Newark post., 1915-01-13

of Education be increased from
Two thousand to Three thousand
dollars per annum to take effect
upon the first day of May 1915.
The salary of Twelve hundred
dollars per annum now being paid
the County school superintendent
should be increased and | recon-
mend that these salaries be raised
from Twelve hundred to Fifteen
hundred dollars per annum, and IN
order to further develop the eff
cheney of these officials | recon-
mend that the contingent fund of
the three County superintendent
be raised to the following figures
is New Castle County from Three
hundred to Five hundred dollars
in Kent County from Three hun
dred to -Four hundred dollars; In
Sussex County from Three hun
dred to Six hundred dollars. The
size Of the territory to be covered
and the condition of the avenues of
communication seem to justify the
recommendation of larger amount
for Sussex than for the other two
counties. 1t is the unanimous
opinion Of the State Board of Edu-
cation (in which opinion l concur)
that the above mentioned increases
are the minimum amounts neces-
sary to maintain at a proper stand
ard the work of our rural public
school organization.
Having established an organiza-
ton with which to improve our ed
ucational conditions, the next step
is to provide legisla ton to make it
effective. With a brief statement
of facts you may perhaps more
clearly understand why the State
Board Of Education asks for the
passage of the legislation which
they suggest.
Rural school attendance in Della
ware is very poor, much below the
average in other states, due largely
to the fact that the teacher
school cannot offer the proper in
for scholars to attend.
Poor attendance Injuries the eff
cheney of a school, creates in the
and among the par
ents lack Of faith and interest in
the subject Of education, all Of
which invites adverse criticism and
encourages a spirit Of antagonism
toward the rural school. A rene
dy for this condition is the consol-
idated graded school. You natu-
rally inquire, Has this plan been
successful?' The answer is "It
has, the system having been
adopted by some thirty different
states. If separate rural schools
were consolidated and five or more
of these brought together at some
central point and combined into
one good graded school, then
would follow larger classes, better
teaching facilities, increased inter-
est and better attendance, all these
things being accomplished with
practically the same expense as
as now expended upon the separate
schools previous to their consolida-
ton.
Including the city of Whining
ton, this State has 524 school dis
tricts. Fifty Of these are town
schools-which the law terms in
corporated-(they are practically
cOnsolidated). This leaves 474
rural school or one-teacher districts
The same rule which applies to the
town school will work with the con-
rural school, resulting nj
better grading and improved equip
ment, healthier and happier child
ren.
Consolidation to be successful
and effective should be decided
upon by a vote Of the citizens who
reside within the districts where
consolidation is proposed. The
then becomes one of priv
iIege rather than compulsion. State
aid based upon a certain percent
age OF the cost Of buildings, etc.,