Evening journal., 1915-03-29
MONDAY MAR. %, 1915
DrLAwARE's EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY.

n ELAwARE at last has its great educational oppor-
~ tunity 1t has been offered TO it by DR.. p p.
Caxton. United States Commissioner of Education. The
tender made at educational conference held at
Delaware College Newark Saturday. DR.. Caxton
and several members Of his STAFF present So
were representatives of almost all the educational
agencies now working in little commonwealth.
The plan, in a nutshell is that Delaware shall be
made the experimental and demonstration field Of the
United States Government in matters Of education. In
other words that with the cooperation Of the officials
and the people OF this State, the efficiency of many
OF the educational enterprises of the Federal Govern
ment shall be demonstrated in the Delaware schools
upon which the interest OF all those in other States
who are promoting educational advancement shall be
centred
II the plan carried out it will inure greatly to the
benefit of our people and their school system II also
will give State unusual distinction in the sister
hood OF States being educational centre.
Dr. Claxton made it clear in his address at the con
ference that he thinks Delaware suited better than
any other State in the Union for such demonstration
work II consists Of only three counties Those
tics embrace within themselves the elements OF state
hood In the municipal and rlTal schools the condi-
tions ideal for carrying the experimental and
demonstration work Of the Federal Bureau OF Edu-
cation
How strongly the plan appealed to the judgment Of
the fifty OF sixty persons who assembled TO hear DR..
Caxton outline Il shown by the fact that not one
person spoke or voted against il and by the further
fact that by unanimous action, the Cooperative Edu-
catonal Association of Delaware organized with
large representative and influential membership which
is capable of great expansion public interest in the
movement grows and crystalzes
Il is not the purpose Of the Federal Government TO
do anything OF sensational nature in this State
Neither is it compulsory upon the State and its officials
to do anything the United States Bureau Education
recommends. It's freedom OF action is left wholly
impaired except in far the projects of the Federal
appeal to the good judgment Of tho peo
pic Of Delaware and their educational agents The fact
that the Federal plans, far they were outlined
by Dr. Caxton, met with tho unanimous approval OF
those who attended the conference makes clear how
that it is his purpose to proceed upon thoroughly
practical lines and begin in the districts where
effective educational work is admittedly most needed
There is valid why il should be a great
With United States Commissioner OF Educa-
tion Claxton, Governor Miller, State Commissioner OF
EDUCATION Wagner, the three county suporntondents
resident Mitchell of Delaware College. Dean Robin
on Of the Delaware College for Women supernten-
dent of Schools Scott Of Wilmington the officers and
members Of the Cooperative Educational Association
and many other persons acutey interested in the edu-
catonsl uplft of State aroused would be strange
indeed. common wealth TO fail to profit by
the offer which Or. Caxton has made especially
when he himself admits that there is no field in the
United States that offers better conditions for the
successful carrying out Of his plans