Milford chronicle., 1919-04-04
new CODE MASTERPIECE
OF STATE LEGISLATION
This Is the Opinion Of Caleb Z. Bureh
email, One of Its Staunch
Advocates

The new State school code is a big
step toward the improvement OF edu-
eational facilities in Delaware, in the
opinion of Caleb E. Burchenal, the
we'll known lawyer of Wilmington, and
earnest sponsor of the new code. I'm
my opinion" he said, in discussing it.
the new code is the greatest piece OF
constructive legislation which has been
enacted in recent years.
"The two great outstanding features
Of the code are, first, that it provides
State supervision of education, which
dxes the minimum standards of edu-
cation in our State through the State
Board, and, second, it provides equal
opportunities of education of all chill
dren of the State.
. "The State Board not only fixes the
standard of education, but also the
Fstandard of school buildings and san
tary requirements for the entire State.
Iincluding the city of Wilmington. The
Estate Board also fixes the standard of
qualification for teachers. This gives
to the State Board the power to insure
to the State capable and efficient
teachers, good buildings with proper
sanitary conditions, and the power to
arrange the minimum amount of edu
cational requirements of the children
of the State.
1.-THE special district and county
boards arrange for the appointment of
teachers passing the examination pro-
Vided by the State Board, and also the
supervision of the teaching force, and
provide for the consolidation of the
schools.
Must Provide Facilities
"The Board must either build an
elementary school within two miles
of every child in the State, or provide
transportation for the child to school
which is distant more than two miles.
1t further states a high school must be
brought within three miles of every
child of the State or the Board must |
provide transportation to the child |
living more than three miles from a |
high school,
This will be of very great advan-
tage to the country people OF the State, |
some of whom live a long distance
from high school advantages. These
school advantages will undoubtedly in
crease the STABILITY of real estate in
Delaware and enhance the value of
farm properties, and thereby increase
the wealth of the State. 1t is a great
sacrifice to the poorer people of our
State to do without the earning power
of a child, as many of them do not
own a horse or bicycle and do not
have the means to hire the same, it is
impossible for their children to get a
high school education under the old
system.
1.-The code does away with the old
system and provides free
opportunities for every
child of the State through the high
school and even through Delaware Col
lege, if it is desired to go through Del
aware College.
"The code also requires that every
child must attend school 1S0 days )
every year until he is IA years of age,
and if he has not passed the sixth :
grade, he must attend school 100 days :
in the year until he is 16 or until he
makes the sixth grade; and if he is not :
employed he must attend every school :
day until he has passed the sixth :
grade. This will decrease the litter =
lcy of the State.
Effect of Amendments +
"The amendments to the bill do not n
effect it in any essential particular. In n
he original bill the State Board could S
)nly act upon the policies which the v
State commissioner OF education in f
ated; but in the amended bill the S
State Board is supreme in matters of t.
,ducation and the State commissioner S
s simply the executive officer of that b
,Oard. n
"The original bill provided for the
of all school property to
he county board. The amended bill
flows all of the districts to hold title
o the property as they do now hut in e
rider to get State aid it is necessary L
or these districts to accept the super P
ision and management of the State A
'oard, and a limited time is given to
he special districts to accept the su- 81
erVision of the State Board This will te
Undoubtedly incure the unifcation of al
II State education. bt
These are two important amend 1
tents to the bill. The other amend sc
tents were simply minor matters
-hich concerned the wording of GER
lin paragraphs"
Just as soon as the Milford Chronicle
an get copy of the new school code
will be printed in full in these col