Evening journal., 1917-11-02

pupils under the care OF the individual
teachers, children Of our city cannot
receive their due share OF school bene-
no and the teachers cannot produce the
educational results which meet their
professional standards and ideals
When more than 40 pupils are enrolled
in a classroom under the charge OF
single teacher, the needs Of the lndlyid-
ual child are not given sufficient 0ttcn-
tion TO make the most OF his particular
possibilities. Such, however, are the
conditions under which a large per-
centage Of the children Of Wilmington
are receiving their elementary oduca-
ton.
with few exceptions II would be
grave mistake TO undertake 90 relieve
these evil conditions by repairing and
enlarging the present buildings This
Is true IN the first place because most
OF the buildings are old. ouiworn and
antiQuated They do not present the
facilities or comforts or appearance
which characterize modern attractive,
/ scientifically planned and equipped,
school buildings: i'm the second place,
because their condition Is such that TO
make the most Of their possibilities as
remodoled buildings would entail such
/ large expenditures that new buildings
would not cost a great deal more, and
| IN the third place, because the size OF
/ the present buildings breaks up our
/ system into units too small for eco
nomic operation and administration
I New buildings could be so located and
built large enough as TO make fewer
buildings sufficient and yet accOmm0-
date all our pupils and DE within
walking distance for OH children as
signed 10 them These larger buildings
lwOuld make necessary fewer princl
pals and heating plants and I'm other
ways effect O reduction OF cost OF
equipment and administration The
fewer buildings used for a given mum.
ber of pupils reduces the duplication
Of equipment and facilities.
Furthermore, our present system
Of classification OF pupils, which Is
satisfactory and moro or less perman
ent one, provides for twelve half-yoal
grades below the grammar schools
The present six or elght-room build
lngs are not adapted 60 such a system
and compel the assignment Of NOR,
than one grade TO classroom.
multiplicity OF classes produces les.
effective teaching. Tho best results ar,
not obtained I'm schoolrooms containing
more than one grade. The larger
buildings under consideration would
i remove this unfavOrabo condition by
containing at least twelve classroom.
IN addition 10 all special rooms.
Time 10 Make Plans.
"The present is the logical time "a
| formulate program Of schoolhousc
construction which Will cover the re-
| building of our whole system and eX-
| tend for several years into the future
This having been done a beginning
should then be made at once to carry
out this program IN that the present
congestion and the number Of port-
time pupils viii continue 10 Increase
not diminish. Conditions Will grow
worse, II tolerated, and not better; ant
the annual cost OF repairs and improve
ments to maintain the outworn anC
outgown buildings could be saved b,
Fastening the construction Of new
buildings.
Under the plan OF replacing tw
. or more buildings with one as sup
! gested above. there are thirteen prlu
airy school buildings which could }
replaced by seven buildings, and a
n over-orowdlng In these sections elm
o mated and In addition relieve thr
= other primary schools and three graz
mar schools. The receipts from o
sale OF 50 properties would go far
- ward the payment OF The seven n,
properties.
ITO be more specific. schools 10,
10. 3 have a total Of thlrty-three ella.
rooms and by the part-tlme arrane
e ment are caring for 80 groups Of en-