Evening journal., 1915-06-05

AL ehlouSn tnc past winter the pa
pers have been full of news of the
schools. some not too complimentary
to the Board Of Education in state
ments as to conditions; some empha-
sizing the numerous improvements
which have been brought about by the
splendid work of our new suDerinten-
dent. Clifford ]. Scott In ali This
comment, however, relatively few of
the concrete conditions upon which II
was based have been available to the
public and this has permitted the
raising of the question-newspaper
talk.
Mr. Baynard. president of the Board
of Education, was quoted by the pa
pers not long ago as saying: IF some
OF this energy was expended IA in
vestigating the matter instead of
knocking, more would be accomplish
ed. ] agree with Mr.. Baynard The
time has come to cease knocking and
look into facts.
Fortunately an Investigation has
been made of the elementary schools
of the city, begun in October last
before the heat of controversy in
school matters waxed so hot-and
continued through March of this year.
The facts of this investigation are
later l believe. TO be formally publish
ed, in full. Since the opportunity to
use some of them. however. has come
TO me, ! cannot help feeling that it
Is not only right but necessary that
the public should share in the knowl-
edge at this time.
1t is neither fair 10 the CITY nor TO
the new superintendent. who has had
TO start his work in Wilmington un-
DER adverse conditions that the pres
ent standing of our educational sys-
tenn and the actual conditions of our
schools should not be known. A knowi-
edge OF present conditions is neces-
sary as basis of comparison a few
years from now, and il is also neces-
sary IN order that the public may
support the work of improvement in
telligently And so, as an individual |
and not as a representative of any
organization, | take the responsibility /
OF giving this information through the |
press. It is not given with the desire !
10 arouse prejudice against our eIe- |
mentary schools and it is given with |
full recognition of the ameliorative !
influence of the teachers over even
the worst conditions With Mr.. Scott 4
reelected for'two years conditions are
bound TO go on changing for the bet
ter as they are already changing;
but to my mind the changes can hest
be brought about if the public has an
intelligent basis for cooperation with
the school management. The constant
excuse of the school authorities that
certain conditions have not been REM
edied because of lack of funds" is a
censure both of the board and of the
public.
The issue is a large one-a aues-
ton of the best school system nossi-
Die. IL is poor reasoning indeed which
does not recognize that our system
OF education is the foundation of our
citizenship. Are the people of VIII
mington to stand for backward
and poorly equipped schools and
consequent backward and poorlv
equipped citizenship, or are we
10 realize that the very best in
the way of education means far more
than any other part of government
can mean. from the fact that through
tne schools we are creating men and
women who will in the future De the
determiners of all government.
IL ought TO be an honor Ia belong
10 tne school board which is TO he
trusted with such control II is an
hohor 10 stand as a private citizen i'm
a community where public education
mas reached the highest level of pro-
School Buildings. D '"'0 '"''''
10 those in the community not
closely related to some child in tho
schools, or not personally ACQUAINTED
Win the professional side of them
me hrst impression is likely 10 come
from the buildings themselves and |
recently made a trip around the ele- |
school buildings in the oitv |
win the idea of seeing how our
scnool plant would impress the vis:- ;
Tor. was glad indeed that I-and