Middletown transcript., 1920-12-18

MIDDLETOWN school,
Proposed Loan Only Hope Of I'm
proving Education
SPEAKERS URGE IMPROVEMENT
Should New Castle county, bond il
the sum of 81. 600, 900 tor school pur
poses and the Delaware School Auxil
iary Association add $3.50, 900 thereto
Middletown would be assured of q new
schooIhouse costing approximately
100000. The proposed school building
would set in 10 acres of land near the
southern boundary of the town, which
have been acquired by the Middletowr
Board of Education.
Eight hundred enthusiastic residents
of the town. including 200 children.
thronped the Opera House Monday
night. when educational matters were
discussed at q meeting held by the Par
ent Teacher Association. After wei
coming the audience Mrs. John B.
tleaver, president of the association,
asked Frederick Brady to preside. Rev.
Percy L. Donaghay pronounced an in
vocation.
Wilbur H. Jump. superintendent of
schools in New Castle county. spoke on
school consolidation, which he said is
popular IN Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.
He stated Indiana has made the most
rapid progress. having CO.. consolidated
schools, which are indorsed by 81 per
cent. Of the patrons and interest a.
600, 600 persons. Referring to school
consolidation in Delaware. he mention.
ed the combination of Armstrong
Corner, Bro vn Cottage and Mill Lane
with Middletown and suggested that
other school districts be brought to this
centre. He told the advantages of
school consolidation. including larger
faculty and better school program. He
said Middletown had So high school
pupils last year and has 85 this year.
E. S. Jones, describing the Middle
town schoolhouse, stated it was built ~
years ago for few scholars and now is
crowded by 3l5 students. He declared
it's sanitation and ventilation are bad.
Saving the future of the State and ma
ton depends on the quality OF citizen
ship. he advocated putting the best
safeguards around children.
Miss Marie Lockwood said Delaware's
health conditions are alarming AID its
death rate is high. She stated tubercu-
losis is prevalent and 21 to 40 per cent.
Of the children are sub-normal. She
held that if school buildings contribute
greatly to tuberculosis Delaware should
have the best schoolhouses the state
could afford.
OIin E. Mcknight, principal of the
Middletown school exhibited stereoptl-
can views of the antiquated school,
house. originally an academy. showing
its crowded class-rooms, low ceilings
and defective sanitation and ventilation.
"Where are the fire escapes ?"
woman asked.
''rhe stairways are the only fire es-
capes," the principal replied.
Mr.. Mcknight pleaded for q new
schoolhouse for Middletown.
NEW BUILDINGS NEEDED
George L MediDl, president of the
New Castle County Board of Education,
said it realizes the need of modern
schoolhouses and equipment in various
parts of the county, but could not spend
large sum to remodel Middletown's
old echoolhouse because the building is
leased from the ru.tees of Mlddletown
Academy and the grounds are too small.
He stated the Board hopes to call in the
near future on the taxables in the
county to vote on proposed bond issue
of $1,OO,,OOO. He said Middletown,
Delaware City, Richardson Park and
Rose Hill need new schoolhouses and
Middletown should have the largest
Should $1,000. 900 bonds be issued and
the Delaware School Auxiliary Associ-
alton add $3.50, 600 thereto, he stated,
Middletown would probably receive one
fourth or onc-fifth of the aggregate
sum and erect schOolhOuse of Colonial
design, containing IA rooms, with audi
torium and gymnasium, and costing
about $500. 900.
Architect Wallace E. Hance, who has
drawn plans for the proposed school,
house, said they call for q tw0-st0ry
building, with heavy brick walls and
slate roof, the structure to be fireproof
throughout and to be well lighted and
ventilated. He announced that the
State and County Boards Of Education
had approved the plans.
Mrs. H. B. Mcdowell, Mrs George
Virgins, Jesse L. Shepherd and E. NJ.
Richards expressed hope that Middle
town would get a new schooIhouse, and
200 children voted unanimously in favor
Of the project:
Representatives. elect Alexander P.
Corbit said the question is how much
can New Castle county afford to spend.
He estimated that q new schoolhouse
for Middletown would cost the same
smou t as eight miles Of good road and
thought the former is a. necessary as
the latter.
BOND ISSUE FAVORED
p. E. Strickland, q member of the
county Board Of Education, stated some
school buildings are worse than cattle
sheds. He favored the proposed bond
is-ue and urged all who were present to
advocate it.
Eugene H. Shallcross. also member
of the county Board of Education.
praised the school law. He said Della
ware, formerly 90 on the educational
list, now has an up-to-date school sys-
tenn and should not go backward. He
declared the strongest objectors to the
school law are persons who know the
least about it. He thought the Legisla-
ture will slightly amend but not repeal
the school law. He stated if 81. 600. 600
bonds were authorized they would be is.
sued when needed and cover q period
Of four or five years. one-twenty-fifth
being redeemed annually.
George B. Miller. president of the
State Board of Education, requested
that school teachers be given fair
deal in social life. He pleaded for the
-.A>~%;nSa ~ fho cnl.ccl Iav, and =