Evening journal., 1921-01-06

there were certain fundamentals II
, education, sought the best advic,
/ available They were fortunate in Sc
curing the General Educ9tion Board
acCgnized as national authorities, un
preiudcced Dy local cnsll Onment OF
unlnfuenced by sectional views, u
study our conditions and TO write &
law which when administered would
I give Delaware a system. similar II
, opportunity and efficiency 20 that oil
other states This law represented
the best, at that time in the educa-
tional world. At least educators anc
publicists Of national experience anc
, authority so inform US
The change was radical. Many OF
our citizens thought then and do YET
That we should have a law peculiarly
fitted TO Delaware. They fail TO ap-
preciate that education and its sYs-
TENS OF administration have certain
fundamental principles and are no
different In Delaware from those any
where We are not so separate and
apart. that we really want. need OF
can AFFORD any local distinct type OF
education. As a unit Of States, among
States we accept and exchange all
became known as the School Code
was enacted. The State Board there
In authorized was appointed and be-
gan the reorganization
10 Is only fitting here that | call
your attention 10 The work Of these
men. The time, thought and energy
given has been made at great sacri-
tlce The public does not begin TO
know the extent Of their efforts. With
equal commendaiion for an, one OF
them has been f0rtuned, 20 be able
10 give Of his wealth TO this cause.
Mr.. Pierre 5. dupont, iilc gene aus -
zen who has done so much for Della
ware College was induced 30 accept
appointment on the board With the
initiative, brains and energy shown
in his business OF international pro-
nortions. he came with the state in
this work. Scarcely was he appoint
ed when he, by his business expert
ence. saw the need for detailed iacts
upon which the board could formu-
late a policy OF administration. He
provided for a survey Of all school
buildings In the State, study Of pos
sihle consultations, study OF stat
istics on our educational rating. This
work was done by national experts
at a cost Of $1,000 Since then, in
his enthusiasm and interest for sue
cess. he has given or made available
the following contributions
Operating deficits OF certain
schol districts and counties ....-
for the year i0in-20. .......S bO4f2SD
To the State Board OF Educa-
tion FOR vocational educa- .
ton i0i0-20 20-2t ........ 32,2O0.OO
r1a,1""s reau ....a'. u''''''' ......... eO.OoOoo
Americanization work: estab-
fishing and maintaining
state Board work In Ameri - ~.
Establishing aud maintaining
teacher training department
at Delaware College, 1919 ... 90
~, O--l ..s.s..s...s Afi"N'"p
supplementing state allow
f'ss teachers 1918 20, so.si.... $4,000
college" College ..'...,. V'D ......'.... 6,so75O
Total .....~.............$ 2i4,54OS5
struction. White, Si0O0,OO0;
cOlorcd SfOO.OOO ........... g, ,OOO,O 10000
, Second gift for colored ~.
schools ....-..... ......... 9ol'OOJOl
supplementary gift, No. l.. 669,0O0O0
supplementary gift, No. g.. &OOOOoo
Total ..... ........$ 81 $4,000
Grand total ................S s., ,053. .64O.a .a5
The above amount does not include
overhead cost OF administration OF
this work / think II safe 10 say that
Mr.. duPonts gifts 10 public education
fin Delaware since he accepted mem
I bership upon the State Board OF Edu-
Z cation, aggregate S3,7O,O0O This with
other gifts that mOdesty has kept
from the public Is something, gentle
! men. unprecedented In educational
! history. lt represents the largest
: gift ever made by any man in Amer
lea TO the cause OF public school edu-
| cation.
No word OF mine can express the
3 appreciation and gratitude OF our in
ielligent citizenship. Unused and UNI
familiar with The details OF State af-
D fairs. he has given In such proper
4 tions. OF time and wealth, that ordl-
c harry praise seems trlte. IL is indeed
- a tribute TO Delaware that such in
g terest and generosity should come
|. uncondltionally-solely in the interest
n OF our children.
y At the special session OF the Cen
r eral Assembly last year. following a
- prolonged discuss on, the code was
0 amended with the attempt to satisfy
4 certain local conditions, by the same
e membership that originally passed 10
8 The law today, in fact, Is the result
OF deliher0tion and conclusions reach
r ed by your predecessors. AT the sam,
- session, upon recommendation in or
e der that the burden Of iaXat on b,
e relieved on real estate $4,000 wa,
e appropriated from the general funC
p Of the State Treasury.
That there is still opposition TO th'
9 law. / will admit. The analysis OF
this opposition is interesting. and Is
= divided into groups representing diff
g do not honestly understand the Law
= and the advantages II promises wheI
:. given fair time TO be tried out. AnC
: it has not vet had a fair trial
4 There is an opposition that has fos
, tered this objection for personal an,
: petty partisan reasons. Political an,
sectional preWdices have been use,
by those seeking personal power. II
l. these appeals, statements, startling II
: their inaccuracy have been made an,
" many strong and even bitter oppo
e nents would become loyal supporter
4 IL exact facts were known. AnOthe
s force working 10 the advantage Of
v better understanding and apprecia
!. tion OF the law has been the fain
z praise given by some Of its suppose,
e friends. Another objection, thor
s 0ughly honest, and one with which
Il am In sincere sympathy, is the bur
e densome taxation on real estate. Blu
lt gentlemen. taxation legislation anl
IS educational legislation are separat
is and distinct There is no RELATIONSHIP
+ whatever between them. I urge you
$, not 10 be confused in your delbera
l. tlon. IN the adjustments OF your ta'
ar grievances, do not permit unseel
" wealth and interest TO escape thei
a. share which the farms are now bear
al ing. BY confusing educational iegis
10 lation with the tax problem, you ma,
ll lerchance relieve your burden hu