Evening journal., 1921-04-29
P. 5. DUPONT
NOT TO BE ON
School BOARD
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law in accordance with modern edu-
cational ideas.
Mr.. DUPONT did not await the Leg
islature's meeting because he feels
that there is urgent need for the ear
ly appointment of a school board and
that the new board should be made
up of members who believe that the
provisions of the new law can be
used to the development OF a good
school system.
He feels that all should cooperate
in order that the law may be fairly
tested and that those who do not
believe in the new plan can best aid
the State by stepping aside. In his
letter to the Governor. Mr.. DUPONT
says that If he felt differently about
the law his interest in education
would impel him to accept a reap
pointment in spite of the demands
made on his time by his many busi-
ness interests, and he regrets the
conditions which compel him TO de-
cline.
His letters make his position in the
matter clear. In his reply to the
governors first request that he ac-
cept reappointment. he sets forth
some OF the things he believes are
essential in the upbuilding Of a good
educational system for the state, and,
points out wherein. in his judgment,
the new law is defective. This let
ter follows:
New York. n. Y,
March 20, 1921.
Hon. william d. Denney,
Governor Of Delaware.
Dover, Delaware.
MY Dear Governor: Your mes
sage, requesting me to serve as
member OF the State Board OF
Education of Delaware under
the new school law, came to me
yesterday II is a great honor
to receive an offer OF such ap-
pointment, for no subject de-
mands more careful considera-
tion and higher thought than
does that of education. / am
therefore embarrassed and, l
might add. disappointed TO be
obliged TO decline to serve. In
view OF my interest in educa-
tion in Delaware and to the
fact that Governor Townsend
did me the honor to appoint me
a member OF the State Board OF
Education under the law OF
1919, Il is only fair to you that
l should make frank statement
Of the reasons that have led to
my present determination.
While / have many other
questions occupying my atten-
tion at present. and while my
business commitments are
somewhat burdensome and call
for much absence from Della
ware. / cannot plead these facts
as a proper cause for declining
to accept another appointment
as a member Of the State Board
of Education.
A report on certain features
OF the law leads me to the fol-
lowing
A 25 cent tax rate is insult
ficient and has no defence in
the practice common in other
States; the tax rate on real es-
tate is the only means at COM
mand Of the State Board Of Ed
ucation for raising money to
meet Unforeseen deficiencies in
the income tax or other source
of revenue. Therefore, the tax
rate should be sufficient; elas-
tic so that the Board may use It
as a means Of providing the bud
got approved by the Legisla-
ture The new law. placing the
power OF increasing the tax
rate with 800 or 400 separate
districts. makes uniform
school system impossible.
Under the new law a build
ing program is impossible. The
several districts vote for inn
proved schools and raise money
therefor separately. T h ese
schools will be built through the
whim OF local prejudice with
out regard to the needs OF ad-
Joining districts. or the develop
ment OF the school system OF the
State as a whole. IL would seem
most unwise to spend public
money in such an extravagant
and unsystematc manner. Even
, the proposed high schools can
not proceed with their planned
buildings, for they can no longer
, rely upon receiving high school
pupils from distant points on ac-
count of lack of transportation
facilities This practice OF build
ing development is so at vari-
ance with established practice
that II would be most unwise to
proceed under the new law until
the latter has been thoroughly
tested over a period Of several
years.
My two years contact with
school affairs in Delaware has
led me to the conclusion that
the taxpayers. parents and pu-
pills all suffer from lack of suf-
ficient administration eXpendi-
ture. Good schools cannot be
had without proper supervision
of teachers and pupils through
the efforts OF supervisors and
attendance officers and school
affairs in many districts can
not be conducted without prop
er expenditure for clerical and
statistical work in order that
there may be record Of accom-
, plishment and study for i'm
provement.
o The above comments are based
a upon comparatively short ex-
l. perience in school affairs. The
people OF Delaware are en-
titled to the fairest trial OF the
a new law. Possibly 1t may be
made successful and economical.
=, To this end I urge you to an
& point as members OF the state