Evening journal., 1918-12-10
SCHOOLS keep IN
TOUCH NTH WAR
Dr.. Scott Resents Seeming
Injustice Toward Loyal
Teachers and Scholars
STATE COUNCIL OF
DEFENSE CRITICISED

At the meeting OF the Board OF Pub
lie Education, DR.. Clifford J Scott, SUI
perintendent OF schools. expressed his
surprise and indignation that the State
Council of Defense should have incor-
po atod in the last issue Of its Official
Journal, a recent editorial from the
Saturday Evening Post. saying that the
schools OF the country did not teach
their pupils the history and aims OF
the world war. The Post retracted the
editorial the next week. but the Coun-
oil of Defense did not publish the re-
traction Or. Scott said while II might
not have been intentional, the repub-
lishing of the article in the State
periodical gave il a local application
and made Il reflect directly upon the
schools Of Wilmington and the state.
Considering the patriotic work OF the
schools, 1t was bitter injustice, Or.
Scott thought
President George B. Miller and other
members also were indignant and the
Board Of Education passed motion to
censure the State Council OF Defense
for its republication Of the discredited
editorial
DR.. Scott made the following state
ment. which the board may publish and
distribute throughout the state:
"This article, IN making the charge
that public schools are not teaching
war facts. does great injustice 10
school systems elsewhere and most
certainly to the Wilmington public
schools. The statements are not based
on true facts. The weerly which nrss
published them has subsequently, re-
tracted the article In part having be-
come better informed.
"There has arisen a nationwide pro-
test against this Misrepresentation OF
the public schools OF the country and
! feel that some notice should be given
the matter here since a Delaware pub
iicatlon has reprinted the article and
given il thereby. a local application ana
approval. The fact that our schools
have been used In carrying on every
kind Of war activity with results that
brought forth highest commentators,
ought to have been OF itself, sufficient
evidence that our pupils are receiving
an abundance OF instructions relating TO
events OF the war.
"Ever since we entered the great con-
,fllct our schools have been almost with
out cessation, furthering some war
drive or campaign or have been par
ticipating In some activity closely re-
lated TO the war, None OF these spe-
eial forms OF work that have grown
out of war conditions and needs could
he carried on successfully without full
instructions as TO the reasons ana pur-
noses back Of II. our schools nave
eladly and eagerly taken part In every
movement OF a patriotic nature ana
each undertaking was made as educa- |
.,ve as the maturity OF the pupils per-
mlited
asst June at our high school com
mencement exercises and In the Teach-
ers' Training School graduation pro-
gram the recital Of the long list of
ACCOMPLISHMENTS in war work Dy the
hlgh school pupils and elementary
school pupils brought forth applause
from the audiences.
"The war has colored and modiheo
almost every subject In the clrricl-
lum, especially music. drawing, MS
tory geography and language. More
Than this, the pupils have hhd dehhitc
teaching concerning ro'ated snDJec's
tn oueh the medium o. leal'is on
community and national lte, as
frinuted by the government from time
TO time.
'Ne 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 ana
purposes and aims Of the war. ! think
our schools are 10 he congratulated
upon the manner In which they nave
met an unprecedented situation, ana
upon their response to the needs ana
OPPORTUNITIES Of the day.
SBut al this our teachers have done
eagerly because OF the great lessons
which were at hand for their use and
because they realized that II the fruits
Of the war are to be permanent their
preservation lies in teaching our boys
and girls the priceless value Of the in-
beritance which win be theirs.
For the schools TO have overlooked
the opportunity to study history-thel
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