Evening journal., 1913-02-12
An ALARMING EDUCATIONAL REPORT.


L eERY Wilmington parent who has children OF
H. school going age should read with careful attention
the md-year report Of George w Twtmyer the capable
superntendent Of our public schools. Mr.. Twitmyer
is not alarmist and that fact makes what he has
said in his report all the interesting and import
ant The germ of that report is that approximately
one-thrd of all the pupils in the Wilmington public
schools retarded and that much Of the retardaton
is duo TO tho fault Of and to health due TO
durable defects. No Wilmington parent should lack
interest when such alarming statement is issued
IN Official by tho head Of the educational system
of city Of 10000 inhabitants and with school popu-
ation of more than 10000 Something should be done
AZ once 10 and remedy tho conditions OF which he
complains and for tho cure which he demands
prehonsve and intelligent action
The Twtmyer report shows that 3179 Of the 10444
pupils IN city schools retarded That 1851 are
retarded year 900 two years and 40 three years
That is showing that q reproach to our people and
one that should not and cannot be ignored A desire
to have healthy and intelligent boys girls have
educational plant its proper purpose and to
make tho education Of children both efficient and
economical should prompt immediate action by the
city officials and the parents The information that
almost 1900 boys and girls year behind the posi-
ton they should occupy in their classes; that almost
1000 boys and girls two years behind and that
almost 800 are three years behind Is enough
ctywde interest and cooperation between the Board
OF Education and the parents TO put end such a
deplorablo condition II IS useless seek comfort IN
the fact that 1555 boys and girls ahead Of their
normal grades, 1871 year, 1S2 two years and
three years That is gratifying, but it. does nothing
for the benefit Of the S179 boys and girls who are re-
arded does It reovd the taxpayer OF the abnor-
NAL expense Of the education OF those retarded chill
dren Mr. Twitmyer explains frankly that the ex-
pense Of educating retarded pupil is doubled or
trebled, according TO the degree Of the retardaton
Having shown that the alarming retardation exists,
let US pass TO the causes which, Mr. Twitmyer says,
III health curablo defects lack Of parental interest
outside interests mentality manutrition, physi-
cal defects the of tobacco lack OF application and
foreign parentaec. IL will be glance that
many Of those causes removable. Absence, late
entrance curabo defects, lack of parental interest
outside interests, manutriton the of tobacco aud
lack OF application all may be done away with il the
parents win cooperate with the Board Of Education
Superintendent Twtmyer and the other school officials
III health, slow mentality, physical defects foreign
parentage will be difficult eliminate as retsrda
ton causes but IL certainly will be possible TO reduce
by cooperation and mental stimulation their evil ef
fects TO minimum lt is a crime against childhood
and the community for parent TO fail TO do his
her duty In these respects and TO fan to second heart
Sly the work that educational system is doing
One OF tho important things recommended by Super
inendent Twitmyer Is that the school children shall
/ be put under medical supervision. That is done in
many other cities and the results have been beneficial
at large. II such supervision will make aing children
we'll. cure defects, stimulate slow mentality restore
nutrition normal and lead the boys addicted the
use Of tobacco to abandon IT'S use, it will be money
woll spent 10 employ such medical supervisors.
Superintendent Twitmyer has performed great pub
| lie service by making investigation Of conditions
and reporting them to the public with such detail and
accuracy. is the duty Of the Board Of Educa-
on and the parents the children to fake action that
will produce beneficial results