Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-04
IMPORTANCE OF
FEDERAL SURVEY
Pointed Out in the Executive Com
mittee's Report on the Local
School Situation.

survey committee of public schools, /:
announced in Every Evening yesterda.
the members adopted recommending
OF ITS executive committee that L. !
CiaNton, commissioner of education, ~
partment of the Interior, Washington, /
asked to conduct the proposed surve,
also that q committee of laymen b
appointed by the executive committee
conduct an independent survey. The ter
of the executive committee recommends
tion Is as follows:
Your executive committee, IN accore
ence with the resolution passed at I'll
meeting of the general committee o
June 2S last, that the Executive com
nittee prepare plan or program to COVER
the work of the committee and rePor
at the earliest practical opportunity, beg
leave TO report as follows:
I'VE believe that if anything practices
Is to come from our organization that
survey of the schools should be made b
those who are thoroughly qualified, an
in whose report and recommendation
the general public would have confidence
With this object in view, the committe
communicated with p. z. Claxtor
commissioner of education, Department c
the Interior, Washington, d. c., inquirin
as to what you (theyl could do toward
furnishing experts 10 assist in maxim
3 survey; and also to advise us as to JUS
what, in your (theirl opinion this surve
should cover, and as to the approximat
cost of the same, and how long such
survey would take. The feeling expresse
BY the committee was that there shoul
be three points covered by such an lnvestl
CATION:
First-A report on the physical
condition of the school houses, with
recommendations as TO any changes
for their improvement or better
ment.
Second-As to the business methods
pursued by the Board of Education,
with recommendations for improve
ments.
Third of the meth
DDS of instruction in the schools, as
to the courses. standards, &c, with
recommendations for improvements,
ii any?
We received the following reply:
DEPARTMENT or THE INTERIOR
BUREAU or EDUCATION.
Washington, July 2. 1920.
Mr.. Joseph Bancroft, Wilmington,
My dear Mr. Bancroft; Your let
ter OF June 80 in regard TO the pro-
posed survey OF the schools OF VIII
nington has been received. In this
letter YOU ask what | can do toward
furnishing experts 10 assist in max
ing the survey, and for advice as TO
what the survey should cover Let
me answer the second question first.
-
Il. A study Of the school house
situation, with recommendations for
repairing the old buildings and max
tarv, replacing those out of use, and
outlining building program for the
next eight or ten years.
. Astudy OF the organization Of
the Board Of Education and its meth
od OF work. with special relation 70
the business activities and TO the
schools through the superintendent
and other officers.
81 A study Of the organization
0f the schools and their sdministra-
Ton under the direction Of the super
Intendent. with recommendations for
improvements.
4 The financing OF the schools,
the salaries Of teachers and other
school officers.
5 4 study OF the education,
professional preparation and expert
ence Of teachers, and the spirit OF the
teaching body.
g. A study Of the courses Of
study and Their adaptation 20 the
needs Of the CITY. with recommends
tons for Their modification and i'm
erZ RI
sons for the same.
=. 4 study OF methods Of instruc
ton. the results and standards with
recommendations.
As background for all recommen-
datI0ns for improvements and read
iustrneuts II viii be necessary 10
make q comprehensive study Of the
CITY as a community, it, industries
the occupations Of It's people, and its
life and ideals.
The Bureau Of Education ran IN
dertake 70 make the survey for vour
committee on the following condi-
tlons.
a. That II be formally invited
bv your committee and that the IN
yltation have the Endorsement Of the
state superintendent Of public IL
struction or the state Board Of Edu.
cation.
p That the persons detailed to
do the work shall have the hearty
cooperation Of your committee,
the Board Of Education, the super
intendent Of schools, and all Others
through whom information NAV be
mad. 50 that the work may BE- done
Ia the most effective and economic
way.
81 That the Survey Committee
may be permitted 10 find the facts
as they are, 70 publish them as they
are found IN 50 far a. may be Wise,
and 70 make recommendations for
improvements with some probability
that they will have careful consldera-
ton
a. That the Bureau Of Fduca-
ton be permitted TO publish the
! findings Of the Survey Committee,
with all conclusions and recon-
nendations, as bulletin Of the btI-
reau. first for distribution among the
people of Wilmington and second
for general distribution among stu
dents Of education throughout the
country.
! (5.l That your committee pay the
| expenses o tiie survey iHciu0lHR Jhe
travelling and living expenses Of per-
sons emplyed in the survey and the
honorerium Of those whom it il
necessary for me TO employ from
outside Of the staff Of the bureau.
This last stipulation Is necessary
After you eat-alWays use