Evening journal., 1919-11-08


| in the educational world is out OF
keeping with the dignity OF the past.
4 Better training must De given those
/ boys and girls who are unable 20 con
| tinue their studies through college
course. They are 10 make up our rank
and file OF future citizenship. The new
ideas Of education. training along lines
most useful 10 future prospective en-
virOnment are highly gratifying The
work Of our state Board Of Education
/ Is most cOmmendable.
But our standards will never be
raised nor our system materially inn
proved until the rural school teacher
gets a salary approaching at least The
dignity Of the work in which she or he
IS engaged With the teachers wage
not equal 10 that OF common labor we
cannot expect those in charge of the
work we desire. No man who has given
thought 10 this dare pretend defense.
l~lne demands on the citizen of tomor-
row will De greater than those on us
today 10 behOONes Us 10 make sure
that our Sons and daughters are
equipped TO cope with their generation.
Better teachers, with a salary In keep
ing with their calling, better buildings,
practical consolidation, sanitation ven
ttilatiOn-3re demands upon our atlcn-
lion. With these as accomplished facls
We shall see the social center OF every
community at lhe public school. There
breathes the spirit OF American inst,-
iuiions. There, in training. is the citi-
zen of tomorrow who Will an yOu
place and mine
The 1917 General Assembly was
splendidly responsive 90 Governor
Townsend's appeal An unusually large
amount Of progressive educational lcgls-
l1tlon was enacted by that Assembly
under the Governors leadership. The
salary OF county supermtendenls was
raised from Sl2OO 90 $1,000 SAn Increase
was ordered in allowances 70 teachers
county Institutes. There was created
standard scl1O6l model with a provision
that any school living up 90 this
standard be given so from the State
funds and awarded a Certificate Of Mcri-
torious Recognition for excellence and
efficiency.
The most important educational leg
islatiOn. however. was contained in
three bills. administration measures.
The first was a provision for minimum
salaries for white school teachers.
Those without especial training were
given a minimum salary Of : - IsOntl.
Those who had taken two-years train
ing course were guaranteed a. alminimum
monthly salary OF $50. Those with a
four-years' training course We're guar
anteed a minimum monthly salary OF
Sll This marked a distinct legislative
~ Of Na
school teachers, 10 lift them out OF the
wage class Of common laborers and TO
offer some extra reward. however
slight. 90 those who had made an ef-
fort 20 prepare themselves for the pro-
fession Of teaching.
A twin bill TO this was that which
provided for the payment by the state
Of all the expenses Of any teacher in
attendance at the Delaware College
summer school for teachers. This was
a most radical departure from ancient
practice. The bill provided that the
state should pay the cost OF teach
er's transportation from her home to
the summer school land return) and
her board while in attendance at the
summer school. The only restriction
was the proviso that TO get the benefit
Of this offer one must have taught one
year in the Delaware schools and de-
clare her intention Of continuing toI
teach I'm the Delaware schools.
These two bills marked the beginning
Of the upward curve in the line which
represents the condition Of Delaware's
public school teachers. They marked
the beginning to put the profession Of
school teaching in Delaware on decent
living basis and on a reputable pro- /
fessi0nal basis.
The third Of the trio OF important /
educational laws enacted by the 1917 /
General Assembly was that which cre- /
ated school commission Of five mem
bers 70 study educational conditions in
Delaware and make recommendations
10 the General Assembly Of 1919. This
act provided:
"That the Governor Of the state Of
Delaware he and is hereby authorized
and empowered TO appoint commits
sion Of five members. one from each
county of the state and two at large
TO make q survey Of the public schools
for both white and colOred children
in the state. TO study The adminisira-
lion OF the said schools. TO consider K
the appropriations made therefor to