Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-08
SCHOOL BOARD
Continued from page

not reached a decision on as yet, II WIS
also intimated that the proposition
advanced last week by Yenry Z. Scott,
that the State be bonded for $40 ,000, 900,
to carry out school building program,
was a matter that the commission still
has under consideration. One thing that
the commission has decided to do, which
MIR. du Pont did not touch on last night,
Is the elimination of the word code
from the act This word seems To be
especially Objectionable 10 many persons.
so the redraft OF the act TO be presented
will be known as the School Laws OF
Delaware"
MIR. du Pont was introduced TO the
audience by Professor 4. II. Berlin,
principal of the Wilmington High School
and president of the teachers conference,
as the Chancellor OF Education for Della
ware.
In his opening remarks Mr., du Pont
said he desired to talk on what the
school code commission has been doing.
He said the code, has now been with rs
over n wear and has been under constant
discussion during that time. ! doubt #
any subject has ever retained such gem
eral interest for wear, which only
shows our great interest in education.
WANT TO SATISFY ALL
The speaker said the commission was
not trying to get n perfect law, but one
that will suit the people Of Delaware. II,
he said, lie people of Delaware want an
amendment that docs not meet the views
of The best educators. that IL their right
Il can bc tried and if the people find Il
will not do, II can hen 9 amended lie
spoke Of the public meetings bel d by the
commission in all three counties aud
stated that the criticisms heard At these
meetings have given the commission an
ldea of what the people want Most of
these criticisms. hc said arc tangible
and something can be gotten out OF them
to satisfy the people
The fact hat there has been no criticism
OF the organization as brought together
by the school code. MIR du Pont con
sldered was encouraging. He stated TINT
before the code was passed. the State
from time to time had taken IN some Of
the features. such as tho State Board of
Education. State Commission, county
boards, etc, but the strong point III the
code from his view point was the bringing
together of these features and thrir
relations to each other
MIR du Pont went OYER the various
tentative amendments agreed on Is lie
commission and which were published
from day to day during the sessions
of the commission last week.
SHORTER SCHOOL YEAH
One amendment that the commission
agreed on Yesterday 20 recommend 10 the
Legislature, MIR du pont stated. was TO
reduce the compulsory attendance feature
from $50 10 40 DAYS wear Mr. dn 'ont
said IN the rural districts. and especially
Sussex county. II was cunteaded that the
children arc needed in the spring and fall
for work on the farm and that the $50
day compulsory provision worked an IN
justice He SAID II had been agreed that
the parent who wants to keep child ont
Of school for work on tho farm can do
50 simply by writing an excuse and send
ING 10 Il the county board nder the
ruling of the State board, excuses this
wear had to be approved by the county
board or superintendent Under this
proposed change a legitimate excuse il
sufficient without awaiting approval Of
any school authorities
Mr. du pont, in announcing this pro-
posed changed. looked towards State
Commissioner A. r. Spaid who was III
the audience. and said Il can almost see
the State commissioner falling of his
chair when he hears tins !
Mr. du pont explained that the schools
would be kept open $50 days, Just the
same. a. lac had no doubt more than 20
per cent OF the children would want to
attend school the entire session and there
fore hey should he gwen hi. opportunity.
The attendance officers lie saId could
check IN on those who get eyrlsc-. - sec
1t they are actually needed ior work III the
iields. and ii th"y are nai, report The
matter Il wilt take a wear nr 50, Nir
du Pont ssd. to ffnd ont la>t whaf Is
going 10 be the result / would be sur
prised and disappointed Il this change
does not work out all right Mr. dH Pont
said addiug tha' Il anyone had told hfu
"a month ago hat hc would have agreed
~ such q reduction he would have thought
thcv were crzay. tut after hearing ats-
Jectlons m Sussex county. he !, convinced
that Il should hc gwen a trai II Ie.tst
r,N HEnuoTtn>
Mr. du Pont touched on the tax rate
feature and said the maximum had teen
reduced from 81 soto lit Is reduced
to 80 cents he SAID that would mean
that the state would haYe tofaise >5oll-
600 more year iof education In con
fIudiug Nj dH Pout stated tIat he
believed the commission vas Met ting tic
views 81 tho people ard Il asked the
cooperation 81 TIC teachers III tie matter
Professor Berlin made eW rtmarks
Hc spoke of tie growth Of high schools
and said to continGc tins coed work Il
VIII he necessary 10 make II worihW bile for
men and women 10 remain II tile teaching
profession
Or. Samuel z Mitchell president d
Delaware College IN Il short address
welcomed the visitors and also pad 4
tribute Ia NJ fiu Phnt
1t the conference of teachers tHl- NOM
ing in " of Hall there NeFe talks ~
state Commissioner Spaid Df * l.
Greenfield and superintendent {. II. "