Milford chronicle., 1926-01-15
4IOIi FROM
POINT OF VIEW
'Dr. Holloway Gives Interesting
Talk Before American Legion
In Wilmington.


stressed the viewpoint of the STATE
in educational matters. His ad
dress is printed in full as follows:
zone of the valuable products Oi
the World War was the OrganiZa-
ton of the American Legion, anc
one of the most important contri-
buttons which that organization is
making to our American life is the
active interest that it has taken and
is taking in public education. That
interest grew out of a knowledge
of conditions which American lead
ership had to face in preparing
nearly four million men for active
service in the field. Modern war
fare requires what successful mod
ern life demands, namely, physical
fitness and trained intelligence. 1t
was a severe blow to our pride as
one of the great world powers to
learn that one out of three OF our
men between the ages of 21 and 81
was not physically fit to fight for
the country which served as his
home, and that one out of every
four could not read we'll enough to
read a newspaper or write well
enough to write a letter. We said
that it was a war to make the
world safe for democracy, and then
realized the necessity for making
democracy safe for the world. We
said it was a war to end war, and
when it was over awoke to the
fact that the germs of war were
still alive in the form of ignorance,
fear, racial prejudice, religious BIZ
gotry, suspicion, smouldering ha-
tired and the like. Then our lead
ership exclaimed with the prophet
Hosea. My people are destroyed for
lack of knowledge
"TO make up for our shortcom-
ings at the instance of sane and
far-seeing Americans we renewed
our efforts to increase the efficiency
of the one great American institu-
tion which promised most for the
realization of those American ideals
voiced by the great spokesman of
democracy, Thomas Jefferson, |
namely, the recognition of the |
equality of the rights of all men |
to life, liberty, and the pursuit of |
happiness The end of the task is
not yet in sight.
"In 1919-2O we were investing
$3.50 per annum per capita of our
Dopulation in Delaware in public
schools. Last year we invested
S12.6O per capita, an increase of
81 per CENTS per cent in the city
of Wilmington and 54 per cent for
the rest of the state. During this
same time we increased our savings
deposits from S28,047,865 to $40,-
929. 1853. an increase of 45.8 per cent, ]
or a per capita increase in savings s
from S125.8O to S1S2. This shows {
wonderful progress, yet back in {
1922 the state of California was {
investing S25.30 per capita in +
schools and had an average per c
capita savings of 1858. while South
Carolina invested $5.54 per capita +
and had an average of $53 per cap =
ia of savings. During this period :.
he capital, surplus and undivided !
Profits of the banks in Delaware l.
showed an increase of SIS per cent.
"If the prosperity of our banks ;
S a measure of the prosperity of u
,ur people, one thing seems to be u
Iuite clear, and that is, the state b
las not been impoverished by its b
increased investment in education.
Good education means good bus tC
ness. Ignorance is easily salts o.
ed, makes little, and has little to il
pend. Without the taste and appe- al
iation which education develops, in
ne products of modern industry al
-ould find but a limited market.
Education is necessary for lead M
rship. In 1928 only per cent of la
hose listed in WHO'S WHO had no as
,rmal school training, while II per in
ent had college training. of
"Nor are the nations leaders born 81
n the farm. The city born child
as six chances to attain to leader he
lip to one for him who is born on
le farm. The great difference lies ~
the better educational OppOrtUni- - -
es afforded the city child. q"
at is perhaps true that not be- go
re the millennium will we be able Sp
guarantee even in a democracy an
Iuality of educational opportunity Ill
every child, yet as far as that is
ade possible by public taxation, it 10,
the only aim consistent with our
rm of government. Accident of Wis
rthplace in Delaware or in any
her state of our country should wi
It be allowed to condemn a child
intellectual poverty, even if it tul
ly condemn him to limited mater BIZ
means.
'The method of financing educa- ste
n in our state has gone far to Wis
le away the premium for main Ro
ming a poor school. Generally +
eaking, it costs a district here no Wi
re to run a good school than wa,
Or one. We
so long, however, as we have an I
nual turnover of 53.5 per cent in tow
, One-teacher school, as is the 4
;e at present, these types of No,
loOls may never hope to see that So. So
lality of educational opportunity Il Ie N
Yard which we are aiming. ~
There can be a good school in a Gu
II building, there can be a good ~
oOl with poor text books, there o.
be good school with poor SON
piles and poor equipment, there Z
/ be good school with a poor on
yground, and with poor sanitary M
angements, but there cannot be the
.oOd school with a poor teacher. Csc
good teacher is a priceless boon
any community, no matter how W
T her surroundings, but a good rich
cher in good surroundings, and mur
a form of organization adapted
meet the needs of modern times
Godsend to childhood and hui
lity.
n ic fbo b;ob o;,,, 81 -