Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1923-01-18
WOULD STIR UP
School ISSUES
Teachers Asked by Presi-
dent Mcknight to Arouse
Sentiment
AGAINST REDUCTION
OF APPROPRIATION

o. Z. Mcknight. OF Middletown
: president of the Delaware STATE
Education Association. has issued q
y statement TO the teachers of the
state favoring an adequate state
school law, in the course of which
he says:
t'Our present law requires the
state Board OF Education to present
"a budget Of the estimated eXpendi-
lures for the next two years for
running the schools OF the state. In
accordance with the law each school
district was asked to present bud
get calling for the necessary amount
Tor running the schools in the parti-
ocular locality. When all districts
we're heard from the total for 1928
"a was approximately s2.700,000.
for 1924-25, S2,SOO,O00. The State
board after getting comments from
many interested people reduced these
amounts to S2.5O0,OOO and 81
500, 600, respectively. This appro-
priation to take care of the entire
.running of the schools of the State,
Including the City OF Wilmington.
when the General Assembly con-
Tened, the Governor. in compliance
with the law, read his recommends
rtions TO this official body. His recon-
smendations were that the school APP
preparation should not exceed So
100000. He made this on a basis
that the present income for school
taxes. when collected. would not
amount TO more than the above fig
sures. There Is restriction in the
law prohibiting the Governor from
recommending a greater appropria-
ton than the income for that pur-
pose. From the above you can see
that the State Board cut down the
budget 5000. 900. the Governor $780,
600 making a total reduction OF
100000. or more than 20 per cent.
This means more than 20 per cent.
less funds for running your school,
which, IL carried out will mean re-
Guction in teachers salaries, janitor
service. books and supplies and a
corresponding reduction of fuel. DO
you on your board favor such re-
duction? II not, / recommend that
you get your board together at an I
early date, present the contents OF /
this letter TO the board. then to your /
community meeting. and that the re- /
suits OF such meeting OF the board or |
others be made known by an lndi-
vidual or committee to the repre-
sentatives in your section.
Il need not dwell on the neces-
slty for a state school building pro-
gram. The last Legislature saw this
need clearly enough; passed a law
making it the duty OF the present
State Board TO present state build
ing program to the law makers now /
in session. In compliance with this
request OF the law, the State Board !
has under consideration a building /
program calling for the expenditure I
OF three million dollars during the /
next two years-this program TO in !
clude the city OF Wilmington
The state Of Delaware has spent
more than ten million dollars
on the Improvement or roads during
the past six years. During this
period there has not, been one dollar
spent to my knowledge on the cree
ton of new school buildings from
state funds. The three million dol
lars seems conservative enough in
dSmuCn as lnele Will DE one anu a
half millions OF this due each year
for a period OF two years. These
bonds would bear interest at five per
cent. and 1-25 or per cent. would
be retired each year. making total
OF 9 per cent. of three million dol
lars which would be S270. 900 the
amount necessary to be appropri-
ated for the next two years. etc. to
take care Of this building program"
Mr.. Mcknight expresses his be-
lief that this amount could be raised
by levying a tax on investments. such I
as stocks. bonds and mortgages, and !
concludes: ]
The success OF the schools OF this
state. their future. depends in a
large measure upon Jour own will
HHEness, together with your board. .
10 present these matters intelligently !
10 your community and to the mem
hers of the Legislature from your ,,
section. May we count on you to
act. and to do your part for this and
the coming generations"
XIII COTTON TITrTTRIrC NH {