Evening journal., 1915-01-23
SATURDAY JAN. %. 1915
sTRIKING AT THE noon.


THAT something is the matter with our ianitor-
L ridden Board Of Education that 1t has forfeited
the goodwill and confidence of the public and that
something should be done by the present Legislature
to put the administrative end of educational affairs
upon a better basis is the opinion Of vast majority
of Wilmingtonians. The present board is perhaps
the most unpopular in the history of city
There be satisfactory educational progress while
II is in control The way in which High School af-
fairs have been handled constitutes public scandal
There also is much criticism with respect to condi-
tions IN the grammar and elementary schools. Moth
ing short OF radical action can rehabilitate our De-
partment of Education In public favor and place II
In position to do the effective work it ought to do
in community,
II is pleasing to note that the Wilmington High
School Alumni Association has taken the matter up
with an earnestness and intelligence that promises
well for reforms That association has from 600 to
700 members. Fully 500 of them reside in Wilmington
Many Of them are prominent in industrial, commercial
and professional life The organization stands for the
good of the community and the upbulding of its edu-
cationa interests
The association has held meeting without
dissenting vote Il has decided that the situation de-
mands that the present Board of Education be abol-
Ished and that a smaller and better board be sub
stituted for IT, bill carrying out the spirit of the
meeting has been drafted It has been submitted to
City Council for It's approval Copies have been
made for introduction in the Senate and House next
week.
The present Board of Education Is composed of thir
teen members. One man. the president. is elected
at large His twelve associates are elected by wards
one member from each ward. The bill of the asso-
citation proposes that the membership Of the board
shall be reduced TO to at large and
20 be passed upon by the entire Wilmington cleo
torate. II is contended that under such system
better men will be obtained and that rivalry among
,vfUI Io rndt taod Nrftl
spect reducing the membership it may be said that
such is in line with the action of other wde-
awake American cities. Even in New York city such
a reduction is being agitated and the movement has
the support of Mayor Mitchell and other of prom-
nence.
The plan here is to have the school election held
the second Saturday in June and to arrange the
terms Of the commissioners that four of the seven
will be up for election every two years. In event
OF a vacancy occurring between elections the bill
provides that the remaining commissioners shall
ect TO I'll the vacancy the who in the preceding
school election received the highest number of
next TO the winners.
1t also is stipulated that the Board Of Bduca-
ton shall keep full and of all it's hnan-
cial transactions and that its books and papers shall
be open at all times to the inspection of City Councnl
and its agents. Under the present board no adequate
accounts kept and the people have no proper
method for finding out just what the board is doing
with the public funds entrusted to it's care.
The bill drawn also provides that, although ward
boundaries are eliminated with respect to the mem
Of the board ample check upon improper dscrimi-
nation against any ward shall be found in City Coun-
ell and the Legislature. In the former there Is ward
representation and in the latter district representa-
ton so that sectional interests will be protected al
all times through those two agencies, which will con-
troll the spending by the board
No doubt the clique which controls the present
board viii attempt TO retain the power it now
Public sentiment against It is so strong
however that the association be justified IN
looking for favorable action from both City Council
and the Legislature II is striking at the root of ON
educational troubles