Milford chronicle., 1924-11-21
TWENTY YEARS AFTER
communicated

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1t is more than twenty years since
was appointed County Superinten-
dent of Schools of Sussex County. II
is twenty years since 1 brought the
first automobile to that county and
used it in visiting the little schools
scattered throughout the county
These two facts served to impress
very Vividly on my mind the condi-
tiOns Of two things, namely the
schools, and the public highways.
Both were on par as to their poor
condition. AS I ploughed over the
feather bed lanes" or the miry thor
oughfares that threaded the higher
lands and the swamps of Sussex, 1
dreamed frequently of some good
fairy Transforming those roads into
hard, serviceable highways, and
likewise the schools into effective,
modern instruments for a thorough
public education. Marvellous to say,
those dreams are being realized.
1 have followed with the most in
tense interest the recent develop
ment of the Delaware Public
Schools. This development is de-
pendent to a very considerable de-
gree upon the improvement of the
highways. The people under the
stimulus of du Pont generosity have
accepted the comprehensive program
for their public roads, and the re-
naming highways with intersecting
branches will undoubtedly soon be
completed to form a network Of
fdeal roadways for the state.
The school plan as laid down
and to some extent developed
through the generosity of the other
du POnt is just as necessary to the
well-being of the state and should !
receive just as universal enthusias- |
tic support. I have traversed those |
magnificent cement highways and !
visited the splendid school buildings
at st. Georges, Laurel, Lewes, and |
many other points throughout the
state. The material help given and
the examples shown ought to sUim-
ulate the people to accept the edu-
cational program just as fully and
as enthusiastically as they have the
program for state highways.
used to have the impression that
The new educational program and
were received pas-
sively and sometimes even with op-
IN opposition. I learned one incident,
however, last Spring that removed
hat impression and gave me great 7 !
n confidence in the ultimate mod
and complete DEVELOPMENT
# the Delaware school system than
ny other incident not even except-
ng the splendid stimulus given bv
he liberality and vision of Pierre S. 8
u POnt. rs
l.. - Southwestern Delaware, near a &
ost Office called Columbia" there B
iVed on a farm the widow Bennett g
nth her family Of children. She was
ependent upon the farm for the 4
velihood of herself and children. i
o plant the crops last Spring seem 8
d to necessitate the Withdrawing of &
er eldest boy from high school. B
here were times in the not far dis X
INT past when public sentiment III 6
delaware would have accepted that 5
3 natural and proper procedure. =
OF so now. e
Rather than force the widow to p
ithdraw her son from high school 3
I'd thus forfeit his educational Op- q
the neighbors gathered to- Il
,ther and planted her crops End 8
us permitted her son to com. .olete 5
S high school course. g
feel that this incident is very in &
cative of the increased apprecia- &
IN of education, and IT'S supreme E
lportance to the y'Suth of Della 8
ire, that it guar, .,Antees the accep- &
nee and comp letion at an early 3
te OF the m Magnificent educational 3
ogram now before the state s
rough tFre Public School Commits e
w.. I'D . people of Delaware owe it s
the Riseives as well as to those q
10 nave so literally furthered Ibis 3
Gcg.tional program to authorize at 3
z coming session of the legislature %
e borrowing of the money neces- 3
ry and the entire completion of 8
at program. 8
The spirit indicated in the Incl 8
mt related above will impell the g
ople to do this. 8
JOHN D. BROOKS, 8
Chambersburg, Pa. Rx