Milford chronicle., 1918-05-17
REPORT OF INSPECTIONS
Kent County Public Schools For
The Year 1918.
To the State Board of Education,
Dover. Del.


Dover, Del.
In making our inspections in the
Spring of 1918, the Kent County School
Commission feel that it is important
that it should be as full and contain
as much Of facts about the local con-
ditions of the public schools Of Kent
County as It is possible to encompass
in a report of this character.
In view OF the future legislative ac-
tion. which now seems will be taken
for the betterment of the public
schools Of Delaware. all the facts. no
matter how minute, should be avail
able for consideration while study
ing the educational situation.
For this reason the report may be
a bit tedious to the general reader;
but the report as printed below, will
indicate in what shape the school
properties and grounds are main
tained in Kent County. and it is made
with no desire to belittle any school,
individual or interest.
In making this trip the members
Travelled by train and automobile ap-
proximately seven hundred miles, in
a little less than eight days.
In travelling over the roads we eX
perienced some bad riding, and were
in the ditch or mire four times, but
generally the roads were In fair con-
ditiOn.
We found too many public school
properties where the local school
boards have given them but little at
tention, and they show the effects of
this only too plain upon the buildings
and especially upon the children.
Where there is a neglected school
property. there will be found reckless
and careless children. The behavior
is far below that Of children where
good care is taken of the property, and
such children are wasting their op-
portunities not only to educate them
selves thru the public schools, but are
/. not growing morally into class OF
citizens who will be useful to the State
and nation.
There is a general lack Of realiza-
4 tion as to why a building should be
Quilt especially for school work, and
knowledge that the child absorbs
Education under proper and pleasant
school conditions, better than when
under unfavorable school environ
ments which encourages inattention.
The health conditions of the schools
is another important matter, and
could the parents enter some of the
schools late in the morning, or after
noon, when the fetid atmosphere Is
unpleasant, they would be surprised
but little that their boy or girl looked
pale, or seemed less animated than
usual when at home, where rooms gen
orally are not crowded with from TWEEN |
ty to forty persons. It is the lack OF in
formation on the part OF the parents, |
and ignorance of what good school |
conditions are, that is hindering the
betterment Of the schools even under |
the present laws.
Take for instance the water closets !
at most schools in the country. They |
are seldom clean as such place Will |
be maintained at the home, and the |
walks to these places are permitted |
to stand in mud and water for days at |
a time, and the child walks with wet /
feet back into the chOOl room, car
rying dirt and probably filth into a |
room already Overcharged with other |
elements of disease. Just little !
common sense on the part of school /
clerk would clear this away; but It /
is a rare instance when it is done. A
few schools have walks which are /
dry and good to their closets. Even |
after the School Commission has /
drilled and reiterated the need for do |
ing this.
There are schools where the build
ings are completely worn out. and /
are not proper places for holding a
public school; but the local district |
fails TO realize the needs for better
school service, and they refuse to /
build. or make provision for educating |
their own children.
We are submitting this report for |
your own information and for the |
government Of those interested in bet |
ter public school education in Della
ware, after having made an unusually |
hard inspection of all but four OF the
schools in the County of Kent
AS is generally known, this service
is without any pay other than the ac-
tual cost Of mileage up to the amount
of twenty-five dollars per year; WHICH
includes travel to and from the regu-
lar monthly meetings OF the Board.
No matter how many meetings are
held. the State will not pay in excess
for above fifteen, so the total payment
for those days travel and the travel
of about 700 miles in making the an
nual inspection of school properties
can never exceed the sum OF one hun
dred dollars in any one year.
In addition TO this there Is the al
most daily inquiry as to laws and reg
ulations OF schools and teachers to
be answered, which takes eonsid-
erable part OF the time of member OF
the board
To do the work right and for the
best interest of the schools, member
of q County School Commission has
a lob of unsuspected size.
If the people would remember this,
and try to assist in bringing about
better conditions in the schools. the
york would be a pleasure to perform.
Most respectfully submitted as fol
ows in the itemized statement OF all
chools, according to their numerical
rider. ,.,
JOHN CARROW, Dover,
HERVEY P. HALL, Smyrna.