Evening journal., 1916-03-07

placing small value upon the work Of
the public schools.
What are some Of the results of
this condition?
I'VE have no special schools for alb
( normal and misfit children where they
may receive the particular kind of
education their exceptional needs de-
mand. Medical inspection to deter
mine and remove physical causes of
retardation is not available for our
boys and girls. The ianitor service in
many of our buildings is wholly in
adequate to keep them clean. over
5000 children sit in old nOn-adjust-
able. double-desks, regardless of diff
ferences in the sizes of pupils. with
detrimental effects. Seventeen of our
schools average more than forty pu-
pills TO the teacher while forty or less
should be the miximum. The pupils
are without many necessary text
books.
"The capacity Of the schools has
now been exceeded and the city con-
tinues TO grow The enrolment is
1 200 more today than one year ago.
If relief does not come, If remedial
measures are not undertaken soon,
conditions will grow worse.
"Our wants and needs and short
comings are physical, not profess
sional. The teaching in the Whining
ton schools is for the most part Of
splendid quality, and our teachers
deserve the city's praise for over
coming so many obstacles and for
their devotion to the educational well
/ fare of our children under such try
| ing circumstances.
/ when a community is Indifferent
| its schools decline. and become inn
potent. but when public interest and
cooperation flourish the schools
/ grow strong in the power 10 serve
childhood well and to develop man
hood and womanhOod.
AN organization of citizens such as
! the Chamber of Commerce, striving for
"a splendid future Tor Wilmington, must
realize that our city's future greatness
depends upon the boys and girls now IN
our schools The greatest agency
through which you can build for the
future is the public schools. Whining
I ton will never be rated mghclass
J front-ranS city such as you desire until
she does more for her schools. Business
opportunities alone do not bring dcsir'
able families to city for permanent
\ residence. One OF tho first inquiries of
such n family Is. What Kind of schools
have youP \ city is no better thar
its schools.
"Om school muddle has cheapened and
Y disgraced Wilmington 10 AN extent that
overbalances the advertising this Cham.
ber of Commerce has distributed. II
vour last publication, which says that
Y Wilmington has 81 splendid schools had
told the truth, the rest of the booklet
would have been worthless.
"No city has a better. more promis
ing group of children than Whining
ton. Our corps of teachers has the
ability and the vision and devotion ia
give you the best of schools If prop
erly supported. Are you going to per.
nit personal feelings, factiOnal quar-
rels. general public apathy to retard
WilmingtOn's schools and to sacrifice
her children's rights?
Our schools cannot thrive under the
criticisms and quarrellng, the uncer'
tainties and disbursement. and the
public attitude now prevailing No
school system can maintain n whole
some, eueiBellC hplil uhuci sum Noh
ditiOns. The task we now face is over
whelming This city has no greater
work to do than to provide and ad
minister its public schools. Above and
before all else that civic work school
be we'll done.
1--WE want this influential body as
well as others TO thOroughly under
stand our problems and to help us
for the sake of Wilmington and for
Mhe sake of our boys and girls"