Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-06-14
URGE Patience IN
ADJUSTING new Laws
Educational Progress En-
dangered by Hasty Meal,
Says DR.. Wagner
LIBERAL POLICY
MUST BE CARRIED OUT

OAnSuooih5 euuCdblOhdl prepared
ness for Delaware, Dr. Charles A.
Wagner, State Commissioner OF Edu-
cation. said today:
Educational progress and develop
ment in this State are in danger from
a rather hasty meal. II such n figure
be allowable. a very big meal has
been eaten quite hastily. and there
may be some discomfort attendant
upon its assimilation.
THE many new laws enacted by the
recent Legislature will call for many
changes in practice and procedure.
The new machinery Of procedure must
be fitted TO and fitted into the older
parts o. the machine, and time al
lowed for these old and new bearings
or interactions TO become smooth and
fully adjusted to each other To Sc
cure this easy. noiseless and friction
less operation Will require forbear-
ence and patience. All persons who
may be affected by the new laws and
the new processes will need 10 be pa
tient and forbearing and helpful, will
ing TO eaae up and 70 ease along so
as 10 secure the necessary results.
The thoroughly contagious humor
and spirit OF a picnic crowd when the
trolleys are blocked is the type Of gem
uine American good nature now need
ed. This spirit will be needed during
the next two years in educational mat
ters while the new laws are being
started in operation. Just as the
crowd Is sure of a good time as soon
as the trolleys get there, so educa-
tionally there is sure TO be a good
time when things begin 10 run
smoothly Let none lose faith nor pa
thence with the new laws nor with
the new forms OF procedure. Each
new educational law will justify itself
and will win commentator when its
inherent and intended results become
kown. Hence this appeal TO the spirit
OF forbearance.
next. the total OF funds appropri-
ated for education beginning with 1918
may have the kind OF result known
as a bareback Extreme caution Will
be needed 10 guard against this flare
back. State and national grants or
appropriations in 1918 will be more
than double what they have been
hitherto. Also, the revenue that can
be secured from the new tax assess
ment plan will be twice or perhaps
more than twice as large as has been
secured from the hitherto inadequate
tax levies Altogether. then the
school revenues available in the
school districts from and after 1918
will be more than twice what wan
available before that year.
Two dangers threaten. One is that
the money may be foolishly or waste
fully sQuandered. The other danger
Is that since State and nation are SO
generous toward education. therefore
the local taxpayers will decide TO TO
duce TO the minimum their own tar
payments. The declared intention e
meet the generous contributions o.
the State with such a contempibll
miserly policy has already been pub
licly made. Resistance and opposi
ton must come from Parent-Teachel
Associations and from all the agen'
cies that are committed 70 better
schools Instead of prompting the
impulse to miserliness in education
the example of State and nation
should serve as a model and as an ad.
monition TO greater liberality and gen
erosity by the local community. State
and nation have tremendous inter
est 70 see each child fully educated
but the child, the parents. and thS
community have still higher inter
est and stake than State or nation.
Hence liberal provision by the gen
eral governmental agencies must no
be allowed 20 cause local sense OF re
sponsibility 10 atrophy nor local gen
erosity 10 dry up. Vigilant and con
scientious management 10 preclude
waste and extravaganza, and unre
hitting effort TO keep school spiri
alive and active so that local contri
buttons may not be diminished are TIT
price that must be paid 70 hold on 4
what has been gained for education
during several years last past.
Again. 70 operate all OF the OH
forms and processes OF procedure a.
they we're before all this new legis
lation had been enacted. and at m
same time TO devise and to adjust al
the new educational machinery ant
forms Of procedure. this will max
heavy demands upon the administra
tive forces at hand for the purpose
namely, upon the county, superintend
ents and the commissioner OF educa
ton. Before a single one OF these ne'
laws was passed It was openly an
frankly admitted by persons VII
knew that these officials could no
possibly do we'll and thoroughly al
the work that they should have done.
what must be the condition 10
these men now? Patience. forbeal
ance, encouragement. assistance, thes
dispositions should be made NANTES
toward these overburdened officials b
every considerable citizen and paren
These officials do their best and d
II steadily and unsparingly. Pauenc
and forbearance are imperatvel
needed from citizens by these officer
in their multiplicity of new and oil
duties. but the manifestation by cit
zens Of an unwavering faith and c.
pectation that all must work we'll an
will work we'll. and that each perso
affected is going into every trausa'
ton with the determination 70 mai
that excellence clear and unmistal
ably luminous, will be a real col
spiracy OF the mobiles to achieve n
purposed excellence wrapped up
the new legislation.
"a preparedness In educationi
spirit such as this will make real an
substantial more OF the possibilitil
than the most daring seer would ha'
courage to predict now"
OPEN AIR SERVICE.
McCabe Memorial NJ. E. Church hi
arranged omen mir meanings for ~