Evening journal., 1916-03-13
favor NEW methods
IN State schools
Educators in Milford Meet
ing See Many Weak
nesSeS in Present System
TAXATION PLAN
NOT SATISFACTORY

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.
MILFORD, Del. March 13.-possi-
ply the largest meeting held in the
cause of better educational conditions
in Delaware. was held here on Friday
evening, when the State Board Of
Education met the citizens of Mil
ford and laid before them their smg-
gestions for proposed laws to be
enacted by the next Legislature. Gov
ernor Charles r. Miller was present
for part Of the evening. and made a
brief talk on the subject under con-
sideration. The meeting was presided
over by Professor Harry Hayward.
The subject of pupils from rural
districts enterting the high schools
received some consideration, but fol-
lowing an address by Col Theodore
Townsend, a member Of the Kent
County School Commission, who
stated that he believed that it is inn
possible to get better results from
public school work as the system is
now organized and that in his opin-
ion further patching OF the school
laws would not make the necessary
remedy. the whole trend of the talk
was changed lie said that the pres
ent system of assessing and collect
ing the school moneys was too eX-
pensive, and fhat new method
should be tried. Professor Carroll
superintendent Of Kent County
Schools, also said the present system
worked against the best interests OF
he schools.
Following lengthy discussion OF
he proposed changes in the school
avs, The vote on the question "Shall
.he legislature be asked to change
he method OF raising school taxes
from rental. to assessed valuation, the
same as other taxes are raised
Every person present voted in the af-
frmative.
Among those present. besides Gov
ernor Miller. were Professor Harry
Hayward. Or. Charles Wagner. Pro-
fessor Carroll, George b. Hynson
George r. Pierce. William Y. Sipple
Colonel Theodore Townsend, George
II. Hall, John w. Herring. A. b. Poet
B. r. b. Woodall. Frank Reedy, W A.
Truitt. Professor Varney. William G
Abbott. and the entire local Board OF
Education.
The outline of the proposed laws tC
be presented TO the coming legisla.
ture. subject TO changes as the variou.
meetings throughout the State may
see it to suggest, was handed to tn,
men present, and they favored them
Under the proposed plan an eff
fciency commissioner OF education
with assistants. is provided for.
Some Of the suggestions are:
Current publicity work. supply thu
public press with news and informa
tion about the schools, representing
the schools in public meetings. insti
tutions. etc.
Directing club work among schools
to serve the same office for rural chill
dren. as are served by vocationa
training and manual training for cit,
children.
Fix a maximum Of the State appro
priation per child. say fifty cents pc
year that district may spend out o
State funds for textbooks; this maxi
mum. IL not spent for textbooks il
any year. shall be used to purchas
books for school library under the di
rection Of tho county superintendent
and commissioner Of education.
OF the residue OF the State dividend
after the allowance for textbook
has been subtracted. allow any schoo
district only such percentage 10 II
portion. as its entire attendance b.
the children was Of the entire schoo
term Tor a graded scale Of percentag
of fund on a basis of percentage @
attendance). This is Just and equita
BILE since It is insisting that Stat
funds shall be used economically an
frugally.
Balance OF State fund thus remain
ing unapplied TO constitute a fund on
Of which bonuses be paid to standar
and superior schools by the Stat
Board OF Education.
Equity: All high school childrel
within the State. have a right 10 eo
pect similar treatment from the Stat
Present policy helps a few, ant
hurts as many, or more. by reason {
discontinuance OF higher grades
rural schools near the towns.
This policy will encourage aud hel