Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-10
To Advance Our Sc chool Interests.

To Advance Our School Interests.
1t is hoped every member of the Cen
eral Assembly. in looking forward to tho
special session that will convene at Dover
on Monday, March %, in consequence oi
Governor Townsend's proclamation, will
give careful consideration to the purposes
of the unusual occasion, as set forth IN
the proclamation, and to the governor s
reasons in support of them, as stated
publicly ut that time And with much care
and thought should they take heed OF
the governors recommendation in respect
of legislation affecting the interests OF our
State public school system.
No good citizen can doubt the import
ance of building up a strong and effective
system of education in this State, and
most important move in this direction
was made in the enactment of the new
School Code, at the regular session of
the General Assembly, in 1919. Already
the efficiency of the code has been dem
onstrated, and wide knowledge obtained
of its possibilities for good in the future.
But to meet its requirements and make
the best of its promising opportunities,
more money will be needed than has been
expended in previous years for the educa-
tional interests of our State. And TO pro-
vide for these enlarged financial demands,
the only revenue thus far available has
been that arising from increased taxation
on real estate.
But real estate in Delaware already is
required to bear about all the taxation
that has been considered fair and just,
and Governor Townsend has pointed out
how additional revenues for schools may
be obtained without materially increasing
the burdens of taxation for school pur-
poses. His recommendations are prac-
tical and valuable.
1t i. q fact that Delaware is rich
State. II has interest-bearing invest
nents, of the class rated In financial cen
ters as ''gilt-edged,' which in value are
more than twice the amount OF the States
bonded Indebtedness. Also, it has most
liberal revenues, which promise to con-
tinue for years to come, large portion of
which is contributed by interests outside
the State. Due to these liberal revenues,
the State now has nearly million and q
half dollars in its general fund, with pros
poets of more in the future, and as Gov
ernor Townsend suggests, we can easily
afford to set aside sufficient money now
accumulated in this fund for use in meet
ing legitimate and practical school pur-
poses
1t may be set down as a fact that this |
liberal accumulation of money IN the |
States general fund will not be permitted |
to repose in idle security as a cash asset |
merely. 1t will be standing temptation |
to all kinds of projects, and will invite |
continual assaults. But TO what better |
purpose may a proper portion OF it be |
applied than In advancing the interests |
of our State school system?
Delaware, like every other State. is /
from paucity of capable school |
and this condition has been |
brought about by shamefully low salaries, |
az result of which many teachers have /
abandoned their high profession for more
profitable employment Only the in
capable and those who have sincere love
ior the profession remain in the service.
Delaware's supply OF money will enable
The school authorities TO offer decent COM
to good teachers and thus check
mate dangerous evil. And by the same
means they can meet every other Iegiti-
nate demand for school purposes without
Diling heavy burdens of taxation upon the
people.
More than this, it is possible, by care
'ul outstanding of this money, to establish
md build up a reserve fund for school
which, in addition to the special
school investments long held by the State,
would soon make our school system finan-
tally solid and in position to meet every
egItimate demand of the cause of public
.ducation. And now is the time to enter
Ipon this valuable work, while business
conditions are encouraging and there is
very prospect that our general revenues
rill continue to increase. This favorable
for advancement should not
C neglected, and the betterment of our
chooi system is the most worthy object
hat our people could have in view.
Aside from the Equal Suffrage Amend
ieot and the Strengthening of the finances