Evening journal., 1922-01-26

SCHOOL IDEA
TO BE URGED
Continued from Page One.


Wilmington will have platoon
school within the present year, as
direct result of tho visit to the Michi-
gan metropolis. Tho plan Is to build
one such school. let the people see its
workings, and pass judgment upon
IT,
Detroit authorities estimate that
an elementary platoon school, with
gymnasium and auditorium ana
housing $50 pupils, can be built for
S475.OOO. A school housing l'2SO
pupils will cost s5S7000.
DR.. odell did not in the least try
to influence the members of the
party in favor OF the Work, Study,
Play" plan. He did not have to-
the happy faces, alertness and evi-
dent training OF the children in the
detroit schools we're sufficiently con-
vinclng.
East Side Site Favored.
From conversation with President
Souder OF the School Board, Dr.
Banton and members OF City Coun-
lcn il appears probable that the hrst
platoon school in Wilmington Will
be erected on the east side OF the
Brandywine. and will replace Pub
lie schools 70, 26 and Il. a potent
reason is that the city already owns
Hand in the neighborhood OF Twenty
second and Locust streets, whieh
would provide a site. 2 Again inc
three schools named are among the
most congested In the city, ana an
increase in population in the district
named is looked for when the pro-
iected bridge over the Brandywine
is constructed and the proposed
East side boulevard is laid out.
fundamental principle OF the
niatoon system Is the centralizing OF
a large number OF pupils in one
we'll designed and specially equipped
school The pupils reap numerous
advantages. as was shown by the
Detroit schools, by such unihcatlon'
These may be seen by comparing the
advantages possessed by a child at
tending those in the little old RED
Il one-room schoolhouse" attended by
many grandparents OF the present
generation. Moreover, there are
Economic advantages In site con
struction, overhead, or upkeep.
out in Detroit, the newer platoon
schools now in use seat on an aver
age OF 1000 pupils. To accomplish
this. every room, such as the gym
nasiums. auditoriums, music, art
and literature rooms, are used con-
t,nuouslv throughout the school day
lam Near In High school.
public attention here may be di-
rected. for the moment to a nome
nrohlem which is near at hand. Ac'
!, cording to latest count there are
17Ae pupils in the Wilmington hlgr
school Between 90 and 100 are eN
nected to graduate in February
Arainst those who will depart Their
viii he an infiux from the gramma
Grades which, II is estimated VIII IN
% crease the total number OF the Hls
school pupils to 1894, or within 81
e of 1000. Adding TO this total IN
$ SO or so pupils who viii enter IN
3. High school from schools outside tn
n city. the grand total will be wei
Il over the 2OOO mark.
+ The pupils from outside the CIT!
% come from districts where there arr
E no hirh schools No tuition Il
c charged now, but the State Board o.
I Education pays for the pupii'
Transportation.
2 Means 10 accommodate the anti.
? oipated 1000 pupils in the High
school is keeping Dr. David A. WARD
p city school superintendent, sitting uI
at night figuring seating capacity
' The High school community room
will be utilized for classes and pos
sibly the auditorium.
, This situation Is mentioned be
. cause Il illustrates aptly the principle
nv which the Detroit schools ac
commodatc large numbers OF, pu
pns BY the platoon system, the De
troit authorities figure that a schoo
accomm odates approximately one
third more pupils than does the ira
ditional school.
Problem OF financing.
OF course the big problem II
= wilmington, put terseiy, is: 'Wher
: shall we get the money!" Tn
state Legislature has authorize
City Council to sell bonds up TO 81,
600 600 for school buildings; but tn
bond issues for the harbor, new FIR
or department, police and streets hav
proven a heavy burden. Althoug
10 Council is favorable TO school i'm
movements nevertheless Chairma
d. McManus, OF the finance commi
u. tee. has been flying warning sigma
a. for weeks past
Taking Detroit as having, roughl
10 200, 900. Wilmington has approx
tn mately one-tenth it's population ID
n troit has authorized an expendltui
en- OF s31,00O.OOO for schools. whic
as would approximate s3,rO0, 900 Il
re Wilmington at the same ratio. b
r. Detroit has expended only $4,000
y, 600 OF the t31.OO0.0Oo authorize
It Carrying out the ratio, WilmingtC
10 keep pace would expend 81
nj 100000
Although President souder ar
members OF the City Board OF Ed
cation would like TO build two ne
schools this year, they admit tn
: II under all conditions. only one
H. likely. II second school should
erected. Il probably will repla
II Public School No. rs, in the Twelf
ward, where the population h
grown rapidly through developme
OF the Union Park Gardens.
Detroit's. Tax Bin.
It is OF interest to note the schc
finances of Detroit in some deta
out Of every dollar paid in taxes II
year in Detroit 27.2 cents is devot
to the operation and maintenance
{ the public schools. The 1921 {
o rate IS $21.67 per thousand OF
r I soeeed vafuafion The fax doiiar