Evening journal., 1919-11-08
Shatter ArgumentAbom
NelU School Code Secrecy
Rv san Corresnondenl

BY SIAN correspondent.
GEORGETOWN, Del, Nov. s.-0ne Of
the favorlte arguments OF Georgetown
opponents Of the new school law is the
assertion that the law was rushed
through the last General Assembly
like a race track billp without the
legislators or the public having OppOr-
tunity TO know who fathered the law,
or what the>,law really provided. The
purpose OF this persistent propaganda
is TO cast a cloud Of suspicion upOnthe
law. 10 convey the impression that
here was something crooked about
Is inception or its purpose, which its
authors and advocates did not dare let
the public know.
A great many Of the arguments OF
the opposition 10 the law have no
foundation i'm fact, but the one assail-
ing the manner in which the law was
passed is the least justified Of any.
Briefly, the bill providing the present
school law was introduced into the
last General Assembly. February i2,
1919. The General Assembly adjourned
six weeks later. on March 26. which is
also the date the school law was en-
acted
school bill was constantly before the
members Of the General Assembly for
discussion.
10 was made the subject and object
Of numerous conferences and caucuses
There were public hearings upon It,
held in the Delaware State House, at
which legislators, educational men and
the public were invited and were in
attendance.
The newspapers Of Delaware carried
synopses Of The bill and discussed il
sditorially.-
Governor Townsend officially pro-
claimed the week beginning February
i6. Educational Week in Delaware, for
The purpose Of all the citizens Of Del
aware making an especial study OF the
oil and expressing their views upon IL.
scores Of public meetings were held in
practically every community in ihe
state for the express purpose Of hear
ng the proposed law discussed and eN-
planned. for the purpose Of enabling all
citizens and taxpayers to ask questions
regarding the proposed law and for ihe
purpose OF permitting the assembled
citizens TO take action upon the blll
and 10 notify their representatives, and
senator's in the General Assembly OF
that action. Men. prominent in school
and public affairs. addressed these
meetings which were largely attended.
Al many meetings a vote was taken %
ascertain the sentiment Of those pres
ent regarding the passage Of the Dill.
Al no meeting was there action taken
against The proposed school code. In
many meetings the vote was strongly
I'm favor Of petitiOning members Of the
General Assembly 20 support the bill.
Al Milford, for example. the vote peti-
ionlng the General Assembly TO enact
the school law stood % 10 3. These
public meetings did not cease at the end
OF Educational Week" They continued
fora month.
To sum IL up. 70 Is we'll within the
bounds Of truth 10 state that up 10
that time no bill which had ever been
presented 90 the Delaware General As
,embly with q the life OF this gener-
alton ever received as much public dis
cussion OF kept for so long a period
continuously before the public for
heir inspection. criticism and action.
No other proposed law within the life
OF this generation was ever made the
subject Of such a Statewide campaign
during its progress through the Cen
eral Assembly, a campaign officially
launched and participated in by spon-
sors Of the bill for the express purpose
~ giving the fullest possible pub
icfry 10 the bill.
Those who assert the school law was
ushed through the last General As
.embly without time for legislators and
public alike 90 know all about IT, and
without the legislators and public
moving about &c. convict themselves
,iiher of ignorance Of what was upA
lermC II in public and legislative dis
,uSsiOn I'm Delaware for six full weeks
sarly in-l9i9 or Of disiorting the truth.
To get the correct perspective OF the
present controversy. one must go back
20 the Delaware General Assembly Of
.9i7. Governor To~~asend opened that |
assembly with an inaugural address. in
Nhich ne took high and advanced /
ground upon the subject Of public /
education. His message TO The Assem- !
oily contained the following vigorous |
appeal in behalf Of educational reform !
"Our contribution TO Delaware, our /
impress on the future, our best SER
vice. depends upon what we today do /
,v our schools. our colleges, our STATE /
Institutions, our charities, under state |
aid. must an receive our considerable I
thought. Without detracting from their /
force for good I ask that this General /
Assembly stand out as the champion or
The public schools. Upon their devei-
opment more than anything else ce-
pends the Delaware Of tomorrow.
"We must no longer content our
selves with past provisions. We must
10 more. II Delaware expects TO Keep
. sb, tivo 90 othor EFqfae she must |