Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-01-25
ALL PUBLIC
SCHOOL BUILDINGS
Con sinucd from page |

bettermcnt: outlining program for
DEVELOPMENT which should be deter
mined upon and worked toward during
the next Ave OF ten years.
The report of your lnymen's commit
tee agrees with the expert survey aa to
the physical conditions In the school
buildings, but wisely, we think. makes
no recommendations.
System OF Accounts.
second,--statcs schools maintain no
accounting system" Commands action
of the secretary on July 1st. 1920. In
having adopted a system OF reporting
expenditures. but recommends install
lation of complete system. which Is dis
oussed at length. Shows that so far
as they could determine expenditures
are in excess of revenue. the net deficit
being for t91p-1e20 s2o.bSi.b6. Points
out that apparently expenditures In
Wilmington are but 6S per cent OF the
average of other cities of same general
standing, but shown by analysis that
definite facts can not be drawn from
the records.
Third---Shows that. although the en-
rpllment of children in good. uuancy
In frequent. and points out In detail its
frequency and consequences. although
tHt ftrPr N'h''s 's'S'N '~Ff
taken in the past year TO reduce IT.
Points out why this has not been as
effective as might be. and suggests
steps to be taken for its Improvement.
F'ourth--Shows that "retardation" of
pupils. that is, children who are three
or more years over age for their grades,
Ia too great, although there Ia some i'm
provement I'm the last year. but points
hat aavE Elx,p INF he aynest-
ed under conditions "a they now exist.
F1fth--Commends the teaching corps,
stating "ns a whole IL a good one; bet
ter than the tax payers have a right
to expect considering the conditions un-
der which they are obliged 10 work.
Some are exceptionally capable. Many
have. at their own expense, attended
courses Of lectures at the State Col
lese and University OF Pennsylvania.
The teachers are loyal, conscientious
and faithful. There are among them
those who are inefficient. but they are
being gradually eliminated
siyth-Criticises the amount and
erintendents Office. and points out In
quality of information kept In the
auperintendent's Office. and points out i'm
detail how this condition can be cor
rected, the informa tion which should
be kept and the uee which should be
made Of IL.
Seventh-Condemz absolutely the
present method Of eiectins the Board
Of Education. it's inefTiciency due to the
system of organization. and shows that
the conditions criticised are directly
traceable TO this osuse.
Eighth--The report also analyses the
State School Code. and. while com
nendins the Board of Education for
not accepting IL under present condi-
lions, recommends that, provided the
code he amended so that Wilmington
be a special school district within the
terms Of the act with certain liberal
rights. the city should accept the code
In reference 10 the six points fret
mentioned, for details and discussion
you are referred directly 10 the Survey
report, where they are fully act forth
and as their correction is entirely within
the control Of the Board Of Education
| we recommend that you direct that they
be drawn to It's attention for study.
consideration and development.
In regard TO the seventh and eighth.
however, We herewith quote at length
from the report. and give our con-
clusions and recommenda tions.
SCHOOL ORGANIZATION. sUrER.
VISION. AND FINANCE.
]. The Organization.
An act Of the General Assembly Of
Delaware Of 1905 provides that the city
Of Wilmington. with the territory then
within its limits. or which IN the future
may be included by additions thereto.
shall constitute a consolidated school
| district and that the supervision and
government OF the schools and school
property therein shall he vested In u
board of education comprising I3 MEM
bere. This board, the act declares
| shall constitute a corporation which
shall have perpetual existence and sue
cession. with power to purchase, lease
( receive, hold and sell property. real and
personal. sue and be sued and to do all
| the things that are necessary to accom-
plish all the purposes for which such
a school district is organized
| Furthermore, the act provides the
board shall have power
/. To establish kindergartens. ele-
| nnentsry schools, one or more high
schools, normal training schools or
| classes. evening schools. special and
truant schools. training schools or
classes for teachers, and to discontinue
or consolidate any such schools.
2. To establish or change the grades
Of all schools and TO adapt and modify
| courses of study therefor.
3. To FIX standards of minimum
| qualifications for superintendents. prin-
| cipals and teachers. and TO fix their
| salaries and TO dismiss them at any
! time for cause.
1 q. To appoint q secretary OF the
| board Of education, and a superintend.
ent Of schools and one or more assist
! ants.
5. To enact rules and regulations for
the execution of all it's duties and thai
Of its appointees and employees. foi
regulating the disburs rsement Of funds
and for the promotion and wclf.s OF
the system.
The act is thus seen TO give ,o Tho
( board OF education practically unlimit.
| ed authority In respect to the manage.
ment and control of the schools of the
| city Furthermore. on the side Of a re
lationship Of the city with the State
the act. through its failure to arrang,
for such contact. in practice il has beer
construed that the schools of Whining
ton are independent Of the public
school system of the State and are no
a part OF il. On the side of a relation
ship with city authorities, other thar
those connected with the schools them
selves. the act provides for no contac
except at one point, that requiring tha
the board OF education shall annual,
submit to the city council an estimat.
OF moneys needed for each ensuing