Milford chronicle., 1933-12-29
GEORGETOWN'S SCHOOL
PROBLEM

PROBLEM
The following communication
from the Georgetown Board of Edu
cation is informative and also help
full for a building program for Della
ware.-Editor Chronicle.
Georgetown, Delaware
December 26, 1888.
Editor Milford Chronicle,
Sir:-My attention having been
called to the leading editorial In
your issue of December 22nd, ! have
read the same with much interest
especially the latter part wherein
YOU referred to Georgetown in a
manner which caused me much sur
prise. 1 have always thought the ed
itor of the Chronicle tried to be fair
in discussing matters of general in
terest; and made at least some in
Vestigation before arriving at any
conclusion. 1t is quite apparent,
however, that you did not do so with
respect to the needs of the George
town schools. Much of your "infor-
nation" is very pronounced misin-
formation. You state the new build
ing for this town apparently is not
needed-and by many residents of
that district is not wanted" AS to
the latter part of that statement l,
of course, do not know the source OF
your information; but at the election
held here on the 18th inst, out of
total vote of 237 there were II votes
against the bond issue and 225 for
it. Your readers may draw their
own conclusions as to the many
residents" who do not want the new
building. In addition to the showing
at the polls 1 may add that 1 have
not heard a single voter in this dis
trict express himself as opposed to
the new building.
AS to the first part of your state
ment which 1 have quoted above,
and the next sentence stating that
persons in a position to know say
that the present building in that
town is ample to take care of the
needs of the district" l request suf-
ficient space to supply you infor-
nation which you very easily could
have obtained, and which in all fair
ness you should have secured be-
fore writing the editorial, which in
formation briefly is as follows:
When the present building was
erected our schools had a total en-
rollment of 436; and it was unani-
mously conceded by the State. Board
of Education as well as by our To-
cal Board that the building planned
for and subsequently erected was
entirely inadequate to meet the
needs at that time, without taking
into consideration the possible in
crease in enrolment. But our local
Board was advised that the amount |
then available for Georgetown was
sufficient only to provide for the
building which was erected, and
while it was conceded to be made
quate for the needs of this district,
it was the best that could be done
at the time; but when it became fl
nancially possible to do so every
effort would be made to give George
town building and equipment faclll-
ties as nearly adequate to the needs
of the district as possible. With that
Georgetown gladly ac-
cepted the half loaf which was then
offered us, having full faith that the
State authorities would make good
their assurance when they found
themselves in a position to do so;
and for five years we have patiently
awaited the fulfillment of the assur-
ance.
To show that the present building
was not adequate to meet the needs
of the district even at the time it
was erected, a temporary frame
structure was erected on the
Immediately, said structure
four rooms by means OF
which a part of the overcrowding in
he main building could be relieved;
and that wholly inadequate building
las been in use from the beginning.
rhe enrolment in our schools has
increased from 436, as given above,
% 73O, which is the present enroll
mentor an increase of practically
100, or nearly seventy per cent. In
yiew of these facts, which can be
yerified without difficulty, 1 should
yery much like to know some of the
persons in a position to know" who
say that the present building is
lmple to take care of the needs of
he district" Anyone who makes
such a statement as that either is
lot "in a position to know" or
makes a wilful and malicious mis-
statement.
Now Georgetown has no "crow to !
,iek" with Milford and l am sure
hat all our citizens hope that Mil 6
ord may secure all the school IA
ilities it needs and wants; but we
10 vigorously resent the publication I
# statements for facts which are
wholly unwarranted and false and
which cannot fail to create in the G
minds of those who read them i'm i
ressions which necessarily will re- \
ect unfavorably upon all who are 7
Interested in the progress of educa-
ion. 1 regret very much that the !
'hronicle takes that position.
Very truly yours,
L1PANJI( NJ ZONES