Milford chronicle., 1928-03-23
Harrington
Harrington School District
discusses School Consolidation


For the purpose of acquainting
the local school district with the
consolidation plans, the local
school board called a mass-meeting
which was held last evening at the
Century Club building. Judging
from the number present there are
a number in this community who
still believe in letting George do it.
and didn't avail themselves of a
golden opportunity to get first-hand
information. However, what the
audience lacked in numbers was
made up in enthusiasm. About one
hundred were present many coming
in from the rural districts that are
to vote on consolidation. OF the
nine districts expected to vote on
the subject, representatives were
present from six of the districts.
L. G. Markert, a member of the To-
cal school board, acted as chair
man and opened the meeting by
requesting Rev. E. H. Collins to
make a prayer.
Before introducing DR.. Holloway,
Chairman Markert laid stress on
the point that every progressive
movement including rural mail
routes and good roads were opposed
at the beginning.
z DR.. Holloway then spoke on the
school problems as confronting this
district and started off by saying
that every new movement has al
ways met with serious opposition.
On February 18th, a hundred years
ago, the first general school laws
were passed and Willard Hall was
the father of the school bill passed
in 1929. Very few changes have
been made in school laws up to
1919, but with the constant chang
ing of times, automobiles and air
planes have replaced the means of
conveyance used at that time when
it was necessary to walk, go horse
back or OK cart. IL per cent OF
the roads of Delaware are of hard
surface and every section of the
country is easily accessible to an
other section because of the fact
that the State is practically level.
The 1929 school law provided for
the laying out of districts and the
citizens of New Castle county were
antagonistic to the plan and in
1881 another law was passed ex-
tending the time to lay out the |
districts which New Castle county |
had refused to do according to law. |
Consolidation means only one |
thing and that is adjusting educa-
ton to meet modern conditions.
There is just one word "CoOpera-
ton" needed to bring this about de-
clared DR.. Holloway. He then cited
the present building of the Century
Club, railroads and State roads
which were all built by cooperation.
Everything that's worth while, big
things, come about by cooperative
endeavors. So we now come to the
time when we ought to cooperate
in fact we must cooperate if this
district hopes to get the most from
present time conditions. DIR. Hol- {
loway then referred to the state I
ment sheets distributed throughout {
the hall before the meeting opened s
for the closing remarks of his ad- l
lress. Harry S. Harrington, presi- '
lent of the Harrington Chamber of i
Commerce, was the next speaker, j
md he handled his subject well. He I
old those present that school taxes S
we're lower now than they were 10 I
years ago, despite the fact that ST. \
iOO,O 900 is appropriated per year. Y
Conditions in the rural districts ]
ave been closely scrutinized since N
took place and feel N
ure that conditions now are much v
letter, said Mr.. Harrington. N
Earl Sylvester, past department N
commander of the American Legion j
f Delaware, remarked that he B
ould not speak for the local post, H
hat the matter had been discussed S
nd no action was taken, but that C
e knew large sums of money G
ad been placed in plans both by NJ
he State and NATIONAL Depart B
lents toward promoting education. te
his is a business proposition where H
he State gives eight dollars for ev- NJ
ry one of our investment, the chill p
ren in the rural districts are en-
tied to the same advantages, de-
Jared Mr.. Sylvester. Chairman ~ ~
Iarkert then called for expressions a. eu
ON districts that had already been % %
Harry Moore from 8
owell's district, related conditions ~
that district before consolidation Te To
nd said they were much better - -
Ow. Former Representative Pas a.
ey from Little Masten's district, "a "a
lid he wished he could buy more a.
lucation, that he didn't have to be NJ NJ
81 b. ,,Ta hn 4A
wed already by being in the con- D,
,lidated district. Both D. B. NJ
harp and Warren T. Moore eX- wv wv
-essed themselves as being hear ", W
ly in favor of the plan and hoped NJ
lat it could be brought about. M
County Republican Chairman r. W. W.
Jones was the next speaker and
i'd there was severe opposition NJ
hen the present plant was built, n
Id that promises made at that a,
me had all materialized In con- T.. a.
'lidation there is but one thing to
Insider and that there is no tax of
lrden on anyone and all of us h,
lould ask the question, Gam 1 do ,,r
6 the best for our children" said 20
r. Jones. ~,
One argument against consolida- \
On is that it would close the COM ~
unity centers in each district. -
nat need not be, for after consoli- ~,
.tion the school buildings then NJ,
long to the special school dis ~
lets, and Mr.. Jones suggested that 70,
ey be left intact in the districts no. NO
0oilinllulniey anIaS, gaIneIInSS. .. WI. ley
r their failure to attend and laid mo