Evening journal., 1920-01-08
MUST rebuild
MANY OR ALL
CITY SCHOOLS
Continued from First Page

plan for The schools named as we'll as
other school buildings which may be
deemed necessary.
Mr.. Rommel told Council the city
needed new buildings and asked its sup
port Then Dr. Banton. as chairman OF
the committee on repairs OF the
School Board, said frankly the cost OF
keeping The present worn-out and anti
quaied school structures was entirely
too high and was wasteful.
I'VE are spending a good deal Of
money on buildings which ought t0 be
torn-down," he said. The original How
ard High School was erected In 1865. he
continued ana since then has been ex-
panded on all four sides. Yet it is now
badly OvercrOwdcd In one assembly
room a class in French and one in Greek
are obliged TO study and reclte stimuli
taneOusly, while on a stair landing a
class In English Is compelled TO do the
best 1t can. In the basement the boys
doing manual training work are in each
others way.
Dr. Banton also told OF several white
schools in as bad II not worse condi-
tiOn and expressed the belief the city
should sell some OF the buildings and
combine their classes In cOmmOdiOus,
modern structures. He pleaded for bor
possible surroundings for pupils in the
poorer districts, saying their schools
often were the brightest spots in their
young lives and they should be given
the best Of Influences.
Councilman Mearns agreed heartily
with Or Banton and eontrasted the
handsome new Alexis l. dupont School
outside the city with those IN Whining
ton Mr.. Campbell said he believed the
new No. p school should be made a
model edflce so as TO raise and set a
standard for the entire city to follow.
Dr. Cooper said he believed vii
mington's schools the equal OF those
OF any other city IN so far as learning
was concerned. but admitted the build
lngs were entirely out Of date. Any
program for new buildings would neces-
sarlly extend over period OF years
but work on IL could not begin too
soon. At his request Dr. Banton told in
detail OF the accomplishments at No.
- School since the purchase for It's pu-
"School No % has undergone a won
derful Transformation said Dr.. Ban
ton. From an old rundown place,
merely for study, it has become a bright
and cheerful community center for ola
and young in its neghborhood. Much
credit for this is due its principal. us
doors are opened at S In the morning
and seldom closed before midnight
There is something doing there OF an
Instructive and entertaining kind all
day and evening.
Last winter good people about the
city sent clothing aud shoes to The pu-
pills OF No. %, but this winter the resi-
dents Of the neighborlood have SAID
they didn't need any such aid. Ihey
have prospered because OF the things
they have learned 20 the community
work al The schoo. aud feel The school
belonQs 10 them People lear other
schools Of the ely think the schoo /
belong TO the Board OF Education. Il
believe every public school should be (
wide open 10 the public at all times as
n community teatcr and clubhouse /
like No %
"No. % certainly has made lO9 per /
cent good" exclaimed President Rom /
mel as DR.. Banlon concluded Mr. Hom- |
mel then said he believed eighteen hrst /
class schools could replace the twenty /
four antiqualed buildings now III use /
II was al This juncture Councilman !
NIoorns raised the question as tOI
whether there was any likelihood OF /
Inc new code supplanting the citys con
,roI Of The school system. Il am Tor |
hosi M schools" he declared. II the |
citv Is go!ng to spend Si,OOOOOO Tor al
haibor 10 should spend SiQOOOOO Tor
school improvement.
nr Cooper doubted II the present |
Roard of Education would voluntarily |
accept TIE code. II II shouiu no 50 'II
school nroncrty In the city would Dc /
tronsferred TO control Of the county /
scbooI commissioners. Mr.. MearnS 3
wanted to know if the school depts
,vo,lId 60 with it. This query proved |
a .poser and was submitted TO City 80
licitor Huxley, who was present. MT
Huxley said It was one OF the questions
which would have TO be determined by
supreme Court, when the code came
before it. ,-,
81 am certain Of one thing, however,
said Mr.. Huxley, "and that Is that II
starts work on some CON
structive program it will be the surest
way of keeping it out Of the Codes
Nfr Nearns fevored holding public
at which the school sltua-
lion could be discussed in a compre-
1onsive manner. A remark concerning
lhe ages of schools No. 1 and No.
,rouQht forth the humorous statement
,rom mr. Cooper that he had played
,en on the lot now occupied by NO. 1,
non used for holding circuses. And
I'm No voungster now by any manner
~ means" ne stated. School NO. l
vas built In 1872. he said. DR.. Cooper
i,rected attention TO the increased cost
- rooderp school buildings because OF
.beir freproof construction. He de-
,iored 0re drills were hello in the pres
mt b,aldings and they could be emp
.iod In case of need within two min
,tos on an average. "Fireproof build
- ,vo,,ld be much better, however,
No added. senientidusly. l.
A. This DR.. BantOn remarked he had
,ocn informed by a member OF the
:toto hoard of Education that II didn't
,vn.cf Wilmington to accept the Cope
~ Two YEARS vet. "Then It would be
,,rone 10 let the Code serve as buga-
700 and delay work by the city lnde-
,endohiliiy on new buildings eX-
,laimed MIR. Campbell.
Council may pass resolution for ap-
continent OF the special committee to
consider the new school buildings at
IS regular session tonight.
BURY EXPLOSION VICTIMS