Evening journal., 1913-09-12
WOULD MAKE
WILMINGTON
ONE COUNTY
so Says Mr.. O'DOnneII, In CON-
mentine on Controversy
nuar Nnn-RaCidanfS
VIVA ANvHh ae~~a~~"s~
SAYS LAW GIVES SCHOOL
BOARD RIGHT TO CHARGE

That the severe criticisms that have
been made against the members Of the
Board of Education for their recent
action in requiring the parents Of all
nonresident pupils in the public
schools TO deposit $50 in the high
school. $40 in the normal schools and
SIS in the primary schools. before they
can enter the schools as students Is
unwarranted and that the board is
nctine entirely within its rights in
making such charge, is the state
ment made by Thomas f. ODonnell,
g member Of the Board
In speaking Of the matter Mr..
ODonnell remarked that the residents
OF Brandywine hundred, and others
who had bitterly attacked the posi-
ton taken by the Board in the matter.
and who claimed that the Board had
no right 10 compel them to pay the
money in advance. are very weak in
their knowledge of the law on this
subject.
Mr. O'Donnell referred particularly
20 section s. OF the law creating the
Board OF Education and vestng them
with such authority as they have,
which he claims answers this charge
completely, and not only does it
answer the charge that the Board
has no authority 20 act in the matter,
but Il further shows that nonresident
children have absolutely no claim
whatever upon the city schools. and
are entitled to no consideration. un-
less "therc are accommodations In
such schools in excess of what may be
necessary for the seating and in
6truction of resident pupils
Section 3 of the act to provide for
the organization and control of the
public schools Of the city of Whining
ton reads as follows
"Thc Board OF Education shall in
crease the number OF schools and inn
0rovc the condition thereof and OF all
acts Necessary until there are sufii-
cient schools TO accommodate all the
children and minorf residing In the
City of Wilmington Whose parents or
guardians desire for them the benefit
thereof. provided always that the
school for white children and minors
shall be separate and distinct from
the schools provided for colored chill
dren and minors.
III there shall be accommodations
In such schools in excess of what
may be necessary for the seating and
instruction OF resident pupils, the said
Board may admit to any OF such
schools such numbers of nonresident
pupils residing outside rhe city limits
In the State Of Delaware, as said
Board may deem proper, and upon
such terms and conditions as said
Board may from time to time pre-
scribe"
Mr.. ODonnell declared that owing
to the present greatly congested state
of the city schools, in some cases al
most prohibiting resident pupils from
attending on account OF lock of seat
ing capacity. that the Board would
only be acting fairly and entirely
with their bounds " they debarred
entirely nonresident pupils from
entering the schools
The sooner Wilmington Is made 4
county by itself the better off we will
be- exclaimed Mr. O'Donnell In
speaking of the matter. Il think tn,
citizens of Wilmington should get TO-
gether, have a referendum vote anC
make Wilmingtn a separate county
then we would get away from all thii
trouble which has been hanging owe
the Board OF Education ever since
have been a member"
The matter of admitting the non
resident pupils upon payment of par
of the tuition fec in advance wa
threshed out at the meeting of tn
board last Monday evening. and
was then the consensus Of opinion q
all the members that the parents Z
the non-residents. instead OF con
planning because they have to depos
the money in advance, which wi
eventually be returned to them whe
the board receives the money frol
the State that is allowed fon non-res
den pupils. they should be very gla
to have the opportunity presente
them to do so, inasmuch as before Il
State Legislature passed the presel
law few years ago making an al
preparation for non-residents. n
parents Cf the out of town pupi
were compelled 10 pay the entire co
OF the tuition from their own pocket
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