Milford chronicle., 1915-09-17

THE people who live in the rural dis
tricts of Delaware, are due to a rude
awakening as to their public school ad-
vantages. For several years those who
have opportunity to know the actual con-
ditions existing in most of the rural pub
lie schools, have attempted to get the
laws changed at each recurring session
of the legislature but, the existance of a
considerable number of men in each dis
trict all over the state, whose ideas as to
conducting the public schools, is circum-
scribed by the almighty dollar, have been
able to influence a sufficient number of
members of the legislature, whose know
ledge of public matters is limited, to vote
against any change in the school laws,
which would bring more fair distribution
of the burthen of maintaining the schools,
or for bringing about modern methods of
teaching. We refer now to the men who
care nothing as to the excellence of the
schools, but whose only anxiety is that
the cost be kept to the lowest limit, re-
gardless oft effectiveness ofthe schools.
But there is yet another class, who try to
believe that the schools, are good enough,
and their children are learning fast under
the incompetent teacher who is willing to
work for small wages, as they would
under the teacher whose constant effort
is 70 get the best for those pupils who are
under his charge for instruction. This is |
he same class of men who believe that |
he rural school is just as good as the |
schools in the town, up to the same grade, |
md who expect to send their children |
Ifter reaching the eighth grade, into the
own schools at the states expense, and
hus save any further cost of education of
lis children. That is selfish, and dishou-
st, and shows a willingness to have the
'eople of the towns pay the bill through
ne state treasury for his benefit.
Going to school is not a guarantee
f an education, unless the school has
roper chances to do good work and then
oes that work Under the present re-
ime our rural schools have no fair
hance to do good work, therefore, they
an not do it. That many parents, and
lose who stand in parental relation to
think because the children 20
school little each year, assures them
j education. Its a case of sad and
,rious self deception. The examina- ]
ons held of all pupils residing in the
iral school districts, who have com
eted the course in their district school. {
hich were held by authority of law and 1
lie direction of the State Board of Educa- z
on, has shown the failure of the rural l
hools to qualify the children to take +
, the work OF even a similar grade in j
hich they finished in their district o
hool, let alone entering the first grade !,
a town school in the High School De-
rtment. This will be repeated next
ar, and possibly by the time another
egislature meets, the rural people will
awake to the fact, that they are pay r
g for educating their children, and ;d
ting only the same quality of Educa- ii
IN they are paying for, a very poor b.
ality. When compared with the in )
rporated schools in towns. Parents, Il
st remember these facts, and above all, W
member, that it is your own child E
lich is being denied the chance to get te
education, and that there will be need ~
, change in the method of raising re-
iool taxes, as we'll as the methods of 81
pending them after the money is paid m
your child is to get what your money n, n
for. tn
70