Evening journal., 1922-10-18
IMPROVING
MORE SCHOOLS
Taylor's Bridge and Hill
crest Have Improved
Buildings for Tots
NOT ROOM FOR
ALL PUPILS

No interest is felt moro keeniy
than that OF parents in the welfare
of their children. New Castle county
trustees, teachers and patrons have
not been willing TO tamoly submit
when the overcrowded conditions OF
their school rooms became unbear-
sble. Neither are communities will
ing that children above the nrst
grade be placed upon part time at
.tendapce.
Three years ago. the Delaware
schol Auxiliary. believing they were
meeting a temporary need, loaned 20
the County Board OF Education.
portable buildings for schools at
Richardson Park. Marshallton, Mid
dletown and Oak Hill.
Last fall the two rural school eu-
pervisors who work in New Castle
county made a personal appeal 10
Dr. r. W. Cooper. OF the School Aux
Hilary, giving details OF school con-
gestion in many localities, and ask
ing for more portable buildings.
They were met with tho reply that
since the Legislature had failed TO
appropriate any money 70 construct
school buildings. their organization
considered It impolitic 20 authorize
the consumption OF such a large sum
as would be necessary 20 give relief.
This meant that # was up to the
people OF the various localities.
Most OF the schools were relieved
by the renting OF rooms. more or
less suitable for school PURPOSES.
thu State Board OF Education hav-
ing funds appropriated for the rent
Of school property. Delaware City
has two primary grades located IN
Sunday school rooms and the man
ual training class in a room located
a half-mile from the school; Mid
dletown has three rooms at a dis
tance from the school house in addi-
ton TO the portable building prev
iously mentioned; several other
schools used rented rooms last year.
and two (Elsmere and Richardson
Park) put their first grades on a
part time schedule.
Last year one community, that OF
Taylor's Bridge. rewedied their
school congestion by local taxation.
BY a referendum vote. they kept
their tax on real estate at as cents
on the 500. as IL had been under
the county unit. They also levied a
capitation tax Of about 81 on each
adult in the community. with the
thus secured, they enlarged
their small school room, arranging
for modern lighting. They also In
stalled a jacketed stove. thus max
ing their one-teacher school the only
white school Of this class in the
county. which possessed the essen
tial requirements OF school santa
ton, as regards heating. lighting and
seating. Praise Is being accorded
the people OF this progressive farm
ing community for their efforts TO
make their school a more ,healthful
and suitable place in which TO work.
This year the people OF Hillcrest
have become aroused. The children
OF this neighborhood have been at
tending the Mt. Pleasant school, a
large structure, built in compar-
atively recent years. When this
school overfiowed first, a room was
rented in the Community House az
This year no suitable
rooms were found available for
rent. The citizens OF Hillcrest. under |
he leadership Of James II. Wright. |
president Of the Hilicrest Improve |
a-fms4e- TaE Lronfrtrr.
president OF the Blue Rock Commun- /
ty Club, conceived the idea OF re-
the Penny Hill school a
,olored school abandoned when the /
new two-room colored school was |
opened at Claymont. This deserted /
building was stin owned by the /
state Board OF Education, and they /
we're glad TO give their consent for /
Is use, but there had been no money /
for them TO use in
building schools or additions 70
schools. so their hands were tied.
Not at all daunted by the diff1cul-
les TO be surmounted. the people OF
his locality went TO work. More
han 5000 has been donated In
money. labor and materials. Many
business men and mechanics work
,venings, and a spirit Of good will
md cooperation speeds the task.
Wallace Hance, the architect, en-
,loxed by the state Board OF Edu-
,ation, has been consulted and by
November 1, this community hopes
o see a two-room building com
Sleted, which will adequately care
or the local children from grades
mes to four. With two teachers
installed here, the overcrowded con-
lition Of the lower grades at Mt
Pleasant will be much relieved.
Commenting on the progress Of
chooI construction. an officer OF the
.uxillary said:
"If every community in New
,astle county would get together in
he spirit Of self-sacriflce and CO.
,peration manifested by the people
4 Taylor's Bridge and Hillcrest,
chool improvement would surely
esult.
such people would make It evi-
lent to their representatives that
hey were vitality concerned regard
ng a legislative appropriation for
chool buildings and were not sat
SIZED to permit their children to
e housed longer in buildings that