Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-01-06

zation of farmers at the State Farm,
has expressed approval of several of
the recommendations. Tho farmers of
other States are receiving the consid-
Grafton due them. The interests of
Delaware. so dependent on agriculture,
hope for progressive legislation on ag-
ricuture.
EDUCATION.
-Four years ago the General Assem-
bly, was asked to stand out as the
champion of the public school, That
II did so is a matter of statute and
an aroused public opinion and discus
sion on education Today IL is the
topic of the hour. And rightfully so
and of happy omen. too. There is. as
never before, an aroused thinking citi-
zenship. and upon that the issue will
be decided right. To you comes the
responsibility of Interpretation OK that
thought. Your oath of office and pres
ence here Will demand that you no
longer think. alone, in terms of local
knowledge and conditions. but in terms
of the States best interest at large.
A vote in terms, merely. to satisfy
local constituency at the expense of
another community's opportunity is
| not serving the States interest. And
education. today. Is a State and not
local issue The education of the child
is no longer considered n subject of
community option. but recognized as
responsibility for State action.
AT the session of 1917 a beginning
was made in recognizing the dignity
of the work of our teachers by the
ahiishment of the minimum wage.
Free tuition and expenses for teachers
| Of hn aThnnl also made
possible. But most important was the
creation of a School Survey Commits
sion to 'harmonize. unity and revise
! our school laws, TO develop an educa-
tional system suited To the conditions
existing in the State. providing for an
! improved and efficient administration
| of all free school matters
With all the discussion following
! this legislation, there is even yet, IN
/ many sections. a lack of exact knowi-
| edge Of the history and intent of this
movement. To review. once again.
/ therefore, may not be amiss. The facts
/ are all Of record to those uninformed,
| and every member here should seri-
| ousiy study the whole question froml
/ State. as well as local angle, before
registering his opinion,
The commission appointed TO make
7
there were certain fundamentals in ed
uoation. sought the best advice avail
1 able They were fortunate I'm securing
/ the General Education Board. recog-
/ nized as national authorities, unpreju-
diced by local environment or uninflu-
i enced by sectional views, to study our
| conditions and TO write law which
/ when administered would give Della
/ ware a system similar in opportunity
| and efficiency TO that of other States.
1 This law represented the best, at that
1 time. in the educational world. At
| least educators and publicists of ma
! tional experience and authority so in
| form us.
THE change was radical. Many of
| our citizens thought then. and do yet,
that we shuold have a law peculiarly
| fitted 10 Delaware. They fail to ap-
preciate that education and its systems
| of administration have certain funda-
| mental principles and are no different
| in Delaware from those elsewhere. We
| are not so separate and apart that we
| really want. need or can afford any
| local distinct type of education. AS a
unit of States. among States. we ar
cept and exchange all that is found
best This law. which became known
as the school Code was enacted. The
State board therein authorized was
4 appointed and began the reorganiZa-
tion.
1T 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-
fee. The public does not begin to
know the extent of their efforts. With
equal commendation for all. one oi
them has been fortuned. TO be able to
give his wealth to this cause. MIR
Pierce :. DUPONT the generous citi-
zen who has done so much for Della
ware College, was induced 10 accept
appointment on the board. With the
initiative. brains and energy shown in
his business of international proper
tions, he came with the State in this
work. Scarcely was he appointed wheu
he, by his business experience, saw the
need for detailed facts upon which the
board could formulate a policy of ad-
ministration. He provided for a sur
vey OF all school buildings in the
State. a study Of possible consolda-
tions a study OF statistics on our edu-
| cationei rating. This work was done
by national experts at a cost OF s20,-
600. Since then, in his enthusiasm and
interest for success. he has given OF
made available the following contribu.
tions:
Operating deficits of certain
school districts and counties
for the year 1890 ........ 6O.492S'
To the State Board of Educa-
ton ton 1880: 2S-s1 -. $4,000 o.
~ reau .................. so.oOoOi
Americanizauon work, estab-
fishing and maintaining
State Board work in Arnerf-
E,stabiishing and maintaining '''
teacher training department
at Delaware College, 1919
20: 202l. ...........-...... 1900. o.
experimenting state allowance
teachers 1920, 2O-2l. -. $4,000
iege ...................." s.3s7 s.
Total ..................... 2I4-54O, q
Original gift for school CONSTRUCTION
| White ................ 81 600. 900. o.
| Colored ............... 100000. o.
Total ................ $4,000, OOO.O
Second gift for ooiored
suppiemenary gift No i 66S.00O.0 0
Supplementary gift NO. z.... 250'oOO.O
| Total Observation-Disclosures. s3.41s.o00. 0
Grand Total ......... 81, 3,s53. .54O.3
The above amount does not includ
overhead cost of administration Of thi
work. / think il safe TO say that MI
duPont's gifts 10 public education il
Delaware since he accepted membership
upon the State Board OF Education ag
gregate s3,700, 10000. This with othe