Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-12-09
SCHOOL PROBLEMS
OF STATE AND CITY
Discussed at Educational Meet
ing Last Night by Educa-
tional Authorities.

The educational problems OF today
were presented to an interested au-
dience last evening at the Century
Club. The meeting was under the
auspices OF the education committee OF
the New Century Club.
Prof. w. A. Wilkinson of the Uni
versity of Delaware outlined three
educational problems before the pa
tion today-illiteracy. poor health and
inequalities in educational oppor-
tunity. lie said that the draft showed
that one young man In four could
neither read nor write and that IL
progress is made at the same rate Of
speed as in the past II will take 81
years TO eliminate illltcracy. In CON
trast with England. where there are
only a few illiterate old persons. tlr
United States has 100000 illiterates
between the ages OF ten and 81. lie
also emphasized the fact that so per
cent of the school CHILDREN examined
have more or less serious physical de-
fects. lie also mentioned the limited
opportunity which children In certain
dIstricts receive. saying that OF 6oo,-
goo teachers. 10000 have no cduca-
ton beyond the grammar grades.
Advance In Delaware.
DR.. ii. V. Holloway state Commits
sioner OF Education, gave the bright
side OF education in this State, which
In four years has risen from thirty
eighth 10 third. educationally. The
problem still exists, however. ne said,
to find enough trained teachers and
enough decent sanitary buildings. lie
claimed that 5000 children are being
taught by teachers who cannot salts
~ the lowest standards and that 2.so0
children in rural Districts went 90
school less than 100 dave. He declared
that farmers would not house their
cattle I'm some Of the school houses and
told OF selling a discarded school
house for Sl7. lie paid tribute 10
Pierre :. du Pont for his public
spirited generosity. He urged the
people of the state 10 ask the Isecls-
lature for funds He approved OF
state management OF school erection
FOR the State furnishes the money and
could best judge the proper place and
size OF the building. although ther,
are a few good rco sons against it.
Handicaps In the city.
/ DIR. Victor II. Washburn OF the cit,
BoaM OF Education. spoke of IN,
progress made in the city under tn,
present system and the present schoo
board. which. in spite OF some mic
takes. has held forward lookinl
policy. He said he should ike 10 hay,
the present school law changed .,
that the school board. elected at large
should determine the amount a
money 20 be spent for the erection
of buildings and also maintenance. an,
be given the authority 20 DO wha
it considers best. tie protested agains
a system under which the schoo
board worked hard ~ ascertain fact
about the amount needed. only 20 hav
IL vetcsi by someone incompetent &
Judge the needs OF a school, or per
hspe who could scarcely write n!
own name.
lie also objected 20 the method G
determining income from the sta,
which Is based proportionally on IN
number Of pupils in the high sclioo
SO ;hst Il is February before IN
1 money can be received. lie said tina
II the people were acquainted with m
needs they would demand bette
schools. Fairgrounds, kindergarten
Libraries and other equipment "a
their children.
David \. Ward. superintendent {
schools. spoke OF the number Of chi
dren on half time. 2l4 OF whom weI
relieved by converting No into
platoon school. lie mentioned n
shortage OF sixty rooms seoting q
pacity. a surplus OF e.40O chidre
He said that the school bank. IL
augurated four weeks ago. m!gl
solve the problems Of the future l
teaching the children 20 have none
, FOR public projects. Already 1O.Oi
y children are investing money and la
week $4,000 had been deposited.
!, George Il. Miller stressed the "a
, that u IS the responsibility OF the 3,
, dividual citizen. TO see that condition
are improved.