Milford chronicle., 1919-09-05
R. B. HOPKINS OBJECTS

(The following letter was sent to
the Milford Chronicle for publication
by DR.. Robert B. Hopkins of Milton
Delaware, who opposes the operation
of the new School Code as it now
stands, as a basis Of our public school
education. We print his letter in full
for what it is worth.-Editor.)
The New School Code
The new School Code was the most
Rutocratic measure that was ever
forced upon free and independent
people.
If the measure was a good thing
why not submit it to the people for
vote of approval?
Granting that our former system
was a little out of date, yet by some
slight modification it may have been
made more efficient.
l have never heard an advocate of
the new system say that child would
learn grammar, arithmetic, or any
other study faster or quicker, or that
it would put extra brains in his head,
or develop more those which he might
now possess. The whole theme and
burden of their arguments seems to
be a system. The old system was OBJ
solete. The new system was advanced !
and up to date.
What is the new system supposed to |
do?
So far as have been able to discern /
it is in the largest measure taking the .
hard nnpund dn11are ant Of ba tav
ers' pockets and placing it in another.
A socialistic idea under the guise of
education-a legalized robbery.
The man who pays a bill has a right
to say how it shall be contracted. Our
legislature has denied the people this
right We are no more citizens of
Delaware-we are subjects only, sub
iect to taxation, fines and imprison-
ment
Think for a moment of a poor wild
owed woman who owns a small house.
She has spent her life in acquiring
This property. Her only source of rev.
enue is the wash tub. She has grown
feeble and is no more able to work.
She subsists largely on the kindness
md charity of friends. She can't pay
his school tax-what are you going
% do about it to her? The State will
irst sell her household effects. stove.
'ed, etc. The next year to pay her
chool tax they sell a few more ar
icles, and the next year they sell her
Iome and throw her out in the street.
The school tax must be paid What
re you going to do about it?
The school teacher with a handsome
alary sits by his warm stove-he has
njoyed a wholesome supper. The
oor widowed woman sits in a fireless
Dom, and goes to bed hungry.
Your child must be educated; others
lay suffer. The State says so. God
less the poor widowed woman. When
he pays the last debt of nature and
transplanted to where the tax col
'ctOr never comes, where education | =
not an absolute necessity, and where
I'D and hunger are unknown.
A farmer has three sons. He is COM
elled to send them to school ten
onths of the year. Who is to save =,
S crops? Can he employ labor9 No. ~
ranting that he could, the receipts - -
ON the sale of the crops would not i"
the present prices pay for the labor. d,
hat is he going to do? Should he :.
IL to send these boys to school, he - =,
subject to fines. Who is going to 3
} the farming if not the farmer boys? "a "a
hey can't go to school ten months I"
the year and farm at the same time. -.
Are the farm crops to rot in the ~ ~
sld? Why then farm at all. What u
e the farmers going to do about it IT
don't knew, Dc you? n n
This system may apply to some sec I; Ie
ons of country-will it suit Sussex? - -
If we are living under a democratic ie
republican system of government. !,
by not let the people decide this I4 ut
lestion? If we are living under an II
ltocracy then no questions are to ..
asked; our only duty is to submit az az
Se people of any other autocratic l"
'vernment.
Are you an American citizen or an &c
nerican subject?
R. B. Hopkins, NJ. D., Su au
Milton Del 20