Evening journal., 1918-08-27
Wilmington FACES
TEACHER SHORTAGE
DR.. Scott Calls Attention
of School Board to
Situation
AT LEAST 20 MORE
NEEDED FOR SCHOOLS

W1fmington is facing a shortage OF
twenty teachers in the city schools, and
there is danger Of shortage of pupils,
also. 1t will not be well for the fu-
ture Of Wilmington or of the young
people themselves II a large number
of pupils in the upper grades and High
School leave school for work, is the
warning given 10 the community by
the Board Of Public Education. A ma
jorliy Of boys and girls Of these ages
have taken work that paid well during
this summer. and the temptation is
great for them to continue at work
After the war, il will mean lower
wages for the partially educated en-
ployes. or the losing of their positions,
ID Is claimed, and a half educated gen
Grafton OF young people VIII not help
10 make Wilmington one of the pro-
gressive cities Of America.
Or. Clifford J. Scott, superintendent
Of the Wilmington public schools, con-
siders this menace 10 the city as eX-
tremelv serious. He write the follow
ing letter DO the Board Of Public Edu-
cation which was read at their meet
ing last night and is intended Tor par
ents. as we'll .
wilmington. Del, Aug. 26. 1918.
'Mr. Geo. B. Miller, President boaru
of Public Education
Dear Sir-There are two matters
concerning the new school term wnich
cali for our earnest consideration.
zone is the number Of former pu-
nils who may not return the coming
school year. Several hundred employ
ment certificates have been Issued our
ing the past three months and II Is
believed that dhe majority Of our pu-
nils of the upper grades and High
school are very pro1tably employed;
How many Of these boys and girls WI
no iempted 10 continue working TOT
fhe present high wages and not return
IN eehool is very difficult TO determine.
NEARLY all OF them may return put
on tbe other hand, a sufficient mum
her NAV continue at Work 10 hldhe
necessary some changes I'm our 0rganl-
1afion as we have planned 1t. IL is 10
~ honed however. that our fears are
unfounded and that the good Judgment
~ the narenis Of the boys and girls
viii prevail and that pupils shall be
kent in school TO their good and Tor
she welfare Of the community. \ gen
ereal exodus OF pupils from the school
OF tbis time when educated citizens are
needed as never before would be
calamity to the community.
..The second matter concerns the
shortage of teachers. In spite OF our
oa~nest and continuous efforts through
ont the past three months to secure |
enough teachers TO replace those who |
arc leaving TO accept much better pay
,ny nositions in other lines OF work, 1t |
now appears that VIC shall not have a |
snfacient number OF teachers TO flll all |
-fuf postions when the school term |
onens September f6. 4 large majority |
of our teachers who have held the high |
or salaries in accordance with our sal
arv schedule, have remained. The
vounrer teachers whose salaries range
from 5000 10 $3.50 have left in large
numbers to accept positions which pay
81 600 TO $1,000. We would have had
no difficulty in filling all our positions
acceptably II our minimum salary had
been $50 instead Of 5000 II teacher
Is worth 81 POO TO a corporation 10 file
papers. it seems to me that she is
worth that much TO the city 10 educate
its boys and girls. Other cities that
have offered salaries little larger than
ours have found no difficulty in securing
teachers. Many of the new teachers we {
have appointed at 5000 have resigned 10
go TO other school districts paying
$3.50
1--WE find our high school salaries are '
inadequate 10 attract teachers OF science
and commercial subjects. These va
cancies in our high school still remain
untitled.
'These are matters that might we'll
be brought TO the attention Of the pub
lie"
President George b. Miller, in COM
ment. said
This letter written by Superintend-
ent Scott should be given serious con-
slderation by parents and by this board
Our City Fathers. across the way,
should read and lnwardly digest the
last paragraph in regard to teachers
salaries.
Or. Scott was unable TO be present
last night, bat he is recovering from
his serious illness and will be able TO
attend the Board Of Public Education
meeting scheduled for September 10.
The salary question caused another
resignation from the commercial course
faculty Of the Wilmington High School
last night. that az z. W. Keenan,.
The following teachers were unani-
mously elected:
Wilmington High School-Louise Bill
yard. Ruth Barthold, Marion Strickler
and Harold l.. Gibbs.
Elementary Schools-Lora Warner.
Jennie Riley. Lillian Sutton. Mary F.
Sweeney. Edith Fleetwood. Anna Trice.
Myra Everett, Mann Myers. Mary Stelle, \
Sara Trice, Bessie Small. Vilena Brown
hill. Mary Johnson. Margaret Ruess. Il
Lena Richardson and Amy Lee, and the
temporary appointment Of Edna B.
Thompson.
Announcement was made Of the ap-
poiniment Of Elizabeth Schulz as prin-
cipsl OF No. p school and Anna V.
Diviney principal Of No. 70 school h
Dorothy Millard was transferred from
No. 10 to No. Z school.
DR.. Thomas o. Cooper, chairman Of
the Teachers Committee. said the COM
mittee hoped TO reduce the shortage Of
teachers before the schools opened. but
that Wilmington was no worse off for
teachers than almost all Of the eastern
cities.
LOOK FOR MISSING REGISIRaNT.
Officials Of Local Board No. ? are en-
deavoring to locate John P. Tulley. who
ole erod ~, rt,,o 4Q4- !