Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-02-28
9TH Ward MEN FOR
NEW SCHOOL BILL
Promise TO Help 5 Board
Member Act Through
Legislature
MANY RESIDENTS
EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS

dents Of the Ninth ward at meet
ing last night in the Brandywine
Fire Company house promised to sup
. port the bill now pending in the
Legislature and assist in every posi-
. bic passage OF the measure
The meeting was not large, but it
was pretty representative OF the
ward. There was a good deal of en-
thusiasm James ID. Stroud was
elected chairman OF the meeting and
j. 5. Mclaughlin secretary. Among
those who spoke in favor OF the pro
posed education bill we're the Rev.
, r. l.. Jackson, pastor of Hanover
Presbyterian Church; Ellwood Soud-
, CIR, ID. j. Farren, of the Central Labor
+ Union Jerome b. Bell, w. j. Nc
Corkindalo, j. II. Hughes Jr., and
others
Following eXpositions of the differ
ent DO hts of the measure by Charles
Warner, chairman OF the joint ctl-
, Gems committees and the General
! Service Board. which planned the bill
, and investigated matters leading up
, to the drawing OF its features, nearly
J every man present expressed himself
Z IN favor Of the measure. Mr. Warner
pointed out the bill was drawn after
exhaustive investigation by the Gen
eral Service Board, and that the
measure In its features had the back
ing of abou. eighteen different civic
organizations Of the city.
MIR. Bell called attention 10 the fact
81 that he had been a member of many
boards Of different organizations, and
had always found a large board diff
cult to manage, and TO do business
with. He was in favor Of small
. Board OF Education. The election Of
d members OF the Board of Education
3 at large also eliminated logfrolling.
Mr. Bell sad, something he also had
. found troublesome in carrying on
different public matters.
. Others present spoke TO the same
{ purpose. pointing out the advantages
of having community school build
ings. located centrally as to popu-
lation centers and constructed ac-
cordlng 10 the latest improved meth
DDS Of erecting school buildings. Il
0 was pointed out the rate of taxation
: IN Wilmington was much lower than
:. in many other cities because only
g real estate is taxed here. whereas in
Z many other cities personal property
D. OF all kinds was taxed Statistics were
mentioned showing the actual rate Of
:; taxation was much lower than in
u other cities of the country similar
in population and development
~ The need Of having the school
~ board responsible only TO itself in
e' place of having its financial affairs
y subject 20 revision by City Council
~ was emphasized by several Of the
- speakers. Special mention was made
Of the present Board of Education
and Mr. Warner said there was in
the proposed bill no criticism of
members 0f the board The main
features of the bill. he sad. were
based on the report OF DR.. Clifford ].
Scott. superintendent OF schools. who
had declared many Of the school
buildings were inadequate for the
purposes intended and the board
7 hampered by lack OF funds.
:, The amount Of money spent every
= year per pupil in our public schools
was said 10 be about $50 declared to
! be the lowest but one Of any city Of
D the size Of Wilmington in the United
States. tho average amount spent per
V YEAR per pupil in other cities the size
S of Wilmington being about s45
@ Several of tho speakers said they he
n lieved better results could be obtained II
y educational matters n the hoard wer,
L. small and confined its work 20 directing
II a policy and had the work Of attending
n TO details of the schools given 20 PAL,
N experts There would be a saving o
rs money by such scheme IL was said
l. The proposed bill now has been intro
duccd IN the Senate by Senator Kick
he man. il was stated. Next Friday. Marc
~ O.. has been asked for as the day Of
Il hearing on tho bill. Mr.. Warner said h
n did not know whether that would be IN
dav for the hearing. but urged that az
he rangements be made 20 have a larg
n delegation present from the Ninth war
IN 10 show the sentiment in favor of ia
h. bill from that section of Wilmington.
ut number Of those present then sal
At. they hoped they might be able TO go I
he dover on the day set for the hearin
re and appear before the legislative con
ID. mttee 20 represent the sentiment of ~
as ninth ward Attention was called {
The cards sent ont by the General Sc
ay vice Board TO be signed in lieu of pet
tion in favor Of The proposed chang
We IN the Board Of Education.
We II was said about l4OO Of these car,
Vi already had been signed and steps wei
he heirg taken td have as many as poss
ra bic nf them ready 10 take to Dover q
m. tho day Of the hearing in order to sho
,ir 20 the legislators the sentiment throul
% out the city IN favor Of the measure.
no A. the conclusion Of the meeting
Of hearty vote Of thanks was extends
r. members Of the Rrsndywine Fire Cor
panv for the use Of their rooms for Il
meeting and the courtesy shown in q
. PERTAINING those present.
= !. r. Gradwohl. a graduate Of Il
J I Wilmington High School. and 4 dut
rist in the Ninth ward gave vivid q
I acripiion Of actual conditions ard de-
] cicncies in the schools of the ward. 7
made plea for the better managemc
nnd upbuilding of the school system f
the sake Of the children, which dr'
] forth the hearty applause Of the aud
cnce
. Members Of the committee Of Il
y ninth ward who are particularly actr
k IN the campaign for better school COZ
d. ditions are as follows: J. +. Gradwol
10 John e Stron0. Willard J. Walker Dai
a icl !. Farren. William L. Hamann. Jam'
ID Mel aughliu. Ellwood Souder. the Rev.
n T.. jackson James d. Stroud. .lacc
ry Hleitz. Ceorre W. T. Miller and u
Rev. Alhau Riohey. ID. d.
OF
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