Evening journal., 1917-03-21
BUSINESS MAN FOR
educational PLAN
Nathan Miller Says Best In
tereStS of Children De-
man New Law
BELIEVES PEOPLE
DEMAND CHANGE

In an interview given with Nathan
Miller, Of the Miller Brothers Com
pany, this city, IN relation TO the edu-
cational situation in Wilmington. he
said today:
I'm anything and everything that
may be done affecting the schools Of
the city Of Wilmington. the educa-
tional interests Of the children should
be kept paramount at all times. While
I can understand tho desire Of men
who are members Of the Board Of Edu-
cation TO retain their official posi-
tions and the equally ardent desire Of
other men to become members OF the
board, ! certainly do not think that
any man who calls himself a good
citizen should be willing to make his
personal preferment superior to the
interests of the children, for the edu-
cation Of whom our public schools
were established and are maintained
There are two exceedingly import
ant sides to our educational system.
The chief one, 1 think. has to do
with its efficiency. Next to efficiency
comes economy OF operation. While
economy is all right up to a certain
point. il is as harmful as extravaganza
if it be carried TO such an extent as
to impair efficiency. That is one
point that our Legislature should
take into consideration, l think. when
It IS passing upon the legislation af-
fecting our local school system,
which now is pending in Dover.
"lf it can be established to tho
satisfaction OF the members OF the
Senate and House that the interests
Of the children will be served best
by a continuance of the present
thirteen-member board. then certain
~ that system should be adhered to.
If, on the other hand. the weight Of
the argument shows the necessity for
a smaller board and for a different
method of handling the finances OF
the department of Education. then
the members Of the Legislature
should be prone to make the change
"lhe fact that this man or that man
wishes TO remain on the board. or that
this man or that man wishes TO get ON
the board should be kept subordinate to
the main proposition. which is, that the
paramount aim Of any intelligently-
constructed educational system is TO pro
mote the interests Of the boys and girls
OF the community. I am not pleading
for either a retention of the present
board or for the subst tuition of a
smaller one, but ] am contending for
the interests Of the children, no matter
whether they may be best served by
large board of small one.
"There is no denying that much dis
satisfaction exists in the community
with regard to the present board.
Nor ! assume, will anyone who is in
touch with the trend of events feel
safe in asserting that the educational
drift in progressive communities has
not been toward a smaller and more
COMPACT boards Of education.
THE subject IS one which should
be approached with csndor. fairness
and unselfshness by all who have
anything to do with it; and II It be
approached in that spirit in Dover,
think surely there will be n wise So
luton to this vexed problem. Both
sides have had their say before the
members Of the Legislature. It seem
ingly only remains for those legisla'
tors to permit their intelligence 20
be their guide in voting TO produce
proper solvent which will inurs 20
the benefit OF the thousands OF chill
dren whose interests are at stake in
/ this controversy"