Evening journal., 1917-12-29
state BOARD Of
ED[ClITL0A Work
Professor Spaid Reports
Many Activities Stree Be-
coming Commissioner
SCHOOLS ARE IN
NEED OF TEACHERS
Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.

DOVER, Del, Dec. 29.-At the quarter
ly meeting Of the State Board Of Edu-
cation, and the last one for the year
1917, held here yesterday. much i'm
portant business was transacted.
Prof. A. II. Spaid. State commissioner
Of education, who was appointed to
that Office about July 4. to succeed Dr.
Charles A. Wagner. resigned, submitted
his report for the past six months as
follows;
Immediately after my appointment
as commissioner OF education by Gov
ernor Townsend, / was requested 10 be
come one OF the instructors in the
summer school at Delaware College.
/ began on July and taught three
hours per day during the month Of
July, spending an occasional day In
this onlce.
AT the close OF the Summer School
/ found that the Smith-Hughes Act was
our most pressing task, as a State plan
had to be worked out. After four con-
ferences with the Federal Board for
Vocational Education our plan was sp-
proved in November and the FIRST and
second quarterly payments have been
deposited with the state treasurer.
"A State director Of agriculture has
been appointed and will take up his
work on January 4. Work has been
in active operation In the shipbuildlng
industries In Wilmington under Dean
Cullimore Of Delaware College 10 say
nothing Of the classes in radio work.
Delaware College and the Women's Col
lege are making progress in their plans
for teacher-i"aining IN agriculture and
home economies.
Miss Josephine Berry Of the Federal
Boa d, assistant director Of home
economies, was in Delaware on Decem-
Der i3, "a and IS, inspecting some Of
our schools These included the Alexis
/. dupont, Smyrna, Dover, Caesar Rod
ney Harrington and Milford schools.
visited these schools with Miss Berry
The Alexis |. dupont, Caesar Rodney,
Dover and Milford schools may be able
TO qualify under the Smith-Hughes Act,
and the final classification must be
made soon.
IN addition to the four conferences
with the Federal Board concerning our
State plan, ! had O conference with Dr.
ClaXton on education IN Delaware rela-
tive to the work which he had directed
in some Of the surveys. On July 2s.
/ attended Q conference In New York
City. called by the National Security
League. Several Of the commission
ers Of education were present and TOOK
an active part in the discussion.
The Federal Boa Of Vocational
Education called all the state .supern-
tendents 10 Washington on the 18th Of
December and discussed plans for as
sistlng the government in training 3O0.-
900 mechanics and mechanicians which
the Army sorely needs.
~ have also been lin many local con-
I te~ences on various subjects ami made
a long trip to Ames. Iowa, IN quest Of
a State Director Of Agriculture. to say
nothing Of formulating a sect Of cards
/ 10 be used in carrying out the law for
/ the importation Of dependent children.
sending out circular letters, writing 10
/ nonresident pupils and making ad-
/ d esses on food conservation, thrift
/ stamps and assisting teachers with
/ their parent-teacher meetings. / have
made &c addresses, eleven OF these dur
ing Institute Week.
In passing. J wish TO say that we
| had gool Institutes, at least / have
heard so, although I was too active
/ in the work to be good judge.
AT ny suggest on many teachers are
/ using selected Bible Readings IN their
schools, and, to add just a little senti-
ment. they are reading these first with
me the evening before they have them
| in the school In New Castle County,
there are Q teachers, In Kent iis and In
Sussex ZAP, who are reading these Sc
lections.
Il was acting Superintendent Of Kent
County Schools from October p 10 No
vember 2S.
Il went fishing on Labor Day with
my boys and was not In the ONCE
/ Christmas. but during the rest OF the
six months, have lost no time, spend
ing from one to three hours In the Of
nce at night.
THE demands Of ones time In CO.
operating with the government pso-
iects and In formulating the state plan
under the Smith-Hughes Act curtail
time for regular school work most
amazingly.
II have been unable TO accept some
OF the requests from teachers to ad-
dress their parent-teachers' associations
while invitations to speak in other
states have been declined
"The copy Of the State Directory has
been in the hands OF the printer for
some time, and tire copy for the bull
letin on the State plan under the
Smith-Hugnes Act Is completed
The boa d Instructed Professor Spaid
and l.. C Armstrong, Director OF Agri
culture. TO complete the survey OF the
following schools as 10 their equ p
ment and ability TO come under the
Smith-Hughes Law; Milfo d, Caesar
Rodney, Dover; Alexis I dupont and
Newark. II these schools can finally
qualify, each will receive financial aid
for courses in Home Economics and
Agriculture.
The Commissioner OF Education re-
ported 10 the state Board a shortage OF
teachers generally throughout the State
and was instructed 10 call the County
Superintendents together and report at
the next meeting OF the board as Ia
the actual shortage IN teachers.
A resolution was passed authorizing
Superintendent Z. l.. Cross. Of New
Castle county TO make a survey OF the
Rose Hill school In New Castle. as tC
the actual conditions there and the need
OF adding 10 the present grades.
The state Board decided TO become q
member Of the National Educational
Association and also the National So