Milford chronicle., 1919-08-01
WORK OF THE SERVICE
CITIZENS ASSOCIATION
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE AND AVENUES
OF ACTIVITY USED To AID STATE.

What the Service Citizens have ac-
complished during its first twelve
months of existence was explained by
Director Odell at a meeting OF the
Board Of Managers OF the Association
recently. Civics, Americanization,
Health. Housing and Education have
been some Of the ways utilized by the
Association to make Delaware bet
ter State. some Of which were referred
to at some length by DR.. Odell.
DR.. Odell described how the Service
Citizens came into existence, what
were its general aims and purposes,
how il had taken over the General
Service Board and how il had contin-
ued some of the work inaugurated by
the State Council OF Defense. we
have a valuable reference bureau con-
tanning a complete civic report Of the
State and newspaper clippings on all
matters of public interest and import
ance" he said
He described the Americanization
work which had been carried on by the
Service Citizens during the present
year, following the lines laid down by
the State Council of Defense. Twen-
ty-nine evening classes were held. with
an enrolment of more than 200 pupils
Representing II nationalities, and from
these classes 1875 men took out their
first papers in citizenship. These
classes have now been turned over to
the properly constituted educational
authorities to be continued under State
control. The Service Citizens, how
ever, will continue Americanization
work of its own. with the sole of sup
plementing and strengthening the
work being done by the State.
The Director told how scholarships
were secured for prospective teachers
in the new Teachers Training Depart
ment of Delaware College, and how the
Service Citizens had given the money
outright to Delaware College for pro-
viding equipment and faculty for that
department. He also told of the sue
cess of the special lecture course in
the Summer School, the money for
which was also provided by the Ser
Vice Citizens. {
Tells of dupont Building Fund
The responsibility which will fall :
lpon the special committee of the Ser
nee Citizens to administer the P. S.
luPont school building fund, was I
itreessed by DR.. Odell. He said, !
Many of the school buildings are leg :
.cies from a far distant past when !
had no idea of the re- n
Iuirements for light, heat. ventilation, a
anitation and fire danger Some of .
hese are places of positive menace to N
he health and life of the children. "
lost of the buildings are inadequate :,
1. s.,1r -r1 N,rr -HA 81 a =
.lmost all of them are capable of de-
ided improvement. In word: prac-
cally the entire physical system OF
delaware public schools needs to be
verhauled and unfortunately a large -
art, probably two thirds of it, must u
e entirely rebuilt. u u
sThe purpose of Mr.. duPOnts gift "
to enable Delaware to have school u
ystem which shall exemplify the II
sientific principles of modern con q
ruction-buildings which shall not ln
My be safe and sanitary, but which
lall express the pre-eminence that w
lucation must have in the life of a at
amocratic people. It has been es OF
mated that between five and six mil WI
On dollars would give Delaware a te
,mplete and beautiful school for at
-ery district, and these to be not co
nply places where the children learn IN
e rudiments, but genuine community
nters where the people of the COM ri
unity or countryside may meet in "a
building which belongs to all alike pl'
d in which each has an inalienable at
yht. Cir
IF the people of Delaware will elect lul
spend between three and four dol
rs for every two which the DUPONT Joi
lst fund makes available, this can pic
silly be brought to pass and this WI
ate will lead in the new functions
modern education"
DR.. 0dell concluded, "This work
itch the Service Citizens is doing in !
1ics, Americanization, Health. Hous- ant
, and Education is the best indica- mig
n of its purpose. in
In these matters, as in all others, we
} Service Citizens has no desire brC
usurp any authority nor to invade Pes
Y field already covered by any pub TX
or private organization; but, guild me
by such scientific assistance as may the
prOcurable, to cooperate as large HUI
lrtedly as possible in every enter cha
Sc which looks toward the improve he
Mt of vital conditions in Delaware col,
We ask nothing beyond the honor bell
)eing permitted to serve with others Gro
making Delaware all that we be- mat
re it may be in our moments of II
irest vision, all that we believe it bee
be in our hours of brightest hope" whi
nau