Milford chronicle., 1919-11-14
PEOPLE TO DECIDE VALUE
OF SCHOOL CODE TO STATE
CHIEF QUESTION IS BETTER EDUCATION
P.S. DU POINT TELLS WILMINGTON
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

IhAmBEk UF CUlnmEkCE.
"Its not a question Of the school
code, it's whether the people want
better education for the State" That
is the way Pierre S. DUPONT summed
up the situation in regard to the school
code and the opposition that is being
expressed towards it from certain cir
cles and influences in Delaware, in an
address before the members of the
Chamber Of Commerce at a luncheon
in the Du Barry suite of the Hotel du-
Pont last Tuesday.
In his analysis Of the code and the
opposition to it, Mr.. dupont anaylzed
some of the important phases of the
code and the serious criticisms that
have been made about it. He admit
ted that the code should not be con-
sidered as one thing, but if there were
good things in It, these should be re-
tanned and the others eliminated If
on careful judgment there were more
faults than good points, then perhaps
the entire code should be abandoned
and a new one constructed with the
good ones left But the primary
thought should be whether the'people
OF Delaware want to go backward by
continuing as they have. or whether
through such an instrument as the
school code it may be possible to
change conditions and raise the stan
dard of education in Delaware.
The question he considered should
and must be considered within twelve
months at the outside and a man
should express himself either for the
better education of the children or
opposed to it.
The first point on which there has
been criticism OF the school code was
that from those who complained that
$50 days of attendance was not quite
fair TO the granger. Mr. DUPONT pro-
duced figures obtained during the
months OF September and October of
this year, taken in the rural districts
These showed that the average at
tendance was between so and upwards
of 80 per cent A happy average was
about So per cent, so that at least So
per cent of the school children on Del
aware schooling in these two fall
months, when it would appear as
though their services were needed
more than at any other time during
the year it was possible for them to
attend school.
The question of finances was one,
Mr.. DUPONT said, that had aroused Op-
position and was one that was worthy !
Of serious consideration. He showed {
by statistics that the State was car |
rying a burden of S235,0O0 in bonds i
for improvements that had been made {
to the schools and which have to be /
met in addition to any increase be- S
cause of what might be considered c
necessary to improve present condi- S
ions He had figured out that it would d
cost between S45 and $50 per pupil per p
rear now, and to this must be added
lbOut S12 more to make up the inter- C
,st and sinking fund on the debt at n
present resting on the schools. He ii
made it plain that if things were to be o.
hanged and things improved that it e.
would mean an expenditure of more ii
money than was on the school budgets b
low and said he would have some c.
hing to say about that later. d
The most serious question, however, d
e believed was the general one of Il
rhether the people of Delaware want W
d better educational facilities. If Sc
hey did they must go out and con- b'
ince their friends that this was is
eeded, He said that he had gone g,
bout the State some explaining the "
ode but that he could not meet every G.
ne and that those who were in favor
( better education should constitute n,
themselves advocates Of it. n
He told Of the some of the cOndi- u,
ions that he had seen down the State. l.,
n two rooms at Lewes, approximately y,
g by 10 feet there were 90 pupils !,
nrolled the first of September. On a.
he first of November 25 additional n,
upils applied for enrolment and is
lere was not only no seating space W
II them, but hardly standing room N,
his was in a colored school But ~
lndtions. Mr. dupont said, were Just .,
S bad in white schools. o.
IN one school Of advanced grade the di
lildren were sitting three in a seat. N
Iade for two pupils, and the lighting 81
icilities were poor. ~
Mr.. dupont said that it was the duty 9,
every citizen to show an interest in m
lie conditions and that it was solely %
p to them to decide. The State &c
oard of Education, he said, was GO II
lg along on the supposition that the
eople wanted better education That M
le State Board would continue on ~
lat supposition until it was called 81
I and that when the Board was Ar
lecked that it would be up to the in
sople to settle. al
The luncheon was one of the larg- on
i held this year and Mr.. dupont was I'm
,corded the closest attention and bu
ndered an ovation both before and fr,
ter he had concluded his remarks. Nh
Frederick Brady, a vice president ca
the Chamber of Commerce, presid-
in the absence of President A. d.
ovpor II