Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1914-05-08

that all stoves in school rooms shall hay
sheet-iron castings placed around them
shield the pupils from the direct he
radiation. For some reason this has bee
entirely ignored all over the county. al
we recommend that this arrangement {
enforced for the comfort Of the children
and for the economy of space, which
badly needed in several instances.
We went into the schools in the stat
of Maryland, where a system of heatin
school rooms has been adopted with goo
effect, and which solves to a very larg
degree the question of ventilation an
heating economically. In the schools W
visited heating plant had been Unstable,
which is working splendidly, and tn
teachers testify that at no time during tn
past winter did the thermometers whicl
we saw installed in the school rooms, on,
at the heater side, and the other at the fai
end Of the school room. did they vary ovel
two degrees during the coolest weather
and the children were comfortable in the
rear of the room as near the heater. Il
is simple method of heating, and the
ventilation connected is a fine thing fol
any and all schools to take under consid-
Grafton for immediate installation in fact,
we would recommend that the State Board
of Education take such steps as will com
pei every school room in the County OF
Kent now heated by a stove, to be heated
by one Of these or similar heating and
ventilating heaters. It would benefit the
health of every home from whence child
is sent to attend schools of that kind.
The little repairs needed to school
buildings are Frequently more difficult
to get done than are the larger things
needed and for this reason the teachers
should be compelled to make weekly re-
ports Of broken window panes. of low
places at the school entrance or to the
toilets. and the sanitary conditions sur
rounding them, to both the Clerk of the
district and the Superintendent of Schools
and prompt action be taken to have the
trouble remedied.
Where there are particularly bright
spots Of administration, there is found
teacher who has energy and the courage
to demand her rights, and at the same
time give the service due from her or him
outside Of the actual duty of teaching.
In our opinion, the County Unit is not
a desirable basis for school government
so far as the buildings aud grounds are
to be considered the smaller unit is
preferable, but there needs more absolute
control by either the County School Com
mission or the State Board of Education.
The need Of Kent County now is for
better equipped teachers for the work.
This does not necessarily mean better
teachers. but even that is not
an objection, but teachers with zeal and
knowledge FOR teaching and training the
children in other lines than in memoriz-
ing the books and theories of education.
We found a general desire on the part
Of teachers to instruct in practical agricul-
lure study, but there must be a general
plan established and the teacher be educat-
ed along these lines as we'll as the chill
lren each will grow with the study.
1t is matter for regret that attention
las to be called to the sanitary conditions
If one of the largest and best schools in
Kent County, which is located at Smyrna.
With beautiful grounds and three-story
rick school building, the teachers are
to ask privilege for toilet use
# neighbors to the school, and the chill
rem themselves must enter wooden
tructures where the conditions are far
Glow those at most of the rural schools.
he Smyrna Schools do not owe a dollar
f bonded indebtedness. and a sewer
asses in front of the school grounds
hitch can be tapped for drainage. The
ounty School Commission has several
mes called attention to this condition
affairs privately and in their annual !
eports. but no attention has been paid
} the matter. We have recommended T
AeA AAANAN bN a u ANh nEEE-5LDTk toilet II
-ected at the southeast side Of the build 4
Ig to accommodate each floor the girls
I'd boys, and that it shall be done be-
re another year opens, and unless this
provided by thattime, the Kent County a
,hool Commission will be compelled to
I'VE the State Money with held from the r
nyrna Public Schools on the grounds
improper sanitation conditions. until a
e proper toilets for the use ofover four
inbred children are provided. r
The colored schools are generally in
tier condition than they were last year
It there should be much done for them
= They are not able to tax themselves
most rural districts, and for that rea-
II the buildings are in need of so much
pair and supply Of conveuiences.
We hold fifteen regular meetings during
e year to hear and transact the bust
IS Of the public schools, aud in addition
fhaea each ,,,a-,.f,.- =. & a.. f,a