Milford chronicle., 1919-12-12
HEARTILY ENDORSE
STATE SCHOOL CODE
PIERRE S. DU P0kT AND DR.. SAMUEL
CHILES MITCHELL ADDRESS LARGE
AUDIENCE IN WILMINGTON.

committee Mrs. Robert B. Raynol
Z president Of the club, presided. an
4 Pierre S. DUPONT. vice president O
: abe State Board Of Education, and Di
2 Samuel Chiles Mitchell. president O
4 Delaware College, made addresses
4 Both speakers we're enthusiastically
4 applauded.
n Mr.. DUPONT said the code Is no
r good as a whole. nor bad as a whole
q and should be considered in detail
n WAS in process Of formation for twl
years. It's provisions are not entirel,
, new. being identical in many respect
/ 20 a law drafted by the University o
, California. A few objections hav,
been made after eight months 'analy
} sis. Il should not be rejected. bu
/ may be amended
e Outlining the chief objections, Mr.
) dupont referred TO the 1SO-day school
r term, which he said is not unduly
/ OnerOus. The term was formerly 14O
days, but unfortunately the law was
not strictly enforced In recent years
the average term has been S5 days for
white children and 63 days for colored
children The iS0-day term is sub
ject 20 exceptions. the State Board OF
Education excusing children in cases
OF necessity. Eighty-fiye per cent Of
the children in Kent county attended
school and 50 per cent during October;
80 per cent OF the children in Sussex
county were at school both months.
] This showed that not more than Is
( per cent Of the children had to stay
az home.
Dir. DUPONT cited objections con
corning school committees Under the
old law the 400 school districts had
l,200 committeeman and $50 teachers.
He said the committeeman had moth
ing to do under the old system except
10 meet twice a year for the purpose
of collecting taxes and plannig for
reelection. The old State Board of
Education possessed four powers. but
formulated few rules. Confusion is
prevented by the code. The new State
Board OF Education does its work like
the directors OF a private corporation. /
The Commissioner OF Education is its
executive officer and enfOrces its rules. /
The county Board of Education choose
their administrative officers and are
gradually assuming the duties Of the
district committees. The State and I
county boards consult the people. No I
school buildings will be rebuilt with
out the people having full say. Dis
trict committees still have duties.
They make recommendations to the
county boards and prepare budgets.
II the district committees refuse to
act the county boards act The dis
trict committees do not appoint teach
ers; the commissioner OF education
ascertains teachers qualifications and
recommends appointments. ''"i
Considering the greaiasi objection
70 the code Mr- :I.,S,ront commented on
siu .ne una ca question. He said educa-
D"a costs so to 100 per cent more (
now than heretofore. but the code does
not impose the additional burden.
Scranton. Pa. pays $45 per child per {
annum and Delaware $40. Delawares
tax is getting close 10 where the child I
will receive proper education. but the I
tax is not likely to increase much.
New school buildings will cost the
State 100000 That will be an ex-
pensive item When the burden
comes it will cost about SO per child.
and the tax rate may advance 25 per
cent. Should the code be repealed the
burden would remain Delaware will ;
have new school buildings no matter
what happens TO the code The State
Board of Education is trying TO pro
vide a better system. II che people
don't want il they can check the
board. which will nor act arbitrarily. ]
Mr., DUPONT suggested that the good
points IN the code be retained and the {
bad points changed In conclusion ne
read part OF the General Education I
Boards report on public education in {
Delaware as follows:
The changes in the school laws OF S
Delaware which we have suggested
IRE al once obvious and fundamental. .
Jut We should in candOr point out
nat even better laws do not OF them s
ielVes make better schools. How much g
ictual improvement results from the
organization which we recommend u
vail in The end depend on the spirit in C
Vhich the organization is effected Pol
tlcs, personal interest, local selfish d
Tess may 20 far to nullify the value E
u any reform The new law will Il
make good schools possible. Della
ware viii however. obtain them p
My if the people of the State are seiz- c
d with fresh interest and faith in
duaction, only if they are thoroughly s
onvinced that education Is the most
acred and important of the States 5
unctions. only if they are highly re- v
olyed that. whatever else Delaware d
Oes, the State will at least do what a
nov vOuspiCuOusiy failing 10 90.
amely. its plain duty to the chill N
ren Of the commonwealth" F
DR. Mitchell praised Mr.. duPonCs Il
lear fWfarmVnf uF
aid discussion OF the code had h'
rOught out difference of opinion in
here Is no progress without differ b'
nee OF opinion, and we ought to be
Idteiui when II is honest. The code eI
means OF enlisting great business q
igacity in social service. 81
Referring to district committees, DR.. uC
itchell commended John Conley's in
rest in educational matters. CC
DR.. Mitchell said the audience had
.thered because II Is interested In
'laware's 10000 children. Speaking
native capacity and potential char aW
ter, he mentioned the fact that three DR.
crgetown boys had obtained Rhodes Ag
10larships He said the 10000 chill far
en- cannot speak for themselves; the
ey are mute and inarticulate. We aw
ist consider their interests. Il Is a tes
n OF life and vigor when country Ca
ople come many miles 20 discuss a o.
sstion The children may contribute C.
the state nation and world. All Bal
at States are territorially small ell.
aware has a homogeneous people. son
per cent OF native parents. The Do,
te has great traditions and a splen- Mil
historical background in which to min
ture souls. How are the boys and Clal
s going 10 bring themselves upon Y. c
kind? That is what should be Ciar
5idered. This is time when prin- thy