Evening journal., 1920-05-13
CODE CHANGES
EXPLAINED BY
P. S. DU PONI
CONTINUED from FlrsL pagel

naiutO proper tAtuoi lHl on0NhNt'
Other proper or necessary excuses
may be announced by the Slate Board
Of Education. However, no excuse,
excepting that OF Illness, shall reduce
the school attendance OF child be-
low one hundred twenty i2O) days
each year.
"The powers Of the boards Of
the various local school districts have
been enlarged and made practically
The same as under the law repealed
In 1919. The making OF repairs. buy
ing OF fuel and furniture and The
requisitionlng Of text books and sup
plies from the county are 10 be duties
Of the board OF trustees, but all ex-
pendilures must be In accordance
with a written budget authorized by
the County Board Of Education. Any
expenditure beyond this amount must
be approved by the County Board OF
Education before commitment Is
made
while 10 remains The duty Of the
County Board OF Education TO furnish
teachers for the county schools. the
board OF trustees OF any school may
notify the county board Of its decl-
sion To choose a teacher. II such
notice Is not served before May 18th
70 becomes the duty Of the County
Board 10 furnish teacher. but, any
teacher so furnished may be rejected
by the boards OF trustees, who then
assume the duty and responsibility
OF selecting their own teacher BY
This means the County Board Of
Education is not relieved OF the duty
OF furnishing teachers but free choice
IS allowed The trustees Of the local
districts
"The nnal power OF deciding upon
a change IN district lines or upon a
consolidation OF districts Is returned
TO the voters OF each district. subject
only TO the necessity OF obtaining a
petition signed by 30 per cent OF The
volers IN order 10 secure a referen-
dun, when the plans Of the County
Board OF Education are opposed. This
method oyercomes delay where opin-
ion Is united and leaves free The ap-
pllcatiOn OF the referendum where
difference OF opinion exists.
"The State Board OF Eduoation re-
mains without power on financial
questions. excepting the distribution
az the small Appropriation covering
the salary OF the Slate Commissioner
and expenses Of the officers Of the
Slate Board OF Education This ap-
preparation Is Franied by The Legis-
lature from a budget prepared by the
state Board
"The County Boards Of Education
retain the Initiative IN consolidation
OF schools or alteration OF district
! boundaries, and In preparation Of the
/ budget covering school expenditure
Each one Of these items is made sub
iect 10 amendment by referendum.
"The commission has eliminated all
direct powers Of the State Commits
sioncr OF Education. The County SUI
porlniendents and The superintendent
OF Schools. leaving the powers OF
these officers 10 be delegated by The
boards for whom they act as eNccu-
lives. BY this arrangement The
boards cannot be controlled In any
way by their appointed officers. The
! term Of these officers has been re-
4 duced 10 one i) year.
"'rhe right 10 administer osths ha,
been taken from the State Commits.
sioner and County superintendent,
and is lodged with the state Board o
Education, the County Boards Of Edu
cation and the Boards OF Education
OF Special Districts.
Provision has been made for thl
return OF special districts TO ihl
counties " such procedure Is ap.
proved by vote or petition Of the vot
ers Of the district, subject however
10 The consent OF the County BoarC
OF Education.
III has been provided that any cit,
/ having 5000 inhabitants or more
may elect a board OF seven members
aud the board OF the city OF Whining
/ ton. with It's boundaries fixed as M,
| city limits, Is given power 20 eXpen,
IN The remodeling OF buildings up {,
5000, without reference io the Slat,
Board OF Education. Wilmington car
not be brought under county con
troll in any way.
AS 10 requirements FOR higl
schools, courses In either science o
agriculture are made,acceptahle. tn,
existing code requires both. Thi
Stale Board OF Education NAV ais,
change ihe subjects required 10 M
taught by the three high school teach
eiS made mandatory under the law.
III has been made more clear tha
the minimum course In elementar'
subjects shall be taught in the Eng
lish language. otherwise. the leach
Ing or use OF foreign language is op
The County Boards Of Education
are authorized 90 establish specia
schools FOR Moors.
BY re-wording of several section
or lhe code Z Is made evident that th
control or private schools Is limited q,
The securing Of ceriincaie siaiinl
that the minimum course of Studio
Tor elementary schools Is being givei
IN the English language and 10 lh
securing on attendance reports.
new section has been inserted, recit
DS definitely That private schools ar
subject TO certain sections only OF thl
while the prescribed qualification
system remain as heretofore, 10 ha
for teachers and officers In the sdloo
been provided that the State Boar
OF Education may substitute oihe
methods or qualifying. provided ih
standards OF The law are not reduced
Certificates valid for certain position
b prior TO 1919 remain valid for simila
positions in any part OF the state. an
all extra compensation for length @
service has been changed 20 date fron
, the time or employment instead OF IA
date OF enactment Of the school Law
. salary payments may be made In tcl
monthly installments. beginning Oc
, toDer ION, or In twelve payments a
heretofore.
THE recommendations above emu
/ merated and other minor changes hay
required much discussion and reword
ing OF eighty-three Of the twO hun
dred sixteen sections in the law. m
draft OF the proposed new law is no,
In the printers hands: and Nlessr,
William ;. Hilles. James NJ. Satternel
and James NJ. Tunnel have under
taken the work OF putting the act {
legal form for presentation 10 the Les
i1latflrp -