Evening journal., 1919-10-09

lion rules We're modified by the draft
officials.
So It IS with the school law. It SETS
up a general standard Of schools, teach
ers, length OF term. attendance and
other educational detail. But IL also
c0nfers upon the school authorities the
power TO make rules and regulations
in the application and operation Of the
law which Will enforce the laW accord
ing 10 cOmman sense and fairness.
Among other powers 10 gave the school
authorities right 90 excuse necessary
| absence of pupils. just as the draft Of
/ ilcials excused certain men from MILL
tary 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
| the draft each individual had 10 make
application and show cause. 10 get
exempted from the compulsory school
attendance feature Of the school law
a parent or guardian, under the state
Boards ruling, must nle an application
showing cause. There is no suspen-
sion or n0n-enforcement OF the law
about such action.
law mad is that the state Board OF
Education didn't act "stinnecked" and
autOcratc and try 10 apply the law
without common sense or fair play or
any regard 30 justice. In their angry
disappointment these enemies now ac-
cuse the state Board OF not enforcing
the law.
In this connection it is interesting TO
FNstl.. hot
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 by them wholly |
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. lt is the same i'm Sussex |
county. 10 was true at the gathering /
of the clans at Dover on the day the /
laws constitutlonalily was urged. Tn
dOubtedly there is determination If |
not am organized EFFORT upon the part |
of the enemies Of the school law 10
make it appear that the state Board
of Education is a zone man affair."
This may or may not be significant. II
is put down here merely as a state
ment Of fact.
Mr.. dupont is only one Of five mem
hers 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
Wh0le board. 10 always takes two he
sides Mr.. dupont to make a majority.
Mr.. dupont and George B. Miller are Il
residents of Wilmington. The other
three live down State" Indeed one
or 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 state
members-A. B. Peet. OF Milford.
Harvey Marvil. OF Laurel, and Hervey
7. Han, OF Smyrna. But down State"
"here these members live, the enemies
)f the school law never mention them
n denouncing the State Board OF Educa-
ion. III Is always and only Mr.. dupont.
III may appeal more TO the prejudice
IF some people in and about Milford
% tell them that Mr. dupont "up al
Wilmington" is responsible for every
ming alleged to be bad about the
operation Of the new school law than n
would to tell them their neighbor. Mfr.
Peel, also had a part in it. Moreover.
Mr. 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. it Is a
natter OF record that up TO date every
lction OF the State Board Of Education
las been by unanimous vote Of the five
members. So both friend and foe Of :