Evening journal., 1921-01-25

the decision rested, declined.
1T was pointed out In the discus
sion among the reasons advanced nor
not adopting the code that u would
place the control OF the Wilmington
schools in the hands Of persons resid-
ing outside OF the city; that u would
give the State board Of education and
the state commissioner Of education
authority TO regulate the work and
management OF the schools In al
most every detail: that under the new
law, II. Wilmington failed TO comply
with all the rules and regulations
made by the State board, the latter
could penalize the city by abOlishing
the special district which Wilmington
was 10 comprise and declare that the
schools and all OF their assets should
become part OF the system OF New
Castle county, the county In which
Wilmington is situated and subject
10 the authority Of the county board
OF education; that, IN such event, the
city board OF education could be com
PEELED 20 deed over 10 the New Castle
county board the legal title 10 all Of
its property: and that under the
power granted to the Slate board un-
der this law TO change, alter, fix, and
determine the boundaries OF any and
all special school districts herein
designated. and OF any and all special
school districts hereafter created
the state board might detach portions
Of the city and merge them with ad-
Joining rural districts.
City Upheld In Its Stand.
1T was pointed out in discussion
also that while some favored the
adoption on the ground that Il would
mean changing an unNNieldly city
board OF i3, elected by wards. 10 a
board OF 3, elected at large, vet that
no such change in the size and man
ner OF electing the city board would
obtain inasmuch as section i20 OF ar
ticle > provides that Wilmington shall
not change the manner OF electing the
board nor its size. Again, II was
shown that whereas many were urg-
ing the adoption OF the code, because
they thought that under its provis-
ions the fixing OF a tax rate for the
support OF the schools would be
taken out OF the City Council and vlr-
tually placed with the board OF edu-
cation, that again in this important
matter the new law excepted MIL
mington, and that In consequence un.
ger y no relief in this could be OBJ
In short. because no advantages
would accrue 10 the school depart
ment or Wilmington, under the new
lawi and that, on the other hand. ac-
render Of Wilmlngton's indenendence
/ nome rule, ana local management
tle city board decided that II was I'M,
wise TO adopt the code.
me provisions In the 1919 school
coue or Delaware, empowering the
state board 10 abolish the snecial
district, automatically placing the
SCHOOLS under a county board. also
IN such case, providing that al Inc
property and assets shall pass 10 he
county board, the legal iitle IN All
such property the law reads. 10 be
conveyed TO the county board / moi
only unnecessary, but Is altogtsther
100 drastic as applied 10 a CITY such
as Wilmington.
Clearly, the school code OF Della
ware was written with the needs OF
Daokward and poorly managed rural
schools IN mind. such districts peeC
Just such centralized, directing and
Sohpehlng authority as Is provided
Tot Dy the 1919 code Prom The stand.
point OF this need the code i ad.
mlrable In its essential features ane
should In its structure. remain In.
TACT But to make OF II an instru
ment for Wilmington, stimulatin.
and helpful rather than repressive
many changes should be introduced
1nese could, however, be introduce,
easily and naturally by inserting al
article written 10 apply either 4
/ Wilmington alone or 10 cities or
given class"
Urges Unity With state.
After recommending that Whining
ton should become an integral par
OF the State school system, the Fed
eral report says:
Wilmington is part and parcel o
the State Of Delaware. To a larg
degree she is dependent upon thl
country around her for her grOWtl
and her prosperity. Her interests, com
mercially. lndustrially. politically, ar
ineXtricablv interviewer with those o
the state Her schools are constantly
receiving children from the cOuntr,
roundabout; in turn. Wilmington j
constantly sending the children o
her schools back into The cOuntr'
districts OF ihe state The educa
tonal problems Of both the countr
OF Delaware and the city OF VII
minrtOn. though different in char
acter and type. should command On
thoughtful and personal attention o
every ritizen whether residing In IN
country or in the city. The interest
OF Wilmington and OF the rest Of N
state are not different; they are o
ought 10 he identical.
, zone OF the most unfortunate an
discOuraging aspects or the Whol
/, situation In Delaware, educatlonall
speaking, is the feeling OF antagonist
, which appears 10 exist between IN
country and The city. This e1pressc
Itself on the floor OF the Leglslatur
, often with particular ascerhitN an
! acrimonv and. OF course. leads nc
/, where and accomplishes nothing eA
: cept 10 block progress.
! Code Praised in Principle.
!, III Is unthinkable that the Genert
: Assembly OF 1921 will he so bin
: io Inc interests OF the children Of De
aware az 10 abolish the progressiN
enact.nenis OF the 1919 session and n
g enaotments OF the 1919 session an
/ revert Ia the old. Out-wOrn, ant
ouatrd plan Of district schools. WIZ
cut question. changes should be mad
I'M The code. but these changes, VI
n commission IS convinced. could we
5 be made ny better adaptinc the COD
= 10 Delaware conditions. The sirm
q hre OF the code Is sound: IL need
r to be modified only In details. Fur
n thermOre. an article should ne IT
e serted. written with the needs
S Wilmington specially in mind. gual
4 anieeing 10 her schools the freedoi
c from outside control in matters
detail which she should have: The
b when this has been accomplished, "
z commission is convinced, Wilmingto
r. can take no finer nor more p-ogre
Il size single step nor one which WI
= he ~ greater Significance In The edl
d ration OF the future oitzenry OF "
i siate. nor. indeed. one which wi
o hiring 10 her own self greater adval