Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1920-03-01
Primitive or Progressive Dela~ are


Hack writer's in the New York papers
NAV slam Delaware and draw their
checks in payment, but their articles
should be marked Fiction" Slowly the
facts. the real and startling facts, are
coming to light and educationalists from
AL parts Of America are rubbing their
eyes and wondering whether they are
seeing only a mirage. New York State
hss thousand schools closed for lack of
teachers: by the latest report Delaware
has only two. Other States are suspend
ing building operations because of the
high cost of construction; Delaware -
launching fve-Inillion dollar building
program for its country schools. Normsi
schools snd colleges are mourning a
twenty-five per cent decrease IN at
tendance this year; Delaware has Just
started a successful Teachers Training
Department in the Womsn's College at
Newark. A score of States are fighting
desperately 10 obtain legislation which will
correct the inequalities and injustices OF
local district taxation: the Delaware
Legislature of 1919 installed the county
system as a part OF the New Code. Pa
trio;ic thinkers and statesmen are plead
ing with the people of America TO take
8 keener interest in public education;
Delawareans have been talking and writ
ing about little else for long while.
This Tremendous educational awaken
ing In Delaware is not sudden spasm,
worked-up revival, a temporary tornado.
1t was the Legislature Of 1917 that de-
Iiberately authorized 8 commission TO
study and report to the following Cen
eral Assembly. That action grew out of
certain federal findings and recommended
tons. The School Code OF 1919 put Della
ware ahead of the other States Of the /
Union In the matter Of sound educational /
laws. All the noise about the code during /
the recent summer and autumn was sim /
ply the good old American and democratic /
nav of discussing 8 subject; there wae no
more rebellion IN it-as some people tried
20 make out-than in the debates upon q
hundred other subjects in the past II is
a Characteristic of Americans TO think out
loud-very loud sometimes.
Far too little recognition has been given
TO the wise and far-sighted leadership of
the special district and county boards.
They have seen the need and the oppor-
tunity IN statesmanlike manner. Clay
mont, Newark, Dover, Laurel and Lewes
special districts are to have new high
schools, unsurpassed by any in America.
The aggregate cost will be 81 ,59j, 900,
of which about two-thirds or $4,000
will be donated bv the Delaware School
Auxiliary Association. The county boards
are planning for an undetermined num-
Der of purely rural schools. toward which .
the same association will contribute
$4,000. The Cqsar Rodney consolidated
school has Just received $4,000 from the
fund for needed addition. What s most /
notable and praiseworthy is the fine vi {
sion and observation-disclosures with which ,
these boards have gone about their work :
They have demanded the best in archi-
lecture, III construction and In equip
nent that could be had They have as
suned that nothing could be too good for
Delaware boys and girls. Thew have acted
AZ trustees for the future The officers Of o
he Delaware School Auxiliary Association
nave confessed their surprise and adj
for the manner in which the !,
'ariyus boards have fared their problems !,
nd found solutions And vet, in spite Of !,
her eagerness the very best, they are
making every effort e. keep down the tax
ate. 1t should BE- remembered by the ri
axpayers that no such schools could be a
'uilt without a prohibitive rate but for the T
,. :. du Pont Fund.
There II an aspect TO the construction
{ the rural schools for colored children b
Thich is generally overlooked. The Della a
rare School Auxiliary Association is G.
the sites. erecting the buildings
I'd furnishing the equipment for the :,
sioreo schools with absolutely no cost e. e