Evening journal., 1919-08-12

section 36 states that The Stale
Commissioner OF Education shall pass
upon all proposals for the purchase Of
play grounds, school grounds, or school
sites, or buildings, and also upon all
plans and specifications for remodcllng
old school buildings and the construc-
| tlon OF new school buildings costing
/ $500 or more. 10 will be lllegal for our
Board Of Education 30 proceed with
lc6nstructlon until the plans and specl-
/ ncailons shall have been approved In
writing by The State Commissioner; In
case OF construction TO be done by
contract, the contract is invalid with
out the written approval Of the State
Commissioner
Section 3s states that the Commls-
sioner OF Education shall prepare rules
and regulations for grading and stand
ardizing an public schools OF elemen-
tary and hlgh school g,ade. and also
for limiting on the basis Of equipment,
/ the number OF teachers employed, the
years and grade OF Instruction that may
be offered In such schools. lie shall
also prepare the minimum requirements
/ for Issuing all certificates and diplomas,
such as are given TO our high school
/ graduates and graduates OF our teacher
Training School,
section 20 says the state Commits
sioner or Educxtlon shall prepare mini
mum courses of studies FOR different
grades OF public elementary schools
and high schools
"Seclon 40 states that the State Com
missioner OF Education shall prepare a
list OF text books 20 be used In all
public elementary schools and all pub
/ lie high schools " the State.
section AZ states that the State Com
missioner OF Education shall prepare
rules and regulations governing cerll-
/ lication OF teachers and That he shall
certificate all teachers Of the public
schools OF the State OF an elementary
and high school grade.
section 80 states that the State Com
missioner OF Education shall prepare
rules and regulations fixing the date
FOR the opening and closing OF The sew
eral terms OF the school year. the hours
0f tho daily school session. holidays
on which the school shall be closed,
the pay OF teachers on account Of leach
crs absence because Of sickness or
quarantine.
section al states that the State Com
missioner OF Education shall prepare
rules and regulations setting forth the
conditions which must be met and full
nlled In order that The special school
district may continue 10 exercise the
privileges Of such district. lnfract0n
of these laws may mean loss Of all
the school property by such a district.
This section also says that nc shall an
nually inspect The management, CON
duct and work Of the schools OF each
special school district.
section i5 states that the state Com
missioner OF Education shall prepare
rules and regulations setting forth the
conditions which must be met and full
nlled in order that the high school
may receive state aid. and that ne shall
annually inspect The management, con-
duct and work OF each high school, re-
ceiying State aid.
Section 46 states that the state Com
missioner Of Education shall prepare
rules and regulations governing the ad-
mission OF pupils from schools under
control OF county boards into the
schools OF the special school districts
and the rate OF tuition be paid for the
/ instruction OF pupils so admitted. Thia
/ Is a very significant and far-reaching
grant Of authority. Under this pro-
vision the state Board OF Education can
compel the Wilmington schools 20 re-
celye and educate pupils from tho sur
rounding rural districts and compel the
people OF Wilmington 90 do this FOR
less than 70 costs the city.
section 30 STATES that the State Com
missioner Of Education shall prepare a
uniform set OF forms and blanks Dor the
use OF the Board OF Education, school
officials and teachers, and 10 shall be
his duty TO see that all financial 8c-
counts, all educational records are so
kept
"These acts Of The state Commissioner
OF Education are 10 have the approval
OF thesState Board OF Education. the
majority OF whose members reside
down the State. The foregoing is an
Indication Of how the conduct OF the
school affairs OF Wilmington would be
taken over by others than Wilmington
citizens. When we cannot select an
architect. buy a piece OF property, es-
tabllsh a course Of study, purchase a
text book. declare a holiday or begin
our school term without consent from
Dover. Wilmington has lost her educa-
tonal independence.
IN other states in which are located
large cities the school laws OF those
States recognize the special problems
and conditions applying TO the cities
alone aud grant them in their school
laws a large measure OF independence
and freedom. and do not seek 20 limit
the cities in their large and special edu
calional affairs TO the uniform condi-
lions prescribed for the country towns
and rural districts. Outside the city OF
Wilmington the school districts can
conform TO a prescribed. uniform course
OF study. list Of text books and gen
ersl, regulations, but Wilmington can
not be made 60 conform 90 rural Della
ware in educational affairs and rural
Delaware should not be made to con
form TO Wilmington in educational af-
fairs.
"Some people favor the adoption by
Wilmington Of the State code because
they think that the Board OF Education
will be composed OF three members
elected at large in Wilmington as well
as in other districts, but Section lj5 OF
Article ). which provides for such a
school board so elected, does not apply
10 Wilmington as you will find by read
ing Section i2i OF Article 3. The man
ner OF election OF board members in
Wilmington will remain the same.
There are some people who favor
the adoption OF the code because they
think that large amounts will be raised
for school expenditures, but Section
i3l Of Article ., which gives board OF