Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1922-02-08

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On motion OF DR.. Victor D. Wash
burn. OF the board, It was decided
TO invite those named TO a confer
ence next Monday night DR.. Odell
suggested that the conference should
be held in the Club Room OF the
Hotel dupont. This suggestion was
accepted. and D.. Odell thereupon
invited the entire party to be his
guests al dinner in the Club Room
ct $50 O'Clock preliminary to the
conference. This invitation likewise
was accepted by the board with
thanks and il is anticipated that the
Mayor, Council and other city Of
fcials named will do likewise. DR..
David A. Ward, superintendent OF
schools, was also invited 20 the con-
ference by the board and DR.. Odell
It further was decided that the
Board OF Education viii hold its
weekly meeting next Monday after
noon at o'clock. instead Of at
in the evening. Following the meet
ing. the members will go TO the hotel
for the dinner and conference, which
will be at $50 o'clock.
In making the report OF the
school Auxiliary. DR.. Odell en-
phasized that it was intended
only TO furnish the board and the
city with facts and information
from which could be worked ont a
definite program by the board Itself.
Put briefly, IL is purposed that one
modern platoon school be built and
operated so that the people shall be
able to visualize the system first
hand Should the system meet with
favor. more platoon schools will be
erected as rapidly as the finances Of
the municipality will permit. In
conjunction with the report, Doctor
Odell presented the board with a
large map. showing the number OF
pupils living in every block in the
city. suggesting tentative locations
for new schools and the districts
the schools will serve.
THE element OF distance which
a pupil must walk to reach school
from his home" said Doctor Odell.
lis the crux OF the whole situation.
The distance should not exceed one
mile or sixteen city blocks at the
most Most OF the pupils through
out the state walk more than that
distance daily, and I believe such
walks are of great benefit to school
child mentally and physically"
Doctor Odel also asserted that,
I'm his opinion. the greatest need
for attractive schools lies in the con-
gcsted districts of a city, where the
children have fewer advantages in
their homes than do those who re-
side in the Weather sections The
future OF this nation" he added,
"depends more on the raising Of the
level OF its citizens as a whole than
IN the training OF individuals to be-
come great leaders"
DR.. Odell expressed the convic-
ton that at the present rate of pro-
gress. Delaware, in ten years, will
in the front rank OF states in
education. He expressed apprecia-
ton for the manner in which the
people OF the State have responded
TO the call TO improve schools, and
thanked the newspapers for aid In
giving the public all information pos
sible concerning modern educational
methods
Ellwood Souder. president, tender
ed the thanks OF the board to p. S.
dupont. the Delaware School Auxil-
larry. DR.. Odeil. Mr.. Taylor and also
the newspapers for their efforts in
behalf OF the children OF the State.
He referred briefly TO the recent trip
20 Detroit by city officials and de-
clared there should be mo delay In
putting into actual use in Whining
ton the ideas gained in that city,
Following is the full text OF the
report by the Delaware School Aux
uiary as presented by DR.. Odell;
Gentlemen:
When we were honored by your
board in requesting what Assist
ance we could give In shaping n
school building program for Will
mlngton, we Immediately felt IL to
be our duty to place at your dis
posai whatsoever resources we pos
eessed. In considering the situa-
ton however we realized that
whatever is attempted In Whining
ton should be done In a co-Opera-
tive way We fdo not wish to
place before your board report
10 the effect that you ought 10 do
this or that In order to avoid
placing ourselves in such posi-
ton we have tried 10 take you
into our confidence step by step
and have cndcavorcd TO make it
possible for you 10 have visual
evidence OF certain types Of school
buildings. We also realized that
there should be sympathetic CO.
operation between the Board OF
Education and the City Council.
and In order that everyone may
see the possibilities OF a modern
schooi system In Wilmington In the
same manner. we have had the
privilege OF taking the majority
Of the members OF City Council to
Detroit
These visits to Detroit have made
~ unnecessary 20 discuss certain
things In detail ] feel CERTAIN that
we are an impressed by the fact
that a school OF 1000 pupils granted
that tx Is situated In the midst OF a
natural school population, is an
easy and economic unit Of admin
is tratiOn
We do not need to discuss tho
nature OF the work siudy-play plan
OF education. II is sufficient 10 say
that there Is nothing radical In II
and that 70 Is rather a method OF
administration than an experiment
OF our city have been very gem
erous In explaining this to the gem
erai public. and ] think there are
no Illusions upon the subject. Two
advantages OF building schools on
the work-study- plan, however,
should be pointed out;
First; It Is economical IN capi-
tai costs; that is, we could take
care Of about one-third more chill
dren in a building constructed for
the work-study-pla form OF adj
ministraton than In a building OF
tire traditional type.
Second; This form OF admnistra-
lion lends Itself most naturally 10
schools large enough to accommo-
date about 1000 pupils.
Pupi. Distribution In Wilmington
We have taken from reports fur
nished by your board enough data