Evening journal., 1919-10-09

ton rules were modified by the draft
officials.
So 1t is with the school law. II sets
up a general standard OF schools. teach
ers, length OF term, attendance and
Iiher educational detail. But 10 also
confers upon the school authorities the
power 10 make rules and regulations
in thc application and operation Of the
| law which will enforce the law accord
| ing 20 cOmnan sense and fairness.
Among other powers it gave the school
authorities right TO excuse necessary
absence Of pupils, Just as the draft Of
llcials excused certain men from mill
larry service. But such action does not
suspend the school law any more than
exemptions during the draft suspended
The draft law. To get exempted from
- draft, each individual had TO make
application and show cause To get
exempted from the compulsory school
attendance feature of the school law
a parent or guardian, under the State
Boards ruling, must file an application
showing cause. There is no suspen-
sion or nOn-enfOrcement OF the law
about such action.
What makes the opponents Of the
law mad is that the State Board OF
Education didn't act "stffneckedn and
autocratic and try 10 apply the law
without common sense or fair play or
any regard TO justice. In their angry
disappointment these enemies now ac-
cuse the State Board Of not enforcing
the law.
In this connection 10 is interesting 10
note, that p. s. dupont, vice-chairman
of the State Board Of Education is the
sole target OF the critics Of the State
Board OF Education. Whatever the
State Board does which arOuses their
criticism Is attributed be them whOllt
TO Mr. dupont. No other member of
the State Board is mentioned This is
not peculiar 10 Milford critics Of the
State Board Of Education and the
school law. 70 is the same in Sussex
county. IL was true at the gathering
OF the clans at Dover on the day the
laws constiiutionalily was urged. I'm
doubiedly there is "a determination If
not an organized EFFORT upon the part
OF the enemies Of the school law TO
make II appear that the State Board
Of Education is "0ne man affair"
'Ihis may or may not be significant. 70
Il put down here merely as a state
ment OF fact.
Mr.. dupont is only one Of five mem
bers Of the state Board OF Education.
HIS vote IS only one Of flee. Under the
law all decisions OF The State Board
must be made by a majority of the
Whole board. II always takes two he
sides Mr.. dupont TO make a majority,
MIR. dupont and George B. Miller are
residents of Wilmington. The other
three live down state" Indeed. one
OF the reasons advanced by Whining
ton opponents OF the school law for NOT
accepting the code was that the state
Board is controlled by down Sfoten
B. peet, Of Milford
Harvey Marvil, Of Laurel, and Hervey
7. Hail. OF Smyrna. But down State"
where these members live, the enemies
Of the school law never mention them
II denouncing the>State Board Of Educa-
lion. 1t is always and only Mr.. dupont.
10 may appeal more TO the prejudice
)f some people in and about Milford
10 tell Them that Mr. dupont up at
W llnlngtOn' Is responsible for every
lhing alleged to be bad about the
operation Of the new school law than il
would TO tell them their neighbor. Mr.. !
Peet, also had a part in it. Moreover
MIR. Peet is easily accessible to people
Of Milford and to lay at his door too
many evil charges might result in the
Milford people asking him for facts
and getting the truth. That would be
most disastrous TO the campaign OF the
school law enemies. However. 70 Is a
matter OF record that up TO date every |
action Of the State Board Of Education |
has been by unanimous vote Of the 1--WE /
So both friend and foe Of |