Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1846-04-25

Pubic SCHooBs.-One of the city re-
presentatives-MR. SMfrH-introduced a
few days ago into the House, an act to or
ganise Public Schools throughout the State,
which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Public Education. The
provisions of the act are substantially as
follows:
1t provides that the State shall annually
appropriate a sum Of money, to be paid up
on the order oi'the superintendent d PubIic
Education for the maintenance Of Public
Schools in the several parishes of the State.
Il is made the duty of the superintendent OF
Public Education to apportion the money
so appropriated, among the several parishes
in proportion to the number of white child
rem under the are Of Is years, according
to the next United States census, next pre-
ceding the a~pportionment, He is to draw
all orders on the Treasurer for the appor.
tionment, in favor of the chairman D feach
School Committee which shall comply with
the law. He is to prepare forms and re.
gulations for making reports and for tran
sacting business, and transmit them to all
the School Committees. He is to visit
every parish, to inspect the schools, acquire
a knowledge Of the defects of the existing
system, and ascertain what remedies are
required, and for this purpose he is en-.
powered to hold free communication with
the teachers, school officers aud parents.
lie recommends text books, is to aid In Sc
leCti11g works for school libraries: he ex-
amines and grants certificates Of qualifca-
ton to teachers who have been approved by
the School Committees. He is to keep a
full account Of all his Official acts, and sub.
init to the General Assembly at each ses-
sion his report Of the condition of the Pub
lie Schools, suggesting any plans Of i'm
proyement that he may deem advisable.
Each parish entitled to share in the ap.
preparation, shallmaintain a sufficient mum.
Der ofPublic Schools under the joint a
agement of the School Committee and the
superintendent; and for that purpose the
p%arochial authorities arc empowered to levy
an annual tax ola sum of money; and the
amount to be contributed by the State, is
not to be paid until the above tax has been
collected.
Each parish shall elect a School Com.
mittee TO he composed of I2 residents of
the Parish, elected by the voters, and Of
the Justices of the Peace for the Parish.
This Committee shall hold four meetings
in each year; form, alter, or discontinue
districts, and fix their limits; locate
school houses I; examine candidates for
teachers give certificates and annul them
when the teachers are found disqualified or
incompetent examine the schools expel
pupils from a school in case of misconduct.
and prescribe a system Of rules for each
teacher.
The existing laws in relation to Public
Schools in New Orleans are continued
with notifications. These Institutions are
subjected to the supervision of the super.
ntendent, and are required to make re-
ports as the School Committees ofthe other
parishes.
The leading features in the bill strike us
feasible and proper. They impose de-
lcate, onerotls and responsible duties upon
superintendent, who must necessarily
q man Of comprehensive views, expand
ID intellect and great mental and physical
How this fnnctionary is to be
,hosen the bill does hot say. We presume
ne omission is an oversight that win be
corrected when the act before the
House for discussion. The Executive, as
listed by his Constitutional counsellors-
he Senate-would seem the proper per-
ions to whom the task should be assigned
# superintendent Of Public Schools i
me that must be performed with great dis.
and with a single eye to the
and qualifications Of the nominee.
Nv. Orleans Bee.