Smyrna times., 1919-02-12

inclusive, and the basis, second. of
school attendance. In recognizing the
number of children to be instructed
the state takes account of the amount
Of work that needs to be done; in rec
0gnizing actual school attendance, the
state takes account of the work really
accomplished and at the same time
stimulates the community to keep it's
children in school. State aid to high
schools should be granted on the basis
of the cost of maintaining high schools
OF given grade and rank. This aid
should be given also with a view to
bringing high school education with
in reach of all children without tuition
cost to the parents. Now only linn
tied number of children from each
county may so attend" Inasmuch as
the county boards are elected by and
amenable to the people, the report rec
Ommends that county boards be vested
with power enough to finance efficient
| schools. Finally, it calls attention to
a unique kind of inequality that exists
in Delaware and in no other state
Delaware has really two school sys-
TENS. Local taxes for white schools
are levied on the person and property
of white citizens local taxes for color
ed schools are levied on the person
and property of cOlored citizens This
| practice is clearly undemOcratic. In
appOrtioning its own funds the state
makes no such distinction. 1t ought
not to cOuntenance any such distinc-
tion in respect to local taxation. No
where else in the United States does
this practice prevail. 1t is absolutely
indefenSible.
Good Schools Demand Support.
If Delaware is to have good schools
it is certain that the amount of local
financial support must be greatly in
creased. 1t may also prove necessary
for the state to increase its apprOpria
tiOns. Let it not be forgotten that i'm
proved education cannot be obtained
without expense; let it also be remem
bered that the states which hold theil
own people and attract immigration
are not the states that haEe low take
and poor schools, but rather those tina
have good schools, for which the peO
pie are glad to tax themselves to tn
limit of their resources.
Faith in Education Needed.
The report concludes as follows
1.-The changes in the school laws o
| Delaware which we have suggested ar
at once obvious and fundamental. Blu
S we should in caEdOr point out tina
= even better laws do not of themSelve
e make better schools. How much actuf
e Improvement results from the reOrgaI
t iZatiOn which we recommend will
l. the end depend on the spirit in whic
n | this reorganization is effected. Pol
i | tics, personal interest, local SeltiShnes
9 may go far to nullify the value of an
reform. The new law will make goo
schools possible. Delaware will, how
e ever, obtain them only if the people {
O the state are seized with fresh inte
e est and faith in education, only if the
o are thoroughly convinced that educ
,. ton is the most sacred and impOrtal
l. of the states functions, only if the
is are highly resolved that, whatever ell
D. Delaware does, the state will at lea
k do what it is now cOnspicuOusly failil
f. to do, namely, its plain duty to Il
le | children of the commonwealth"
II Copies of the complete report can
id | obtained on request from the Publ
ID | School Commission Of Delaware, D
le yer.