Smyrna times., 1923-11-28
SCHOOL ISSUES WILL Be PART
OF NEXT POLITICAL CAMPAIGN
NEW GOVERNOR TO HAVE NAM
ING STATE BOARD EDUCATION
Educational Matters Will Also Appear
Before the Next Session of the
Legislature of Delaware

That the public school affairs of the
State will be an issue in the next
campaign is almost an assured fact,
partly because the new Governor to
be elected will have the naming of
the members of the State Board of
Education for four years. The pre-
sent personel of the Board will hold
office until July 1, 1925 when their
appointment expire. The only means
that the people at large have of pass
ing their approval upon the State
Board is through their vote for Cover
nor. This will almost make it i'm
perative upon the various Guberna-
tOrial candidates to state their posi-
ton on this matter during the cam
paign. This will be the first cam
paign in which this issue has appear
ed and some of the political leaders
are giving it serious consideration.
The school question will undOubted-
ly appear before the Legislature from
several angles. The State Board of
Education will probably submit some
recommendations, especially favoring
a larger appropriation. Recently there
has been a large amount of activity
in the organization of a number of
new parent-teachers associations and
it would not be surprising if the State
Board would place their program be-
fore the voters in the general election
campaign in order that Legislators in
favor of the program and increased
appropriation could be elected and
sent to Dover. Some of the political
leaders view the activity among the
parent-teacher associations as a part
of this campaign.
The present educational system is
not entirely satisfactory to some of
the citizens in the rural sections of
the State and it would not be sur
prising if they would also come for
ward with some recommendations
This is particularly true of persons
who reside outside of special districts
and are not permitted to send their
children under the sixth grade to the
schools within the special district.
Several sections of the State are al
ready planning to seek a remedy for
this situation at the next session of
the Legislature. The general school
situation of the State is a vital ques-
tiOn to rural Delaware, mostly for
time to watch the tax rate on their
farm land. Some perosns who have
taken a keen interest in education are
hoping that the school laws will not
be torn open at the next session of the
Legislature as they fear the standard
of education might be lowered.
1t is a well known fact that the
State Board of Education has been
anything but satisfied with the appro-
priation made at the last session of
Legislature. The operation of this
budget and the application of the pro-
visions contained in it are being wait
ed with interest in many of the rural
sections of the State. The action of
the State Teachers Association at
| Milford last Friday in passing resOlu-
tions condeming the Legislature for
not apprOprating more money has
been closely studied and it has been
noted by some of these observers that
the language used in the resolution is
practically the same as the arguments
presented to the Legislature by the
State Board of Education.
All things being considered, the
school situation will offer real prob
lem for the voters at the next genera
election. If they approve of the ac
tivities of the present State Board O
Education and would like to see then
reappOinted or some persons appoin
ted who is in harmony with the idea
of the present Board, they must b
sure to elect a Governor who will ac
accordingly. On the other hand i
they do not approve of the presen
regime and would like to see a ne7
set of men with different ideas j
charge Of the State schools, they wi
also have to elect a Governor who wi
make such changes. Judging from til
foregoing situation it would seem thu
it will be necessary for the Gubern;
tOrial candidates to announce whel
they stand on this issue before II
voters will be able to act intelligent
on the matter.