Milford chronicle., 1919-08-29
RECONSTRUCTION AND
The new SCHOOL CODE


.o-e no pride but which are a source
os crave concern for our future as a
SAFE. A few close observers of af-
sairs had already sensed some of our
1roaknesses before they were brought
INTO the limelight by the world strug-
gle There was a realization on the
9art of these people that things were
pot as they should be. 1t was at the
instance of such that we have had
snecial stock taking-we have been
surveyed, both as to method of gov
ernment and as to our educational
svstem. What we have been told about
ourselves in these respects is not
nleasant to hear. Our system of gov
ernment is held up to us as a piece of
patchwork without pattern or design.
Our system of education has been
shown to be unconstitutional in that
n has failed to accomplish what the
constitution expressly enjoins upon
the General Assembly to provide.
namely. an efficient system of free
nublic schools" We trust that some
degree of order and system may be
worked out to remedy the former A
comprehensive scheme for remedying
tbe latter was written into the statute
hooks by the last General Assembly.
II was fortunate that the Legisla-
ture started at the foundation in the
work of reconstruction. No interest
of the community is as vital as its in
terest in education. The most valuable
asset of any state or any community
is not it's mines or its forest, not its
navigabIe rivers or its highways, not
it's farms or its orchards, not its homes
or public buildings, but its manhood
and its womanhoOd People give value
10 things. and the more intelligent the |
people are the greater value they give
TO things. That is why this country
is so much more valuable in the hands |
of The white man that it was in the |
hands of the Indian. Hence any
community activity which increases |
intelligence increases the value of the /
material things of that community.
A man who had travelled over near
ly forty States of the Union once told
the writer that there was not a sec
ton of the whole country that would
compare with the Delmarvia peninsula
as a desirable place to live, from the
standpoint of climate and location In
these points we are especially blessed.
As an agricultural State we are un-
excelled. Our markets are at hand.
Transportation charges are insignif-
cant compared with those from other
States In foreign trade we are at
the very gateway of the country. We
should lead in everything. But the
fact is that we are weak in one of the
most important functions of a modern
State. We are told that We stand
thirty-third in the line of our sister
States in providing educational ad-
vantages for our children. This fact
when brought to the attention of our
last Legislature was sufficient to goad
them to action. That body recognized
that the trouble lay not in the lack
of devotion of those who had put their
best of time and talent into the work
of education, but the trouble lay in
the system itself There was pre-
sented to them a remedy in the shape
of bill, which after many modifica-
tions made to suit local conditions,
was passed, and after a months study
was signed by the Governor. With .
one stroke of the pen the roadway to
better things in Delaware has been
opened. And the thing that should
give us the more confidence in our .
new venture is that it is no expert
nent. The way has already been
)lazed by many other progressive
States and has been found to lead to
he desired end.
Now it is said that at least 80 per l
oent of the people are opposed to this
ldvance step. Certainly the opponents 2
II the measure are making themselves / J
heard. Opposition is always easy as
with aggression. The writer
las feeling that if the proponents of
progress were as outspoken in behalf
II the new Code as the opponents are
gainst it, quite different story would
'e told. But conscientious opposition \
lurts no movement that is for the bet
erment of human conditions. We as
nation are strong largely because
We have had to fight our way against
opposing forces. The most stalwart o
iouls are never reared in the lap of {
luxury, The necessity for struggle f
las its advantages. We live in a
world of opposing forces. Those that
re right, that are in harmony with
he divine plan, must always triumph. a
The conflict between medieval des- S
otism and modern democracy has just f
zen won by the latter. A principle II
Which came into the world as ques- :,
ion written in the blood of one man
the time Of Cain has now its answer n
'rltten in the blood of millions of g
len: Il am my brothers keeper"
am responsible to the community n
Or my acts. a:;;;2s a:;;;2s responsible ccssiPjoTisii5ie 10 un-
orn generations for what I do. l am u
lerefore responsible even for the ed :
cation of my neighbor's child My :
as well as my selfesteem (
emands that 1 shall not be a Stacker, I
o matter what the cost. 8
Delawareans naturally take pride in I.
ne fact that Delaware was the first I
the States to ratify the national =
onstitution. They do not remember, !
oWever, that this same magnificent I
lece of Statecraft was as bitterly op- I
osed by the State of Pennsylvania, +
I'd many others, as the new School q
ODE could possibly be opposed here. (
ney do not remember that the fight Z
u Its adoption in our parent State I
q the north was so severe that the Z
lends of adoption by physical force Z.
ED one member of the Legislature in !
s seat to preserve a uqorum while Z
e vote for adoption was being taken. <
some Of the opponents of the new I
;hool Code, seeking to discredit the Z
easure, have even gone so far as to !
rculate petitions to the Kent County I
svy Court asking that body to violate Z
sacred oath of Office and refuse to !
ey the plain mandates of the law in &
gard to the levying and collecting (
the taxes for the support of the :
nOOl. ON the ground that one hill q