Evening journal., 1916-04-10

w perntondcnt OF Free Schools for New Castle
county. the following letter which, feel sure. will
be read with interest by everyone and particularly by
school officials school teachers pupils and parents
the State over
Office Of
Superintendent of Free Schools
Of New Castle Couuty
H. L. CROSS. superintendent
New Castle, DEL April z. 1916.
Mr. Geo Carter
Editor Of THE EVENING JOURNAL,
Wilmington, Delaware.
Ally Dear Mr. Carter:
Because of the splendid help you rendered in our Of
fort to stimulate the study of spelling in the schools Of
our county, and because further Of the farreachng
good that has come from our spelling contest made
possible by the service OF yourself and friends. /
writing YOU again "a matter OF equal Importance.
In my opinion. TO that Of good spelling
For some reason public speaking I'M schools
has been sadly neglected for years past There was
lme when teachers had time to give this a place on
ne program. but has dropped out largely. and with
ciety.
We believe that general awakening along this line
would result in great good and hence have decided TO
Try TO adopt plan that viii bring the desired results
Knowing OF your personal and journalistic interest in
educational matters In general and in schools in par
ucuiar. n has occurred 10 as that you might make
some suggestion and possibly secure the helpful in
ierest of others who would be willing and glad
20 help n line OF work that appeal 90 every
1ubiio-spiriicd citizen.
We assure you sir. that the help you gave last fall
has extended even directly TO the furhest limits OF
the State and that the work begun so auspiciously
cooperation will continue with increasing eff
ciency. The fact is. that tho thought Of publishing
lur School Journal was born OF the spelling contest
therefore O you are pleased with our ehort 10 stmt
ate public speaking in the schools of Delaware. and
an suggest any way by which prize or series Of
h1s may hf secured oi Statewide contest 10 be held
lext school year under regulations that be- work.
d out you win be doing splendid service, we be.
eye. and viii certainly have the hearest thanks Of
~ persons interested in public education
Respectfully yours.
r. L. CROSS supt
rrH..
Produced fr-reaching beneficial results have re-
eyed their preliminary training in the public schools
this country II is a matter Of keen regret that as
Superintendent Cross asserts. the teaching Of public
speaking has disappeared, almost. from our schools.
Something certainly should be done and done speedily
correct such condition. We are convinced firmly
hat there publc-sprited and women in Della
who will cooperate with THE EVENING JOUR-
NAf in assisting superintendent Cross to bring pub
icspeaking to the front I'm our schools,
loi only in New Castle county. but in Kent and Sus-
ex counties we'll
All educated and children can think
Shen sitting and transmit their thoughts to paper
sith varying degrees Of lucidity and ogcaty. Not
in hundred can think logically when stand
and carry a sustained discourse that holds the
attention and appeals to The Of the hearer That
due largely 10 dstracting self-conscousness or
stage fright That distractng circumstances is
iue 10 the fact that boys and girls not taught
school think their feet and TO give oral utter
10 their thoughts. As We view il, the Cross plan
10 bring about q coalition educational forces tnat
sill destroy that disracting circumstances and
send the boys and girls into the world so accus-
omed TO public speaking in the schools that little or
embarrassment will be felt by them when social.
civic, religious. commercial political duty demands
hat they express themselves the broader and non
scholastic walks OF life.
We think that what Superintendent Cross suggests
is good for county and State We do not hesitate
TO approve it. Properly stimulated the latent art of
public speaking be restored TO full vigor in our
schools AS view it, that result can be obtained
most quickly by the Offering OF one State and three
county prizes for oratory.
Each county prize should 20 to that school in that
particular county which, in ntra-couny contest pro-
duces the best boy girl orator
The State prize should be open 10 the three
winners Of the county contests and the trophy should
60 to that county school which produces the orato,
Who wins it,
The State trophy should be competed for annual,
until of the counties has won it three times he,
should become the permanent property OF the schoo
last winning it.
Each county trophy should be competed for an
nually until one OF the county schools has won
three times when il should become the permanen
property of that school.
Feeling that the plan is good one, max
an appeal for sterling silver loving cup TO nc
less than $50, to be offered a State sweepstak
prize for and. trophy. TO bear the
nc donor II is a splendid opportunity for some pub
lic-sprited woman TO do something Of prac