Evening journal., 1919-03-06
SPEAKERS ADVOCATE NEW
SCHOOL CODE FOR STATE
Stan Correspondence.

STATE HOUSE. Dover, March o.
Practically al Of yesterday afternoon
was taken up by the Legislature in Z
soint hearing on the proposed neN,
school code This code was prepared
following a survey made by experts OF
The school conditions OF the state
under the direction OF a special COM
mission appointed by the Governor
under the provisions OF a resolution
passed two years ago. The members OF
this commission are: Caleb +. Burche-
nal, John :. Mullin, Frank l.. Grier, for-
mer Senator Joseph Frazier and Henry
p. Scott.
II was brought out during the dis
cussions that the commission 10 meet
some serious objections has agreed 10
make several amendments 10 the bill.
some Of those who talked on the code
were Mr. Burchenal Dr. Felix FleXner
and Dr.. E. p Baohmsh, the latter two
aavlng made the survey. and Dr. NJ. d.
stephens. superintendent OF the Mary
land schools, which State adopted a
similar code three years ago.
The hearing was held in the House
and the chamber was crowded with
persons from all parts Of the State, who
ars anxious to see something done to
Improve educational conditions in the
state.
Caleb z. Burchenal. chairman Of the
commission that was named by the
Governor under a resolution passed by
the legislature two years ago 10 make
q survey Of school conditions in Della
ware which survey resulted in the
draftlng Of the bill Under consideration,
was the FIRST speaker.
IN opening his remarks Mr.. Burchenal
said 10 was important to take action at
this time as 10 Is necessary In the re-
construction period that education
should advance. He declared that the
members Of the Legislature are TO be
Congratulated upon having the oppor-
iunity 20 consider such an important
matter and quoted Or. Samuel c.
Mitchell. president Of Delaware College.
as saying that IL is the most important
piece Of legislation that has come be-
FORE the General Assembly Of Delaware
in the last 100 years The speaker gave
= short history OF events leading mp to
the drawing Of the bill. lie told OF the
tommssion being named by the Cover
nor under an act Of the Legislature. lie
said the members OF the commission
lid aot feel that they were qualified to
make such a survey and the education
board Of New York was appealed 10 and
assigned Dr.. Frank 7. Backman and Or.
Felix Flexner, experts In that line 20
rome to- Delaware and make the survey.
These same two men made similar
survey ia Maryland several years ago
which resulted -i1Ethat state adopting a /
taw code He explained that the SER
vices Of the two men did not cost the .
commission anything, as th0y did The /
work without pay
Amended 10 Meet Objections.
, Mr. Burchenal pointed out that there F.
IS no section in The bill that provides !
for an experiment as all the PROPOSE /
lions have been tried out successfully /
N other States. In drawing the bin he !
said. mo fayorites have been played. |
We have only favored In the bin one |
class ard that is the children OF Della /
ware
The speaker said there had been some
criticisms Of the provisions Of the bill. |
some Of these criticisms which, he de-
elared are Just ones have been made /
by members Of the legislature. He said /
Il had been decided to amend the bill /
my discussions on the sections that are
% be amended 10 meet objections he
would state just what the amendments
would be.
He explained that one criticism was
bat the wording Of the bill was in the
ltcrests Of the retention Of Dr.. Spaid
5 commissioner Of education. He de- I
Jared that no such idea was in mihd Z
shen the bin was drafted, but that sec =
ION would be amended 10 meet the {
but that even after being J
mended DIT. Spaid would still be eligi- {
Sc for appointment II the state board {
should SO desire because Of the fact :
That he meets the requirements pro b
'ided for in the bill. The speaker. how ]
ever, made 10 plain that the section was G
not drawn IN the interests Of nr Spaid J
and he knew nothing about his pros
poets Tor the position should the bill {
pass.
Another criticism Mr. Burchenal said
was that the bin would give too much
power % the State Commissioner Of 4
Education, Go be named by the state
board. He said IN many sections IL
provides that things must be done on
the Recommendation Of the state COM
missioner ana that the bin in that re-
spcct would be amended 20 meet the
objections. "The purpose he declared. F..
is 10 make the state board OF five .
members a supreme body on school .
iifairs'
Or. Frank p Bachman. one of the
men who made the survey and assisted
n preparing the bill. was introduced by
'fr Burchenan. Dr. Bachman said he
would explain some Of the larger sec
ions Of the bill. but that he would not
resume TO advise the acceptance Of the
III as that was not part Of his bust /
ess. The bill, he said. was written with /
le idea that the education Of the chill