Evening journal., 1918-03-08
CONDITION Of CITY
Schools Discussed
Members Think Buildings
Should Be Improved TO
Get Best Results
Mr.. MILLER WANTS
MORE BUILDINGS

The much-mooted question OF made
quate school buildings was discussed
at length by City Council last night,
and while nothing definite was done
and no remedy suggested, the subject
was thoroughly aired.
City Councilman Mearns brought the
matter before Council, who said he had
visited some schools and found the win
dows in. some minus shades and In an
other school there were flve different
oolored shades. He did not think the
schools should be used for the Aneri-
canization OF foreigners until they are
put into better condition.
He said the people OF the city should
bs informed as TO the real conditions
I'm the public schools, and he declared
they are after all the ones responsible
for them. He said the city should get
busy and put its schools In shape, for
he considered the blackest page In the
history OF Wilmington to be its public
schools While be admitted that the
Council could not do much to remedy
the existing evil, he did think the
schools could be painted and Frightened
up a little bit at comparatively small
cost. He thought the improvement OF
the schools is a subject which the pull
pit and press Of the city could take up
70 advantage and to keep after IL until
the conditions causing complaint are
rectined.
Councilman Robertson said he agreed
with what Mr. Mearns had said, but he
thought that the plan prepared by
Council for the next fiscal year would
take care OF the matter providing the
other city departments would be
patient and would trust council as 10
their appropriations. Mr.. Robertson
said that II the public service corpora
tions Of the city paid what they should
Tor their franchises, the city would
have sufncienl money 90 erect and main
tain more schools, pay teachers better
salaries and allow the police an in
crease I'm pay.
Colonel w z. Stover reminded the
members that conditions In the coun.
try schools now and of years ago wer,
by no means comfortable, and he show
ed that training and education are moi
inculcated into the minds and hearts N
the boys and girls by their surround
ings in school 10 is not the appear.
snce Of things. he said, that teache'
Amerlcanism, but the training and in
struction the chilli gets in its own hom'
from its parents. He referred TO thl
state income tax and what 10 will NEAR
10 the state treasury II it is collected
and he pointed out that Wilmington all
pay most Of g. He thought that ou
OF this fund the city schools should b'
provided for and the city should insis
on getting just consideration in sucl
matters
President Miller Of the Board Of Edu
cation admitted the condition OF th
schools should be improved, but IN
great need now. he said, IS more rooI
FOR the children who want 20 so {
school. There are 400 children o
hslf time now and the number Of pu
pills Is increasing He showed th
need OF more teachers 20 take care {
the growing number OF children.
Councilman Ward said that while th
BUILDINGS are not what they should bl
the children are being well educated
them
Despite the discussion there was n
remedy suggested and nothing delni'
done toward making amends for Oh
conditions about which there Is an
has been so much complaint.