Milford chronicle., 1924-11-21
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1924

that this week SnOuI0 De ODSeINSu a.
Educational Week by the people o.
the United States of America. i
was not the purpose for elaborate
programs, or that set forms Of cele-
brations should be a feature OF the
week: but. that those who are en-
gagged in educational activities,
should devote serious thought to the
observance of the systems in dse IN
the schools and colleges, and i'm
press upon educators as well IS the
parents and children of the entire
country, what the work that is now
accomplished is doing for the ad-
yancement of children to realize
what they can accomplish for them
selves in the future, as well as for
the entire country. In his procla-
nation President Coolidge said: Our
country adopted the principle OF
self government by free people,
Those who were worthy of being
free we're worthy of being educated.
But the task is not finished; 1t has
only begun. Delaware for hfty
wears took but small notice of the
school houses. Their adaptability tor
educational work, or even healthtul
conditions, or surroundings were not
considered fifty years ago; but de-
spite these handicaps the boys and
girls of Delaware received the fun
damental principles of education In
the structures of that day, which are
largely in use in the present year as
school houses. 1t was a serious
handicap indeed for the children
both as to education and health; and
it remains to very large extent the
same at the present time.
The homes, barns, stables and san
itary accommodations about the
farms of this day and generation
have all made large advancement IN
comforts, in healthful conditions and
permanence; but, the schools have
changed but little in architecture or
healthful surroundings. Our chill
dren are more precious possessions
than the hog, the cow, the horse or
even the poultry; yet these are look
ed after carefully. Why should the
school house be the one exception?
Why should the house or room IN
which your child is to pass six hours
of each school day, remain the same
as it was fifty years ago?
It is time for the people to think
calmly over this proposition, with
open minds and a spirit of fairness
to the children. We shall be called to
study this problem within the next
three months and it will have to be
met, not in anger or reckless disre-
gard of what we can or can not af-
ford to do for the children and the
people, to bring about system OF
rebuilding the schools of Delaware
needed. Surely the people
of this state want to be fair to the
children in the schools. Surely the
people can afford to solve this prob
em economically and in a business u
way. We can not afford to expend a
whole building program in one, two
II three years-it will require from B
i've to ten years to accomplish the
.reat task Many of the present y
chool buildings in the towns are n
90 good to be scrapped and can be u
sed for ten, fifteen or more years, h
nth some remodeling and additions; III
Yhile there are many rural schools 8
rhich should never be rebuilt. These III
hOuld be consolidated and the chill q
rem hauled to the consolidated dis ll
riot school house with its four or y
We rooms equipped with all modern m
for health and educa- y
onal work, that should supersede ~
)ur or more one-roomed schools of HI
le present day. All of this can be "
)lved without burdensome taxes on M
lie farmers, but it will require great N
Judy and exhaustive investigation N
sources from which the revenue
ill have to come. Just stop and con- 81
der how the problem shall be solv- liz
1-for it will have to be solved in ~
lie next few months, or at a period I1
0 great distance in the future. If "
Ot now, then two years hence will N
rce the issue on the people Of Del lN
ware. If the effort to better the M
,hool property condition in Della IN
are receives a start because of the 81
oughts during the National Educa- k
IN Week, by those who are willing ~
consider how it can be accom- f(
lshed without hardship or unnec- ~
sary burden to the people, it will m
t have been in vain. Delaware is 10
no different situation as to her So
lool properties, than many IF the HI
Ter states; but that is no reason rs
y we should not have the best M
lool houses as well as the best M
ds in the United States. When M
case is presented for your con- ~