Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-10
EDUCATION BOARD
APPROVES MAKING
A SCHOOL SURVEY
Requests DR.. p. p. Claxton to Do
the Work and Promises to Co
operate With Him.
SERVICE CITIZENS
WILL PAY EXPENSE

ton and promised hm all the assistance
he desires Announcement was made that
the Service Citizens of Delaware Will pay
the cost o{ the survey, which is estunated
at $1,000
Messrs. Rommel. Cooper, kersey ,Ostro.
Draper. Banton, Palmer, Moore. Strad-
lev. Campbell and Hoffman, members OF
the board. George B. Miller, former
president of the board. and Charles For
wood Joseph Bancroft, Peter j. Ford,
A. = Reed. George F. Lang and Andrew
l. Johnson members of the executive
committee Of the general committee on
survey, attended the boards meeting.
MIR. Forwood told what the two COM
mittees have done. and MIR. Bancroft read
the report which the executive committee
presented to the general committee one
week ago. The executive committee re-
ouested that these points be covered by
the survey. The physical condition of the
schoolhouscs, with recommendations for
betterment; the business methods pur-
sued bv the Board of Public Education:
the methods Of instruction, including
courses. standards, etc MIR. Bancroft eX-
planned that lay committee will do such
work as DR. Claxton will not have time
20 perfsrm. He asked the board to invite
Or Claxton 10 make the survey and to
cooperate with HIM
Mr.. Stradley moved that the board IN
dorse the executive committees s action
and assure Or Claxton Of cooperation,
but no attention was paid to the motion.
Mr. Rommel presented the following.
and DR. Cooper moved its adoption:
AS members of the Board of Educa-
ton in Wilmington, we approve the gen
eral nIan for a survey of our schools For
several wears we called public attention
20 the many needs of our schools, espe-
rially those needs having to do with build
,ngs eotlipment and the improvements
these needs preclucied A report of
study nf our schools by unpreJudiced
educational experts Of widely recognized
standing and ability will undoubtedly have
especial weight and influence with the
citizens az Wilmington and, therefore, VIII
TO more likely to secure for us the I'M
movements that we have long desired
and often requested than any other means
We could employ. We would heartily
endorse any reasonable plan which prom
,ses aud and advancement to our educa-
t,onal system and which will relieve us of
the hapdicaps under which we have been
working II is the hope Of what the
survey NAV enable us to accomplish
that prompts our desire for it. A survey
merely for the purpose of criticism and
not for constructive purposes would be
vicious
"The survey is the logical outcome and
fnlition OF our efforts 10 center public
attention on our school needs and TO
obtain the necessary funds for desired
improvements. During the school year
lai7-lS Superintendent Scott, at the
request of the Board of Education, sub
mitted n statement Of the needs OF our
schools and a comprehensive plan for
"a. he mia
submitted was gwen much publicity,
but lack of funds prevented favorable
action. In our meeting OF November,
1910. DIR. Banton moved that the presl-
dent and superintendent be authorized
To ask for q conference with City Council
for the consideration of the crowded
condition OF No. 16 and other school
buildings. Again in January, 1920, a
committee, consisting of DR.. Banton.
chairman. President Rommel. DR.. Cooper
and Mr.. Campbell, discussed with City
Council our urgent building needs. 1t
was decided by Council and the committee
that IL would be wen to have fOrrped a
committee of citizens 10 assist IN the
general rehabilitation of the schools.
The committee reported TO the Board
Of Education the results of the meeting
al our February meeting and the chair
TIL. T.
dent of this board be part of a committee
the other members OF which should be
the president of City Council and the
mayor OF Wilmington, to select a general
committee, to he made up Of members Of
the Board of Education, the members of
Council and citizens at large, to prepare
a program for the rehabilitation of the
schools Of Wilmington. The motion pre-
vailed.
I'VE believe this committee, which
was duly selected, has wisely decided that
the first step TO be taken should be a
survey by which a knowledge of the ex-
isfinc conditions will be ascertained
and from which knowledge program of
development can be formulated and
carried out. The Board of Education as
sumcs that the Citizens Committee will
find the means to enable the Board of
Education to carry out the recommends
tiOns of the survey report.
The plan as proposed by the Citizens
Committee provides for two surveys.
In view of the fact that a survey is to be
made under the direction Of the United
States commissioner of education, we do
not see that any useful purpose could
bc served at this time by an additional
survey made by private citizens who are
unframed in such matters.
ut is also the opinion of the board that
the preliminary report of the survey should
toe made To this board at the same time
/; Is made 10 the Citizen Committee
Therefore, toe IT resolved, That this
board receive the report of the Citizens
Committee and that we approve the plan
for making the survey with the modii-
cations stated above.
Further, be IT resolved; That the Board
Of Education and all connected with the
schools give DIR. Claxton full cooperation
and all the assistance he may require
Mr.. Campbell asked who would pay the
cost OF the survey, but the question was
not answered Immediately.
DR. Banton inquired whether the pro-
ponents of the survey would be satisfied
II the board approved of DR.. Claxton max
ing a survey and disapproved OF private
citizens making a survey.
MIR. Forwood said thes general COM
mittee had adopted the executive com
mittee's report and he could not answer
DIR. Banton's question.
Mr.. Bancroft stated the general com
mittee had suggested the lay committee. !
lie thought there would be stronger
report if both DR. Claxton and the lay |
committee did the work.
Mr. Ford saw no harm in both working, |
but for the sake of harmony he would |
favor omitting the lay committee
Mr. Campbell hoped everything pos |
sible would be done TO make the school |
system what IT should be. |