Evening journal., 1917-04-18
School Contests and Their Results
PROF E. L. CROSS sUPERLNTEND NEW CASTLE COUNTY
AND ONE OF DELAWARES F OREMOST EDUCATORS, DIss
CUSSEs NTERTAININGLY.

OF the first year surpassed what we
had anticipated. and was but an ernest
OF what we may look for in the
future As an illustration of what we
mean. we need to cite only one school.
Before the State Contest was held,
this school had already pledged six
teen contestants for the next years
preliminary contest Another high
school, we are told that had en-
ployed the help of a special teacher
to train the pupils for this contest,
retained the services OF that teacher
for the rest OF the year There is no
question in the mind of the writer
but that tho special interest, aroused
throughout the State by the prepare
ton for and participation in the many
contests held during the year leading
TO the State Contests, carried over
into the general work OF the school.
These subjects were constantly dis
cussed by the pupils and their par
ents. school was a center OF interest,
and many things we're done for the
betterment of the schools that would
not have been done but for these
contests. We are certain that THE
EVENING JOURNAL did more than
II dreamed of doing when Il so kindly
and so successfully solicited the
trophy cups. We are confident that
the generous minded men and women
who contributed toward the contests
these trophy cups did constructive
work for the coming generation,
whose real value will not be known
by any of them or by man. so far as
that is concerned. The fact is. our
girls and boys win take a greater
interest in their schooling; some will
stay in school longer than they would
otherwise do but for this interest.
Some OF them will get a vision that
will lead them TO higher heights OF
attainment than would otherwise
have been possible. The writer hopes
and believes that these public speak
ing contests will soon lead to con-
tests in original work-a contest that
will take the form OF public debate.
In our republican form OF govern
ment, intelligent citizenship is neces-
sary. We need today-the world needs
today as IL never needed before
citizenship trained to think and act
on the real merits of questions. IL
real democracy can be established
throughout the world; II school sys-
tens can teach children to think
more, and memorize less; to study
questions from two or more view
points for the purpose of discovering
which side has the larger amount OF
truth, we shall develop a citizenship
that will be better than our present
one The worlds woes are the Price
OF wrong teaching.
We firmly believe that the schools
OF Delaware need to continue to en-
phasize tho two subjects for which
provision has been so generously
made, and to add to these two one
or two further ones. In our opinion,
few silver trophy cups offered as
prizes to stimulate public debate
would bring even greater benefits to
our future citizens than will the cups
that have been given for the purposes
discussed above. Public debate woult
require wide reading, careful thought
logical arrangement OF Ideas, and
! mental training that other studies d,
r not give. We sincerely hope that be
! fore the opening OF the schools mex
September, ample provisions ma,
have been made toward the genera
organization OF debating societies
with the purpose OF local. county anC
State contests. Complimentary will
such work would naturally go a read
ing course. and IL seems to me tha
Delaware is now ready TO begin in Z
large way the establishment Of Read
ing Circles that would provide ap
propriately selected reading courses
for pupils, young people who hav,
left school, and for parents who would
become happier, and more efficient
citizens by taking up such work.
Thanking THE JOURNAL and al
who have contributed toward the i'm
proved conditions in Delaware schools
| remain,
Sincerely yours
e. L. CROSS,
Supt. Of Schools for New Castle
County.