Evening journal., 1912-10-16
F1aHr roR rHE oPrN DOOR.

NAT5 have read with interest the remarks made by
w Dr. T. o. Cooper, member OF the Board OF
Education the High School Committee, relative to
certain conditions High School which have given
rise to public complaint. With several of the things
said by Dr. Cooper in hearty accord, and we
congratulate him upon those utterances Upon one
great and essential point, however feel compelled
to take issue with him.
We agree unreservedly with Dr. Cooper in his con-
tenton that there should be in the High School build
ing at all times someone in supreme authority to see
to it that neither the property its privileges
subjected abuse It matters not whether that per-
in authority be the city superintendent the princi
pal the ianitor-engineer, the authority should be
there present all times and its presence should be
recognized by teachers. students and visitors.
We also agree unreservedy with DR.. Cooper in his
assertion that before and after school hours there
should be strict regulation bearing upon the persons
who are permitted to be in the building. There
moral reasons which call for such regulation, as
past experience in that and other similar buildings
has demonstrated
Our sympathy also is with Dr. Cooper when he
objects to the front door Of the High School building
being thrown open for the Of the class on
the ground that It would be undemocratic and con-
stitute discrimination against students in the other
classes. We think the Wilmington High School
Alumni Association erred when it made such request
Where take ISSUE with Dr. Cooper Is in his con-
tondon that it is right TO prohibit any student
in that High School from the free and unre-
stricted use of that front door What the
Alumni Association should have done was to take
bold stand for the plain and unmistakable policy OF
the open door We assert that In building erected
dedicated to the educational Of the good and
decent boys and girls Of the taxpayers Of our CITY,
is an outrageous abuse OF power to close thei main
entrance the students and to leave wide open TO
the members of the Board of Education and the High
School Committee. their friends and visitors This
demand for the open door has no bearing upon the
moral side Of the question the protection of the
High School property In particular does it inn
pinge upon them. II merely means that in entering
and leaving the High School building the boys and
the girls of the taxpayers who built it, and who main
tain IT, shall be permitted II they desire to do So
10 use that front door which is closed to them
under penalty of humating rcprimand or even more
humiliating suspension.
The action Of tho High School Committee in dis
eliminating against the student body already has
caused much resentment among students and parents
We think would be we'll for the Board of Eudcation
to take steps to alay that feeling by opening that
door understand that Dr. Cooper has said that II
certain things were done he would decline to serve
longer as a member Of that High School Committee
our opinion is that such a threat that viii not
weigh instant upon the minds Of the taxpayers
nor should it be permitted TO weigh for an instant
upon the minds OF the members Of the Board OF
Education. DR. Cooper must not take TO his soul the
soothing JUNCTION that he Is Indispensable member
VI
Education There was in our city educational activity
long before Dr. Cooper heard of as a factor
IN it, and thai activity VIII continue. following his
retirement The system has been organized so highly
by Professor Twitmyer able and intelligent city
superintendent that the work would go right ahead
were all the members OF the High School Committee
10 resign Dr. Cooper is a man Of intelligence and
affairs lie should recognize that neither he nor any
other man is Indispensable It is unbecoming for him
to suggest nat he will retire from the committee if
such and things be done BY resort to such talk
he merely begs the real question at issue, which Is
the open door. We say 20 him with the same frank
ness which mpelled us 90 praise his stand upon
tain other phases the High School situation that the
closing Of the front Of that High School building
to the boys and girls Of our city. and the fixing OF
penalties to infct upon them for disregarding that
prohibition was highminded abuse Of official power
that the taxpayers will not tolerate 1t is gross af-
front the student body and TO the fathers and moth
ers of this city.
We would remind Dr. Cooper, who poses the cham
pon Of this affront to the people, that he and his
associates should do something at 70 put end
to such an intoerable condition The idea that he and
some Of his associates entertain that that front
door is too good to be used by the boys and girls
who have their way through the elementary ant
the grammar grades, but not too good be used by
the members Of the Board Of Education and thei
friends and visitors, is not one that sets well upor
the mind Of the average wilmingtonian The average
wilmngtonian feels that his child is good any
one who is using that front door and that as thu
High School built for the convenience and th
bereft Of the children, they should not be barrel
from the use of the chief entrance and exit Som
active and aggressive member of the board ha
an opportunity to right wrong that is being done 4
the student body and at tho same time to popuarz
himself with Wilmington parents, by making sue
cessful fight for the open door.
Herads of the Salisbury Democratic machine ar
proclaming that so-called Republican gangsters 4