Evening journal., 1920-05-13
MIX POLITICS
IN ARGUING
SCHOOL CODE
CONTINUED from First Page)


lhan the present plan OF electinr 70
members OF the board from wards
and The president at large
representative J. Edward McNahh
ana former Representative William NJ
IOnnehy lead an attack on fhe stir-
kostlon Tor seyen-member hoard
ine members TO be elected al large on
the ground that II would mean thai
lhe members would all be elected from
horlh OF sixth street and would all
ns heRuDlicans. They charged that
hepuDlicdhs play politics In school
eieeolions while the Democrats OF the
clty are pure in that respect They
made a partisan issue ont OF the
seNen-member board proposition.
Members Of the school code commits
sion who attended the meeting were
speaker Orbit. Senators Bennett and
Hcllett and p. s. dupont. The com
mission, While anxious 10 see VIII
mnglOn accept the code so that there
would be statewide educational
system, made 10 clear that there was
no idea OF attempting TO force jhe
city 10 do so and that any action in
that direction was entirely up TO the
city. The seven-member board was
only suggestion which the commits
sion desired 20 hear expressions on.
ine same as any other provision ef-
feciing the city.
Speaker Corbit opened the hearing
by explaining why II was called.
simply 10 get an expression from
Wilmlngtonians on suggestions that
have been made for changes that
would effect the city.
Mr. dupont explained some OF the
IlHu nal Iau tl.ts Au n
0ided to recommend to the legislature
and OF some others that are under
consideration. One change Mr.. du-
pont stated that had been definitely
decided on was 10 eliminate that pro-
vision Of the code relative 10 VIII
mlngtOn going under the county
system. u will he fixed so that VIII
mlngton would continue a special dis
lrict and cannot be brought under
county control In any way.
Mr. dupont said other proposed
changes oifectng Wilmington were
5000 or over, elect a board Of seven
members at large; That the city
houndaries OF Wilmington be made
the school district boundaries and
that Wilmington be given power TO
eXpend In The remodeling OF buildings
up TO 5000. without reference 10 the
other special districts are limited to
$500 without getting the approval Of
The State board. Mr. dupont also
stated that William s. Hillcs. one OF
he counsel OF the commission, had
suggested that some means for the
school election In Wilmington should
be fixed other than that provided for
other special DISTRICTS. These prOvi-
slOns OF course would not effect
Wilmington unless The city accepts
The code
Private schools Mr.. dupont said will
not be effected under the code except
In three ways. Minimum courses In
such schools must be in English: they
wi1l be required TO report monthly
and annual attendance and the al
tendance law will also apply in
measure TO private schools.
In answer 10 a question from Rep
sentative McNahh, Mr.. dupont said
the reduction OF tho compulsory
school days from $50 TO 1870 is State
wide In rs provision and That the
State board can prescribe other causes
In addition TO engaging In agricultural
pursuits as reasonable excuses FOR
parents keeping their children out OF
school providing they attend not less
than i20 days.
Councilman ]. J. Murray Of the
Twelfth ward contended that seven
members would be too tmall a board
for Wilmington and That The election
OF members by wards as at present
was a better method than selecting
them at large.
Former Representative William NJ
Connolly opposed The election OF men,
hers at large. he said seven mem
bers Of a board OF education elected at
large w01d mean oven members
elected from The seventh ward. He
said he would not object TO one mem
Der elected from each Representative
and each Senatorial district. or three
elected south uf Eighth street, three
north Of That street and one at large.
George =. Lyon, president OflCoun-
Oh favored the suggestion for electlne
members al large. lie said he was Z
resident OF the Twelfth ward and he
was elected at large. Mr.. Lyon stated
he would not be afraid TO put the
FsChOOls i'm lhe hands OF men from the
Seventh ward. 1T does not matter,
said Mr.. Lyon, where a man comes
from II he Is the right man. / an
for seven men or fve men d they car
get results
sherman Slradley, a member OF th'
/
/ ion a seven member board would b,
more concrete and would get better
results. He stated that n Wilmington
wanted the best that can be secured
there must be change In the presen
| system.
Dr. John Ayers, Negro, objected L
/ The seven member board proposition
elected at large on The ground tha
his people would not get represents
iion on the board. He objected h'
said unless there Is a clause giving
the Negro race representation on th'
board. Dr. Ayers said there are HOO
Negroes in Wilmington, one-tenth o
the population.
Or. Conwell Banton, a member o.
( the present Board OF Education, oh
/ iected 90 The seVen-member suggested
/ for tha same reason as assigned b,
I Or. Ayers lie suggested that therl
might not always be members OF
such a board who would look afiel
| the interests Of the negro children O
/ The city. lie asked where The friends
/ OF the negro race were, when Repre-
sentative NlcNabb. on The floor OF thl
| House some time ago, referred 10 hil
people as "nlggcrs.n so long as W,
are q separate unit and have no de
sire 20 change that I want TO sta,
! with my own, We ought 20 have repre-
sentsilon on The Board OF Education,
DR.. Rnton concluded
Walter Campbell. another member
Of the board opposed any idea o.
electing seven members at large an,
said it removes the board by si'
| members from the people. He Goa
tended that proposition had been al
issue Al three elections and had beer
voted down each time
] Representative McNahb said recent,
there had been very few things tina
he and Mr.. Connolly agreed on. bu
that he did agree with him on tht