Evening journal., 1919-03-18
BLAME COUNCIL FOR
POOR CITY SCHOOLS
Lack of Funds Respons bic.
School Board Officials
Say
PRESIDENT MILLER
EXPLAINS SITUATION

Blame FOR unsanitary school condl-
tions in Wilmington rests entirely upon
City Council. members Of the Board of
Education say. Continued refusal on
the part OF the Council TO appropriate
sufficient money they assert has kept
The board from making those improve
menis which il has been trying to bring
about for-so long a time. The only
solution, asserted President Miller, Is
for parents throughout the city TO rise
In indignation and demand OF Council
that they afford better conditions for
their children.
Resolutions deploring conditions as
they exist among the city's schools al
the present time. were passed last
week by the New Century Club. Mem
bers Of the Board Of Education, In re-
viewing the resolutions. declared that
there IS nobody more cognizant Of these
facts than they are. Speaking OF the
"unsanltary, inadequate and antlquat-
ed" plumbing which the New Century
club committee stated they found IN
several OF the schools, George Rommel.
for ten years a member Of tho Board OF
Education, said;
Two years ago conditions along
ssnitay lines were just as bad as they
are today. AT that time City Council
took the matter in hand and told the
members Of the Board Of Education
whom they caused TO be called before
them, that II the conditions were not
remedied in fourteen schools which
were condemned by the Board Of Edu-
cation as unsanitary. they would close
the schools.
AT this time the members OF the |
Board Of Education explained that they /
ware perfectly willing. even anxious TO |
do the work provided City Council |
would supply the money In their yearly /
appropriation. A committee comprising
Oscar Draper, chairman OF the flnahco
committee at that time; ex-Clty Eng-
neer Edgar Hopes. Plumbing Inspector
Mckay, DR., C. J. Scott superintendent
OF schools; Or. Adair. OF the Board OF
Health, and myself was formed 10
look into the matter.
Mr.. Hopes was instructed 70 draw
up plans for sanitary toilets for the
school buildings Of the city. / have
never seeh or heard OF these plans
again. Twenty-Five thousand dollars
was asked from City Council and
promised by that body for the work in
hand. u was proposed that the tax
taANf " NAAhA AAAAAh NAHhtf CAAOuAu DI
raised 10 $40 a hundred. 10 take care
Of proposed improvements in the
schools. The tax rate was never
changed and the S25,OOO promised to the
Board OF Education was never giveh.
After a few meetings the committee
which had been formed TO look into
The matter practically disintegrated.
There Is another question, that Of /
taking care OF this sanitary plumb /
ng after Il has been installed in the |
schools. Our present force OF iani- /
Tors is so poorly paid that necessarily
me men are 20 a certain degree in
fompetent. Therefore II these conven-
hness are 10 be looked after then the
I2lsry Of the janitors must be in
Creased"
Last year Mr.. Rommel said he asked ,
lhe committe Of the Board Of Educat-
lion which had charge OF preparing the !
fearly budget 10 ask Council for Ss5 900 J.
10 be expended on plumbing work. Not :
cent was given in the appropriations :
Tor this purpose.
Dr. Clifford j. Scott, superintendent 4
OF schools, in discussing what has been !,
termed the part time evil" declared y
mat the system was not nearly as black =,
as u has been painted lie explained !,
mat the immense increase in popula- J,
hon during the last few years has
neeessltated this step as Council re- },
ieatedly refused TO appropriate enough !
money to remedy this condition.
ihe entire attention Of teacher I
70 small number Of students for four !
hours said Dr. Scott. "is certainly :
better condition Of affairs than the di-
vided attention which a teacher must !
necessarily give TO a large class during
nve hours. There is the reason why
The part-time condition existing in our
schools is not as bad as it Is painted
to be. Most school systems feel that
they can enroll 35 or 40 pupils in two
groups under one teacher. Then. neces-
sarily while one group is recting the
other group is studying or occupying
Itself without the attention OF the
teacher. Under our plan one small
group OF students has the entire at
tention Of one teacher for four hours.
Those pupils who are on part-time
In the schools OF the city are in the
primary grades, that Is, in the nrst
half OF the first year when children
are OF such an age that parents as a
general rule do not wish to have them |
'onflned In school rooms for too long
! period We have arranged it so that !
ONE OF our part-time pupils came in
he morning while others are at school :
n the afternoon. The groups inter- !,
hange these hours every month
These arrangements are necessitat- =
d by the lack Of capacity Of our build y
ngs. To increase this capacity or TO y
'uild other structures sufficient to take u
are OF the surplus we have not been y
ible 10 receive sufficient funds from y
lily Council. But even under our part y
Time system pupils are not failing TO y
progress. ] as we'll as every member y
g the Board OF Education would like Y
70 see more and larger schools In fhis a
CITY nut without funds we can take u
george B. Miller. president ~ fhs y
Board OF Education, mads | y
smeep,hs sor y, condemnation Of City Counsel =
sSs ss,.n l.s refusal 10 accent the rssnon4 4
''..eS OF nettering school con6,tss q
~ snls city by allowing ths -aS y
iunus 70 Dc expended. He ssid f'Opoi
wnat is TO be done aho,. a..
boaro OF Education has M - Inc 4
use 10 put IN modern eoninraan uneS 70
usse nay asked City Council for money wr sor =
tne purpose for years, until ON, s Sndaa, sos =
was presented last summer hui tSuboset b =
not been able to getsit allowed NJ
did not include II last year because ~ ~
were asked 10 cut down our budget ~
the very lowest mint nossfrio n.a...o