Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-06-26
Circulation Every 1I10Q
Evening Yesterday l4lOO
Amended School Code Now a Law.

AmeuOeu SCHuVt SUuS A>ov LAW
Bv signing the act amending the school
law of the State, Govejnor Townsend
merits the commendation of all Del
awareans who feel that this commonwealth
should keep abreast of the times IN educa-
tion. The bill passed by the special ses-
sion of the Legislature eliminates many
of the features of the original school law
the code as il came to be known-and to
it added other provisions that were
found TO be needed in order to meet exist
ing conditions or that were indicated as
overcoming the chief objections that were
manifested after the original law was put
in operation. To so materially change
the antiQuated, almost obsolete system,
necessarily was difficult and naturally
some rough spots appeared when the code
was put on trial. These defects have large
" been remedied, and the new law, as 1T
stands today, will be found nearer in
accord with the conditions to be met.
The changes have to do mainly with
details; for example, one meets and over
comes the opposition to the long enforced
term of school attendance. 1t has ma
teriallv reduced the length of the com
pulsory period. thus overcoming the hos
tility of those living in the country,
who needed their children to aid on the
farm in the spring and summer months
Al amended, the law compels each child
70 attend school 120 days in each year
Illness. Of course, excuses them.
Another change reduces the tax rate
from s15O to 81 on one hundred with
provision for further reduction should
% per cent of the voters so decide, In re-
ducing the budget. The rate, however,
shall not go below so cents. This amend
ment virtually leaves the levy to voters OF
the districts.
The method Of selecting teachers also
is amended so that the trustees OF any
school may, upon notification OF the
County Board of Education, name Its own
teachers. The final power of deciding
upon a change in district lines or con-
solidation of districts goes back to the peo-
pie through an expression OF their views
by a referendum. Through the referen-
dunn, action of the county board may be
overruled.
The county board retains the initiative
in alterations of district lines. In It's con-
solidation of schools and IN preparing
the budget for school expenses.
All direct powers of the State comrnls-
sioner, county superintendent and su-
perintendents Of schools have been elm
mated, leaving the powers OF these Of
ficers to be delegated by the boards for
whom they act as executives. By this
arrangement, it is obvious, boards can
not be controlled in any way by their APP
pointed officers. The term of these Of
ficers has been reduced to one year.
As amended, the law provides for the
return of special districts to the counties
if the procedure is approved by vote or
petition of the voters Of the district. when
assented to by the County Board of
Education.
There are some minor amendments
that apply to private schools that will
overcome the objections that arose from
that source.
Another amendment provides that all
purchases, repairs, requisitioning OF text
books and supplies from the counties are
duties Of the boards of trustees, all ex-
penditures to be authorized by the County
Board Of Education.
Also, under the provisions of the
amended law local boards of trustees are
given quite as much or more power than
they exercised under the old law that
was operative prior TO the enactment of
the original code.
Explanation is made that one pro-
vision found its way into the amended bill
that is Objectionable to its supporters. 1t
provides for county and special school
district referendums on bond issues for
school purposes, and would az m OF one
vote for each dollar of taxes paid.
Ii was discovered after it had been in
corporated in the bill that it was the con-
tribution of an opponent Of the measure.
1t probably was expected that it would
cause the codes rejection with its $540.-
900 appropriation for apportionment
among the schools by the governor
when he came TO sign it, but after long
consideration, and upon the urgent re-
quest of the State School Board he at
tached his signature to the act, and the
Legislature will be asked to amputate
the offending intruder at its next session.
Friends of the school bill declare that
it is not claimed for it even that degree Of
perfection which may make future amend
ments unnecessary. 1t is expected that
after it is again put TO the test other de-
fects or weak spots may appear. SO far