
mind of Mr. Baynard, the board MEM
Der from that ward, as the impression
seemed to be He said the matter had
come up in the meeting of the Ninth
Ward Civic Association which was or
ganized TO cooperate with the various
departments of the city in the i'm
provement of that section of the city.
He said his association had not yet
gathered statistics for new school
there, as the situation had not yet
been canyassed to that extent. but he
called the boards attention to the con-
gested condition at NO. 2 School and
also to the population in the upper
end of the Ninth ward which he said
was increasing to an alarming degree.
He said that now was the time to
strike for a new school and asked the
Board to give the matter its earnest
consideration
A. r. Spaid. county superintendent
of schools outside of Wilmington, was
the next speaker He said that he was
present because he had Sesn appoint
cd on committee by tbe civic asso-
citation. and felt that he had his hands
full with his other school work. and
any move he might make may be mis-
construed. He said, however, that he
lived i'm the Ninth ward and had chill
dron. and was present to back up the
claims of the residents of that section
He pointed out that if the school was
not needed at this time il would DO
soon, and that the board should at
least acquire a piece of ground suf-
ficiently large on which to erect
a schoolhouse and with n play
ground alongside. He thought the
board should not wait until the sec
ton in question is built up as it would
then be too late. as the expense of ac-
quiring a site wuold be much greater
than at present He asked the board
to appoint a committee to go over the
ground and select a site for the school,
whether erected now or later. He spoke
of Mr. Bamard's work in building up
that section of the city, and rather
than allow him to take the lead as
people might think he was promoting
his own interests, the civic Associs-
ton had taken up the matter. He said
that section Of the city was growing
fast. making it absolutely necessary to
take some action TO appoint a commit
tee Of the board, either to act on its
own initiative. or work with the Civic
Association OF that ward He said
that now was the time TO make the
start
Others who spoke in behalf of the
movement were J. b. Broad. resident
of the upper end Of the Ninth ward,
and James ID. Stroud. Mr. Broad said
he knew of some families who would
not make their homes beyond Wash
lngton street bridge, Just because OF
the inadequate school facilities. He
said that during the winter is was diff
dcult for children attending primary
schools to make their way across the
bridge
Mr.. Stroud said the need Of a schoo
IN that section was apparent as with
I'm the past fifteen months 500 fami
lies that removed to that part of thu
CITY. He thought there should be Z
school erected somewhere betweeI
Delaware avenue and Thirty-iirsi
street. He said there was plenty OF
land unoccupied now, but not man,
large plots.
Al this point Mr. White stated L
the board that his association Nigh
have presented a petition reachin
from the board rooms to Washingto
street bridge. but it was thought bes
TO bring delegation in person befor
the board to urge the claims ol IN
: residents of that ward.
Mr. Bayard said that in the absenc
of statistics he could safely say tina
every school within a mile of the sec
tion i'm question was filled to over
flowing and that within the next 81
months there will be many NOR
children who will have to be accom-
modated. He said that before scho'
can be erected in that section ther
will be a crying need for it.
In referring to the remarks mad
President Shortlidge of the boarC
stated that the board had been cor
sidering the matter of anothe
school in the Ninth ward for thre
years. and felt one was needed there
He thought, however, that every chill
now was b ing cared for and he ash
ed the superintendent of Schools
bear him out on that point. Mr.. Twit
myer stated that this was true, bI
this fact did not prove that the f;
cilities were adequate for the oper
ing Of the fall term in September. II
expressed the opinion that the boar
should project a plan large enoug
to take care of the school needs {
that district. that is, ground enoug
to lay out playground I'm additio
to a plot for the schoolhouse. H
said that if this city is to bring Il