Evening journal., 1919-12-06
URGE City TO
ACCEPT new CODE
Continued from First Page.

Mr.. dupont frankly admitted, in re-
ply to one question by Mr.. Connolly, he
could not say exactly what affect the
Code would have upon the appointment
Of teachers for the schools Of VIII
mington II adopted here, because there
were certain provisOs contained in IL
which dealt specifically with schools Of
this city. I'VE Of the State Board" he
said, have been permitting matters to
take their own course in Wilmington,
lpreferring 10 let the city act purely
upon its, own initiative and in its own
way and without any interference upon
our part"
In this statement Mr.. duPcnt was
supported by George B. Miller, presi-
dent Of the State Board, who also oc-
cupied a seat on the platform. Mr..
dupont Is vice-president Of the State
Board.
Mr.. Connolly also raised a question
as to teaching Of foreign languages in
the public schols Mr.. dupont replied
that such teaching was barred up TO
! the sixth grade.
Il ask the question" said Mr.. Con-
nelly, because we are having consider
sumably he meant the southern section
Of the city, in which he lives) MANY
Of the parents OF school children in the
foreign quarter are unable TO speak
bngnsn, AID depend upon their chill
d. en- TO translate English into their own
tongue. To deprive these children Of
study OF their pal lents foreign tongue
until the sixth e ade would mean that
many Of them would forget IT, This
would work a hardship on their par
ents."
I' Mr. duPonts reply TO this was
prompt The children of foreign-born
parents who continue to speak their ma
tive tongue, will learn it from birth in
their own homes, from their parents"
he said. what they need in school is
TO learn English. II would be an impo-
sitlOn 10 attempt 10 teach them two
languages while they are so very young,
and after all the principal thing is that
they learn English early so as to be-
come good American citizens"
As to private schools, Mr.. Connolly
wanted to know II the code didn't "in-
wade their private rights" MIR. dupont
replied the code did inquire into the
teaching in private schools, but did
so only in order to gain enlightenment |
and statistics for the benefit Of educa- |
tion as a whole.
In opening his address Mr.. dupont /
said he would seek TO answer the three |
principal objections raised against the +
code These were increased cost, longer
school terms and limitation Of the pow
ers Of local committees. "The code
does not impose any additional financial
burden upon the people Of the state, b
he said, "as the cost Of education with
out ID would have increased anyhow.
has gone up in cost since
before the war. But as we better con
litions naturally cost is bound 10 riSe.'
He cited that Scranton, pa, which has
been improving its school system, now
Is paying about S45 per pupil per an !
mum. In Delaware today the cost is
about $40, so Il may be safely predicted
taxes will not rise seriously, except
through the cost Of rebuilding schools
which are worn out.
unfortunately, we must build about
90 per cent. Of the schools Of the State
ne continued This will cost about
S50OO,OOO. But the old buildings, or
many Of them. soon would fall down
and we would have TO rebuild them.
code or no code. Besides, the eXpendi-
ture Of s5.0O0,OO0 will only be about
5i2 per child per annum. The tax
rate may raise % percent. for that
reason.
81 am sorry this question Of expense
has come In a bad year-that Is, when {
crops are bad. It is quite natural the {
.esldents Of the farming districts should |
'aise objection TO increased costs. But {
4 the people Of the State do not want !
he increase, they can readily check {
he state Board Of Education. All they 5
lave to do Is merely TO say SO and the (
state Board will revise its plans Ii
Mr.. dupont said it YVES impOss'bl 20 II
get good teachers without paying them !
The minimum salary pro-
ridcd In the Code is $3.50 a year, which q
5 low enough As TO heightened ses- !
lions Of the schools, the figures for .
lt.endance the past few months show \
d that only very small percentage ] ,
# The school children Of the State were p
to miss school TO aid in farm \
work This sm'll percentage should
lot be permitted to stand in the way
u the great mass OF pupils who could 4
ttend fun session. 4
In conclusion, Mr.. dupont empha-
lied the great need OF cooperation by p
he entire people Of the State If the 4
hildren are TO have good education. n
The Code was merely a means 10 on 3
nd. Good education was the great h
not the Code. If Delaware :
Wished to gain and hold her place in .
he forefront Of States in education, n
he Code provided a way, but that was n
H. 4.
Dr. Samuel C.. Mitchell, president Of
elaware College, followed MFR dupont. Z
We must congratulate ourselves that =
ne code has aroused 40 much discus 4,
on" he said. Democracy is only -
Jvernment by discussion" was his -
expression. Through. u
scussion democracy is kept alive" he .
lded II declared democracy the most "
lstly method OF government on earth. i'
mt the best. He likened the present ~
scussion in Delaware over the code
that which ensued in the early days y
the Republic, when its founders
ere discussing the Federal COnstitu- al
on. He also compared It 10 Richard p'
Obdens great fight in England against ny
Ie corn laws. discussion which had "a
lded in making Great Rritain the u,
over she is today. OF
1T Is the welfare OF the 10 600 chill pl
'en Of the State we must consider" w
, continued II Is the most import pt
It and bigq st task we people face Ii
Or Mitchell said Delaware had good tr
ason TO bc proud Of its native alb /
y" which was high To substantiate w
h. 20 ha ~