the third with the question of the higher education of women, but none of these plans had to do in particular with the hope for a greater centralization of the public-school system. Their report was published in 1913, and in it they boldly and frankly took their stand against the pet hobby of the old system-the independent school district. They pointed out that the unit in use was too small and advocated the "representative district" as a more suitable unit. They secured in 1912 a general and uniform examination of teachers. The graded and incorporated schools were then satisfactory, but the rural ungraded schools were not satisfactory, and this was due neither to individuals nor school officers, but to the law, to the prevailing theories of local self-government and taxation on rental values. This was the rock wall against which they found themselves, and while the board won its point in the matter of Delaware College, in that of the college for women, and in that for the appointment of a State commissioner, it then failed in those pertaining to the larger unit of organization and taxation for schools.

The State board and the State commissioner, though defeated in 1913, renewed their efforts in 1915, but with small success. Then came the vigorous and aggressive campaign of 1916-17, engineered and organized by Commissioner Wagner and promoted by all friends of education. The campaign then undertaken met with more than the anticipated success. The main bulwark of the conservative element taxation on rental values-has been repealed, the burden of taxation is now more evenly distributed, and it seems evident that a new era of prosperity has dawned for the schools of the State.

PUBLIC SCHOOL STATISTICS, 1832-1914.

TABLE 1.-School population, teachers, property, school year, enrollment, attendanceIn white schools only.

1 Includes $25,000 direct appropriation from State.

2 Includes loans to State repaid.

Includes temporary loans to State.

4 From auditor's reports, 1895-96; other figures from treasurer's reports.

Includes direct appropriation of $120,000 from State.

Includes $47,000 part appropriation under constitution of 1897.

7 Includes $100,000 direct appropriation from State.

8 Includes $42,702.43 paid to general fund.

* Includes $5,000 loan to school fund.

10 Includes direct appropriation of $132,000 from State. The total State and county receipts for education and the total State and county expenditures for the same, 1905-1907, were as follows: In 1905, receipts, $525,801, expenditures, $519,351; in 1906, receipts, $532,457, expenditures, $501,746: in 1907, receipts, $600,636, expenditures, $553,249. Unfortunately for the student, the Delaware system does not demand detailed statements from the local authorities and they are seldom made.

TABLE 3.

Statistics of public-school education in Delaware, by counties, 1832-1911.