Evening journal., 1918-12-12
COUNTY YUNITSYSTEM
URGED FOR SCHOOLS
Grange Education Com
mit,ee Also Recommends
Better Pay for Teachers
AMERICANlZATION
IDEA SUPPORTED
srcial % rhe EyenIns lournal.

toai the grange urgo the adoption Of
the cosnty ant syslem OF management
'sr rarsl schools throughout the State.
This report was one OF the features
OF N annual session, and among other
r~.ommcndatlons made. was better pay
for teachers, better trained and more
espu' .snced teachers, better school
equipment and consolidation for rural
schools. Tae report follows
III. period OF stress through which
the hat on has just passed has emph0-
sized more than ever the need or an
adeauste c:ucation. The amount OF IL
lit-l acf found by draft boards wus
asloun1 ns. among our American born
population such a state Of affairs is a
I'D commentary upon our national ef-
sencY. The fact Of the ability to read
or speak English among our foreign
el-ment revealed an unhealthy condi-
hsu OF our national life. In the pres
Eat age or our national civilization n
h.eIacy among either native or foreign
bern Is condition that should not be
to.erated ss II menaces the very found
alton OF American ideals.
II America IS 10 be the melting pot
o. the peoples Of the world, II Amerl-
san ideals OF political and social gov
eroment are to be perpetusted, the for
gn element must be taught not only
to speak the English language but 10
think In English. The ground Of the
mind must be prepared 10 asslmllate
American Ideals before such ideals can
be successfully planted.
There are then two distinct lines OF
educational endeayor TO be emphasized.
~. The adjustment Of illltersoy
among children, and l2), the eduos-
ton Of adult hlersie and instruction In
English among foreign element The
abolshmeut OF illitcracy among minors
Is the business Of the common school
system. However, the school systom OF
commOnwoslths should have a much
higher ideal 10 view than the mere
teaching Of children to read and write.
Il mus. also teach them 10 think ef-
iectivly aud 10 reason lntollsgently. Il
must teach them citizenship, civic duty
and The rights Of others. The common
schools should aim not only 10 build
On intelligent child mind, but a m'nd
imbued with The spirit Of equal JUS
lice 10 all.
II we are TO develop our life as a ma
ton to It's fullest we must start with
the children. That free nations which
best educates It's children in the braod-
est. fullest sense OF the word need never
fear the existence Of It's government
and It's ideals.
The teachers OF the common schools
occupy one Of the most. II not the most
|Tnnnrflnf In anNI 20
Upon the shoulders OF the teachers Of
Die common schools rests a mighty task
AID a still more eighty responsibility.
Jpon their wisdom. Judgment, tact and
deals rests the fate Of our nation. Our
future position among the peoples of
the earth Is largely in the hands Of the |
teachers in our common schools, should /
we, recognizing The Importance OF our |
common schools go blindly and self |
sstisfedly on our way TO let the schools |
blunder along as best they may. Should |
we be content with mediocre ability in /
our school teachers, the moulders OF !
the nation. Are conditions in our
schools such as TO attract teachers OF |
high ability2 De we choose our school /
teachers with the same care that we
choose typical badly lighted school |
are usually in keeping with the dreari- |
ness OF the building. A bare bleak |
place could inspire no one. Children are |
hsppier and progress more rapidly in !
Beautiful surroundings. Shall we not |
help them with few flowers. shrubs |
sDd shade trees We need better equip |
ment for our schoOlrOoms. AS we said
before the best is none too good for our
n I - g.. Al
in sohoolr0om equipment and last but
not least, the Grange in every COM
nUnity should see to IL that no man Of
woman is elected to The schoolboard.
who Is not In sympathy with better
schools and better teaching, The work
)f the best Of teachers may be easily
nulliled by narrow-mlnded parsimon-
ious, ultra-conserystlye, non-progres- /
sve schoolboards
Many Of these things can De brought
about easily by consolidation Of small
school districts into one district. Can
we not as grange, as an organization
that stands FOR progress. for American |
ism and for national efficiency get be- |
hind the consolidation movement put |
our shoulders 10 the load and push II |
TO the top Of The hill? Let MS take as a |
motto for goal OF attainment: Della |
ware Schools. Best in the Nation
The teaching OF adult foreigners 10 /
speak and lhink English, the teaching
OF Americsnization 10 them is In this
state largely d city and not a rural
problem. Yet Se, a rural organization
having cur country's good al heart
should support such schools and such
enceayorers to the utmost OF our pow
e. and influence.
Your committee has thus far said
nothing sDout higher education. II Tie
educational system OF The common
schools is rightly builded the problems
OF the Institutions of higher learning
VII be greatly slmpliaed The grange
Hse.d encourage and support our
, -.ic colleges. We hope that the time
WIZ come when every Delaware boy
d9o erl who is worthy and deserving
oi college education viii be able TO
secure u. The Women's College OF
p'iaWare and Delaware College deserve
osf nearly support. Delaware needs
mere agfculturoi college graduates
tit-ng her soil. We should strive to
haze a college trained farmer i'm every
III al community OF the state. Dela-
ware hrmes need more wUrien trained |
In the art Of home-making.
Your committee recommends.
4: That the grange actively support
all educational measures tia. viii tend
to raise our public school system to a
h -shsr plane, such as teacher training
b sttsT psy for teachers. better trained
n0ro experienced teachers, better
nAonj u.i,.ueuf hnd consolidation for