Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-09-16
WANT CHILDREN
SENT TO SCHOOL
Womcn's Committee. State De
Tense Council Seeks Parents
Cooperation.

Mrs Abigail NJ W Miller, wife of
former Governor Charles X Miller, and
chairman of the Womcn's Committee Of
the State Council Of Defence, in an appeal
10 parents. today asks them to cooperate
in sending their children to school, IN com
pliancr with President Wilson's request
In her appeal Mrs Miller SAYS.
"Thc Woman's Committee of the State
Council of Defence IS urging all parents
in the CITY and State TO make special
effort "a keep children in school this year
The reasons for making special effort, and
sacrflcr If necessary, 10 insure tho cdu-
cation Of the children arc Ttaliy con
nccted with tho winning Of the war and
the future safety ot democracy IN this
country and IN the world Tho greater
stimulus should hc necessary 10 make
both parents and citizens n large strain
every effort in tins res pcct, than the
realization Of Americas place IN the
world TODAY and tomorrow
The War Department has opened
schools in all the cantonmcnts, where
strong men with fingers hardened by toll,
arc lahoriously writing out the letters Of
the alphabet and awkwardlv learning to
spell and read MANY oi them are the
finest American stock who have
ifliSSfO Inc VkDASI tt8tiltN 1iift W ~ Nhit-
lcsslv take for granted when we say
America Is the land OF equal chances for
the rlch and the poor These men are
beginning to realize that they were
cheated out az their birthnght as Amerl-
can citizens Their first letters home have
shown 4 surprising keenncss of interest
in the education nj their Chlldwn and
their Younger brothers and sisters and
they have put the blame for their own
present lack Of training exactly where It
belongs The fact that they are preparing
10 give their lives for the continuance Of
Americas $ freedom and equality gives a
| peculiar sharpness 10 the condemnation
| which thev express for the parents and
| governments and educational authorities
! who have failed in their duty
| The Womans Committee took care
| full census Of children of school age IN Viii
mington last year The census returns
| reveal the fact that hundreds of VIII
mington children between the ages OF G
| and IA were not in school. AS all OF these
| children were under the working age they
were not occupied in anything, either
| industrial or educational. Such con
! ditions cannot be allowed TO continue OF
/ the city and the nation TOO will suffer in
| consequence Most of the reasons foi
| keeping uleHe cIhluFeh ouC oi oChooi "ci'
| trifiIng.
During the past summer children oi
Il and over have been very generally EN-
| ployed because of the need for work, anc
also of theengh wages paid even to sucf
Young workers The temptation to th'
child to remain out Of sch ool will be great
| Parents are therefore, asked TO act wisely
and firmly in this situation. For this par
ticular group Of children, who are almos
! young men and young women, educate iOI
is especially necessary and every govern
ment department which has TO do will
the war and the future OF lives IN TIM
country, is calling urgently for the re
sponse of both parents and children to h
| need Of trained men and women"