Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-10
WAR ACTIVITIES
IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Superintendent Scott Says They
Have Done Patriotic Work
From the Beginning.

At the regular meeting of the Board
Of Education, last night, Superintendent
Of Schools G.. J. Scott took the opportunity
to protest against implications, made by
the State Council of Defense, that the
study of subjects dealing directly with
the war has been neglected in the schools
of Wilmington These implications took
the form Of an essay: Education in War
time" based on an editorial recently ap-
pearing in leading weekly magazine,
and reprinted in the journal that is pu-
lished under the auspices of the Delaware
State Council Of Defense.
The fact, says Superintendent Scott,
that Delaware journal has reprinted the
article, gives it a pronouncedly local
application and approval
The article, telling of a recent meeting
of educators states
Nobody even limited that the subject
of a world war might be mentioned, during
the wear. to those 50, 900 young Americans.
Most of our public school instruction, n
this wear 1918, is ordered like that with
reference to how a pupil should stand In
spelling and what attention should be
gwen to oral arithmetic, but with no
reference to anything that has happened
since July, 1914"
Dr.. Scott declared that the fact that
such an article had been published in
Delaware journal proved concluslvely
that the system of teaching In the VII
mington schools had not been properly
investigated, with reference t. This matter.
In refutation, DR.. Scott issued declara-
ton. on which the members Of the board
passed resolution that it be published
and widely distributed throughout the
State. DR.. Scott's declaration follows;
This article. In making the charge
that public schools re not teaching war
facts, does a great injustice to school syS-
TENS elsewhere, and most certainly TO the
Wilmington public schools. The state
ments are not based on true facts. The
weekly which frst published them has
subsequently, retracted the article IN part,
having become better informed.
There has arisen nationwide protest
against this misrepresentation of the pub
lie schools of the country, and feel that
some notice should be given the matter
here. since q Delaware publication has
reprinted the article and given 1t thereby
a local application and approval The
fact that our schools have been used in
carving on every kind of war activity,
with results that brought forth highest
oommendations, ought TO have been
itself sufficient evidence that our pupils
are recei wing an abundance of instruction
relating TO events OF the war.
Ever since We enter the great conflict
our schools have been, almost without
cessation, furthering some war drive or
campaign, or have been participating in
some sctivity closely related to the war.
None Of these special forms of work that
have grown ont Of war conditions and
needs could be carried on successfully
without full instruction as 10 the reasons
and purposes back Of Il. Our schools
have gladly and eagerly taken part IN
every movement of patriotic nature,
and each undertaking was made as educs-
tive as the ma tur1ty OF the pupils permit
ed
last June at our High School conrnen-
cement exercises and in the Teachers
Training School graduation program, the
recital Of the long list of accomplishments
in war work by the High School pupils
and elementary school pupils brought
forth applause from the audiences
THE war has colored and modified
almost every subject II the curriculum,
especially music, drawing, history, geog-
raphy and language. More than this,
the pupils have had definite teaching
concerning related subjects, through the
medium of leaflets on community and
national life, distributed by the govern
ment from time to time.
I'VE now use In our grammar schools
and high schools, for classroom work.
the principal addresses Of the national
leaders, in this country and among our
Allies, which set forth the causes and
purposes and aims OF the war. ! think
our schools are TO be congratulated upon
the manner in which they have met an
unprecedented situation, and upon their
response 10 the needs and opportunities
of the day
But all this our teachers have done
eagerly because Of the great lessons which
were at hand for their use and because
tn Y realized that if the fruits Of the war
are 10 be permanent, their preservation
lies In teaching our boys and girls the
priceless value OF the Inheritance which
will be theirs.
For the schools 70 have overlooked
the opportunity TO study history in the
making and to learn the strides being made
in human progress, would have been
stupendous failure on the part of our
nations schools. This mistake was not
made"