Newark post., 1920-03-24
Schools.

oSiiCOlSs
After a discussion covering several
years, Delaware determined to raise
the standards and increase the effl-
cheney of our system of Public Schools,
thereby providing opportunities for
our children in keeping with the de-
mands Of the times and in compari-
son with other States.
To this end the General Assembly
authorized in 1917 a Commission "to
harmonic, unity and revise the school
laws, to develop an educational system
suited to the conditions existing in the
State, providing for an improved and
efficient administration Of all from
school Matters" The result of this
study was the amendment of our
school laws and provisions for COM
plete reorganization of the whole sys-
tenn, now defined and outlined in what
is known as the new School Code.
incidentally, it might be of interest
to say that those of National author
ity, acquainted with systems in the
various safes look upon Delaware as
the coming leader in education. 10
project such system into adminls-
tration and to thus shift the position
Of Delaware to her rightful place il
the rank of States has naturally ere.
ated radical changes from the case of
the old way and caused local and tenn
porary Inconvenience. The costs have
necessarily greatly increased. If we
would raise our standards, the salar-
les Of our teachers must be somewhere
commensurate with the camancs of
conditions of living. We are paying
less to those who teach our children
than to the poorest unskilled labor.
Aside from the shame of our neglect
and consideration, We must offer them
at least living wage. To refuse
longer will only leave our schools il.
the hands Of those i'll trained and in
capable. This, with other increased
costs of the times, will make neces-
sary tax on real estate that will be
seriously burdensome. In some locail-
ties it may be almost prohibitive.
The State should render financial re-
lief.
Public Schools was, in times past,
subject to local standards. The type
of building, the course Of study, re-
gulation of attendance Suo admins
tration were decided by the commun.
ity. The opportunity of the boy or
girl was decided by the whim or wis
dom of the taxpayers.
Today, that idea does not prevail
among those interested in civic better
ment and state welfare
Education is a State function. I'm
der State supervision the opportunity
to the child does not depend on loca-
ton. Under the system now being
projected, the boy of poor parentage
in remote district has equal advan-
tage with the son of the rich and the
wealthy graded school. To such boy
and such district, the new law offers
the greatest advantage.
To make this possible something
must be done to relieve the tax on the
farm. Fortunately the finances of the
State Treasury are such that this can
be done. Without embarrassing any
other of the States obligations, a suf-
ficient sum can be set aside from the
General Fund to give the relief needed
and necessary. With more money in
the States Treasury than ever before
1t is not only fortunate that this can
be done but is only right and fair. For
by so doing every school district and
community will thereby benefit and
have a share of the Staues finances.
Just how and to what extent the
relief is given rests with the legisla-