Evening journal., 1914-05-18
PUBLIC scn0OLs AND THEIR USES.

TAy have received from A. N. Andrews the follow
w ing temperately-worded letter, which is timely
and explains itself:
To the Editor OF THE EVENING JOURNAL:
Sr-The situation arising from the autocratic ac-
tion Of the local Board Of Education in its refusal to
permit the senior class of the High School to make
legitimate Of the High School building for hold
ing social functions should impress upon the people
Of this city the necessity for concerted and dec
siYe action looking to the application OF modern educa
tonal methods in public schools In line with
the requirements Of the community.
There is growing sentiment In Wilmington against
the pigheadedness Of the Board of Education its at
ude toward broader Of the publics property its
refusal to permit the of the High School auditorium
for public meetings and its failure to make suitable
provision for meeting rooms and social centres in other
school buildings 1t Is said that the Boards failure
to provide for such in the school building
on the Boulevard breach of faith with the peo-
pie Of the Ninth Ward Several times in the past the
writer has called attention to the dangers of this
row-minded policy. P p Claxton, commissioner of
the Y. s. Bureau of Education out clearly for
the use Of the school plant the year round declaring
the use OF II only nine months ~ the year is prepos
terous" During the summer months he would teach
vocational work and contends that under right
agement they would bring in enough to pay all
and thus solve the great problem of what do
with the millions of boys and girls who find noth-
ing 70 90 during the summer months. Other COM
munities onarging the usefulness OF the public
schools and they are becoming Of tremendous service
70 the people.
THE EVENING JOURNAL should be commended for
the attitude has taken this matter and let us hope
that Il will continue to agate for broader and
phase OF the local school situation is the fact that
the narrow miaded policy Of Board Of Education
has placed the public school teachers in position
where they bound down to an antquated curri-
cuum which merely reflects the material interests OF
those who exercise control our educational ia
cilitles The foundation of American manhood and
the welfare of the people depends unquestonaby upon
the efficiency Of our educational institutions. AS
graduate Of the Wilmington High School the writer
feels that he is qualified criticise the lack OF pro-
gressYeness shown by the local Board Of Education
Il Is gratifying TO note that at last long. g.suifering
m ugfO Is
lagging behind in the adoption Of modern methods in
the public schools, and that the teacher remarked
TO the small boy, "rhe time has when forbear-
ance has ceased to be virtue" The time has truly
arrived when the fathers and mothers of the chill
dfen In this city should take active part in insist
ing that up-to-date policies be applied to our public
schools and when they should that elected
70 the Board Of Education who qualified to super
wise the education Of children and respect
tie rights of the public in public property.
A. n. ANDREWS.
That is letter which, in its general terms at least
viii meet with the approval Of large majority Of
Wilmington taxpayers