Evening journal., 1919-12-03
CODE DEFENDED,
Then OPPOSED
ContInued from Flrst page.

were familiar with the hodge podge COL
lection Of widely different statutes
which governed The schools Of the state
before tho present code became a law,
and that II they were. they certainly
would approve OF some other method
which would improve the school con-
ditlons which gred out Of the appllca- !
lion OF those laws Many OF The DIS
lrlcis The speaker said. were Operat-
ing iher schools under 100 year old
laws The laws iiXcd 50 many different
rates Of taxation for echuOl purposes
uiat scarcely anybody In the state knew
what school Tax his neighbor was pay
ing.
DR.. Cooper said the purpose OF the
code was 20 give every child In the
state equal opportunity TO obtain the
best poss bic primary. grammar and
high school education. Under The old
law he thought the children OF vii
mlngton had an educational advantage /
which was denied the chldlen outside /
the city. but under the code This seem |
Ing disadvantage was overcome Today |
he said all Delaware children who de- |
side 10 take advantage OF the oppor- /
tunlty may No themselves with n their |
own state for admission 10 not a sec |
ond class college but 10 a lrst class in
tliution-Delaware College-wh ch d |
declared would become a model edu-
catlOnal Institution II % had 10 be |
made so by private phllanthroples.
Or Cooper said that under the Old |
order there was no money with wh 'ch |
TO make school Improvements, no power |
TO enforce the laws governing the |
schools. as no authority was invested ln /
The normal heads OF the system. All thls |
however, had been corrected In the |
present code, an instrument which he |
said had been endorsed by % out OF /
25 experts on education and drawn
after a survey OF local conditions had
been made by Dr. George D Strayer
Of Colombia University. New York, an
admitted authority on school questions
lie admitted that this educators iudg
mcnt Of educational questions effect
ing Delaware might be wrong In some
Instances, but the speaker was conf
dent that these mistakes would be cor
recled by the friends Of the law.
Referring to the statement made by
enemies Of the code that the bill passed
the House OF Representatives at Dover
by one vOle. Dr Cooper declared that
the records OF the House OF Repre- I
sentatves show that the bill passed by
the following vote: Yes, is; No IL; not !
voting. g.
DR.. Cooper also said proper publicity )
had been given the bill before 70
was presented to the Legislature. io
declared thnt 5000 copies OF the bin /,
had been distributed throughout the
State. that there is record Of 80 public
meetings having been held in the inter-
est OF the bill and that one week was
given those interested IN the school
system OF the state to study the pro
posed law. After all. he said the fu-
ture Of the code does not depend on
how it became a law, but rather on the
question will 10 perform It's purpose
TO give every Delaware boy and girl an
equal chance TO obtain the best educa-
tior possible.
llo 70 tcrated that amendments would
have 10 be made 30 the code from time
10 time, but declared the people OF Del ,
aware would never return 10 the old ,
system Of common school education. =
Because Of the fate that Dr. Cooper had ,
mother engagement at Newark he did !
lot have time TO discuss the taxation ,
features OF the law. p
Upon invitation Samuel II. Baynard, r
former president Of the Wilmington \
5oard Of Education, and a member of !
he Westm 'nster Club, briefly opposed :
some features Of the code. particularly i
hat one which takes school manage
nent out Of the control of the local r
who, he thought. were
better able 10 judge the needs OF the a
district than some centralized head 4
which In the present instance Is a State f
Of education appointed Z
by the Governor. Mr.. Bnynard added n
That under the new system district +
Oners could not select even :
the studies to Be pursued In the school 3
under their charge, and for which they 9
we're responsible 10 their constituents h
Mr. Baynard also thought the taxation
feature OF the bin was unfair. He was G
lf the opinion, however. that the code
svenAially would become all that It's
friends hoped for It,
Mr. Baynard thought the law would n
lOt be of benefit 10 Wilmington r
with S2000O00 worth OF property ! h
,wned by the CITY for schools. the code h
'equires that all this valuable land and
be turned over 20 the State, " h
'lr. Baynard said. "tIow much does !
get baok2 The usual one q
enth, / suppose. 4
u defy anyone 10 read the new bin n
)ver Ave times and get any more out a
IF II than on reading the League Of Z
Nations covenant. There are rcserva- y
Sons needed in the treaty; there are ! il
many reservations needed In the code. | n
There are plenty Of wrongs 10 be right q
I'd, he said, after defending the edu- a
,ational output Of the city against the
rating Of the State thirty-third in the IN
country.
1T is a crime against the child" Mr..
Baynard said ito take the running Of
The local schools out Of local hands" r
He condemned a six dollar per capita "
school tax. since the old SIG tax could +
not to be collected III you put the de-
linquents in Jail, there won't be enough 6
lails to hold them," ne said. -
Discussing local educational affairs. !
Mr.. Baynard criticized Or. clifford J. .
Scotts location for the proposed Jun {
ior high school Mr. Baynard said Or. i
Scott thought such a school should be +
located on the outskirts OF the city. Z
In the Ninth ward section. !
where It could be surrounded by open
lots. II was Mr.. Baynards idea that IL 6
such a school is 10 be built, It should I
be located somewhere in the center Of /
the city where IL would be convenient T
n 7chtidren from aVar,y secfion