Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1923-01-03
GOVERNOR URGES PROPER AIDS TO
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES, IN HIS
MESSAGE TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Continued from page i.

i~SS -
our State. the state system OF control
and administration Of our high and
elementary public school system and
the state system OF finance OF public
education. Both features have received
favorable comment from educators
everywhere and appear to be meeting
with Increased favor among our own
people. Unouestionably the success Of
the new system must, IN large part.
be attributed to the wisdom and con-
sideration with which the law has
been administered. II I am rightly in
formed. Delaware now shares with our
neighbor states. Maryland and New
Jersey. the distinction OF leading the
states OF the entire nation In the
amount. tho quality and efficiency or
rural school supervision.
The attention Of the General Assem-
bly, Is directed to two matters Of vital
Importance connected with the finance
ing and administration Of our public
school system: First. the present de-
felt OF s346. 900 In the school fund. and.
second. the need OF n thoroughly con-
sidered and wisely planned and eco
nomtcally administered school build
ing program for the entire state. The
school tax law adopted by the last
General Assembly placed in the school
fund Of the State the income. OF the
revenue. from five sources: franchise
taxes on corporations: q rs cent prop
er;y tax on real estate, taxes On in
comes. filing fees and a tax upon the
invested capital Of corporations. The
revenue from the fling fees and from
the invested capital OF corporations
was not available until 1922 II In my
opinion that the natural increase in
the revenue from these various sources
VIII hereafter supply FUNDS necessary
10 meet the current expenditures Of
the public school system.
The school law under which the
schools are at present being admins
tered does not make provision for the
building or rebuilding OF plblic schools
anywhere except in special school dis
tricts. ] call the attention OF the Gen.
eral Assembly TO this fact. since I am
persuaded tina; 81 is not generally
known that under the present law
neither the people nor the State Board
OF Education can build schools. At the
same time there are numerous locali-
ties in the State where present school
facilities must he enlarged, or new
school buildings erected. The General
Assembly must determine how this
shall be done. whether by local bond
ing and taxation or by a general sys-
ZEN OF state bonding for public schools.
More definite Recommendations upon
the school program will later be pre-
scented 10 you by the State Board OF
Education.
Fortunately, the State has been re-
lieved " the responsibility OF provid-
ing school buildings for the coiored
school districts OF the state by the
senerous Sit Of Mr.. Pierre S. du Pont.
administered by the Delaware School
Auxiliary Association who have a;
this time either erected ouildings,
under the d,rectio OF the State Board
OF Eduoation. IN every colored school
district OF the state. or have set aside
the necessary funds for the erection
q such "A building when sites can be
secured. wish officially 10 recognize
this gitt on behalf OF the State.
wish also 10 commend the Arneri-
can!zation work conducted by the
State Board Of Education with the
cooperation OF the Service Citizen OF
] Delaware. Il appears that the work
as conducted in the State OF Delaware
has attracted the attention OF author
tiles outside Of our own state. not only
/ 10 the type OF our America nization
B work. but the admirable results OBJ
tanned This work Is doubtless respon-
sihle for the sood feeling among the
I foreign born citizens Of our State.
l am informed by the State Board
/ ~ Education that the improvement
IN our public school system in recsn,
years is best illustrated by the i'm
proved attendance OF pupils at schools
We have about 5000 school children
In our public schools. outside q, VIII
minsron. 5000 OF whom are colored
pupils. In 1890 they had an AVERAGE
attendance % ninety days per pupil
The attendance IN 1e2O-2l was I2s
days per pupil and In le2l-22 1Sl days
This makes en- increase OF 81 DAYS per
pupil for $4,000 Delaware children. or
an increased attendance in our public
schools OF more than 1000, 600 DAYS
each school year.
As an evidence Of q new interest The
people are taking in educs ton ! cal
attention 20 the remarkable Increase
IN state perent-teachers' associate
Last June the State Association report.
ed S3O local parent-teachers' associa.
lions. The purpose OF this association
l - n h~frnc .fxga-h.f=
ing the school year. the teachers, IN,
children and the people in such a wa,
40 20 promote civic. socia. and educa
tiOna interest OF the community.
state Board Of Agriculture.
a regard the service OF this boar,
as one OF constantly increasing i'm
pOrtance and value. The last I.egisla
ture broadened the scope OF It's worI
BY providing a yearly fund Of 81 ,OO
for the study and eradication Of poul
try diseases. The poultry industry o
Delaware IS more important than &
generally supposed and IL second onll
20 the corn crop in value, the snnua
Production amounting 90 about SO
100000. advise TN increase 10 81. 900
annually for the continuance Of mi,
work that more vaccini may be dis
tributed for the cure OF poultry dis
eases. and a wider study 81 the prob
lem
The establishment Of; a Bureau o.
Markets is a new branch Of the worI
Of this board and has proven itself 1
valuable help 20 the farmer. This worl
should 20 on and recommend an an
nual increase of $4,000. making IN,
appropriation $1,000 instead OF $4,000
regard this increase as necessary Z
this service is 70 be developed a. I