Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-02-21
WOULD IMPROVE SCHOOLS BY IMPROVING
TEACHERS.

IEAlHERS.
Il ROM George H. Bacon assistant secretary of the
Delaware Schools Betterment Committee, We have
received the following letter. which explains itself
County Building. Wilmington Del, Feb. 10. 1917.
Mr. George Carter, Editor.
THE EVENING JOURNAL,
Wilmington, Del.
Dear Sir: This committee is conducting a cam
paign raise fund OF 50 900 with which to improve
the teachers and schools OF Delaware outside OF Will
mington
letter has been sent to selected list of persons
throughout the State and thus far about $1,000 has
been subscribed.
We now plan TO enlist the cooperation Of the press
IN our effort to complete the campaign by the end of
feDrnary Though all the direct benefit will go the
schools outside OF Wilmington the committee neverthe-
less feels that the people of Wilmington are sufficiently
Interested in the schools Of the State to contribute sub
santiay to this fund May ask you. therefore to
s%.end to this committee the good Offices OF THE
This committee plans 70 improve the schools bv i'm
proving the teachers The quickest way to do this
would be 20 pay bigger salaries but the chance for
sufficient salary increase is so remote that II would
be gross inactivity to do nothing in the meantime
than high school training. Under our pian each
teacher Is 10 be given OF study embracing
me essential features OF twenty OF the basic academic
IN addition to receiving treatses on these subjects
eac teacher is privileged TO consult by correspond
cnce with professors from leading American Colleges
on any subject embraced in the course
the state Board OF Education viii supervise the use
anu study or these courses and will issue renewal
loaonns ceruhcates TO teachers they complete their
courses The property OF these courses will be vested
IN inc schools so that future teachers will be provided
Before the State Board OF Education endorsed this
pan special committee or its members was an
pointed to consider all the details and act for the
board This special committee consisted OF DR. Charles
A. Wagner, Commissioner OF Education; Dr. c. Scott
President OF the Board and superintendent of Whining
New Castle County Rural Schools This Board OF Edu-
cation Committee after unanimously and heartily en-
dorsng the entire project concluded that this gn 10
,ne teachers VIII multiply the teaching power OF tho
teachers as almost no other gift could have done
Tho State Board OF Education could not solicit funds
or sponsor movement 10 solicit funds. Therefore,
this committee organized for the purpose Of OBJ
tanning tho required funds
Although few members Of tho State Board or Edu-
cation and all the County School superintendent
this committee, they serving individuals and
not in their official capacities
Assuring you OF our deep appreciation Of the val
liable assistance OF THE EVENING JOURNAL I re-
main, for the committee,
Very truly yours,
GEO. H. BACON,
Assistant Secretary
The members OF the Schools Bettement Committee
arc: l.. 1. Maoney. treasurer; DR.. e. l., Cross sec
rotary; Congressman Thomas w Miller Prof Clif-
ford J. Scott, superintendent OF wlmingtons public
schools; Prof. Harry Hayward OF Delaware College;
former Congressman L. Irving Handy, and County SUI
perinendent OF Schools Cross all OF New Castle coun-
ty; Col Theodore Townsend Mrs Garrett S. Harring-
ton, T. c. Bancroft, Prof Wesley Webb secretary OF
the State Board Of Agriculture; Samuel II. Derby Ed
ward A. Evans and County School superintendent
James p. Carroll. all OF Kent county and George b
Iynson. Robert G. Houston, Miss Ray Hoydrick Mrs
s. II. Messlck, Charles Barker, Mrs " " wootton and
County Superintendent q, j. Hardesty. all OF Sussex
county.
With the interest Of Delawareans in education
intense at this time; with such a 1audabe purpose
underlying the appeal for $4,000 and with such COM
mtee in charge OF the movement L. l. Maloney OF
the Security Trust and Safe Deposit Company this
city the treasurer OF the committee should be in a
position to announce in short time that the money
has been received One Of the worst evils from which
the rural schools OF Delaware suffer is the starvation
wages paid TO most OF the teachers Many the dis
trets should experience feeling Of shame that they
compensate their educational agents so poorly. II
educational conditions TO improve in such dis
trcts It must largely through such means as are
suggested above and through salaries which will at
tract and hold good teachers.