Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-10-16
COMMUNICATIONS.
EDUCATION IN THE SOUTHERN STATES
TO THE EDITORS.


GENTLEMEN send you for publication, at your earliest
convenience an interesting exposition OF the history cond
ton and prospects Of Common School Education in Lou
ana from the pen Of gifted clergyman residing in New Or
leans The brilliant of the experiment Of Free Schools
in this eatcprsng and enlightened State should think,
leave no doubt in the minds of the friends Of education Of the
entire praccaby and beneficial results of the system through
out the Southern States generally. 1t may, least
awaken attention and stimulate the efforts of statesmen
and phanhropss in those States where eectua proy
sion at present exists for the universal education of the rising
generation What has been accomplished in the face of the
formidable obstacles in this section of the Unon
surely be compassed in commonweahs possessed OF the
ample resources and situated the very heart of the
Republic But will detain your readers by any further
remarks Of my from the perusal Of document which,
confident will speak umpetongued" in behalf OF. the
great Of Popular Education. ). ). r.
New 0nLEASs, SEPTEMBER %, ls47.
DEAN SIR have read with much interest your address
'To the Friends of Education in the Southern States, which
appeared in the National nteigencer OF the I'd instant As
citizen OF louisiana happy to say that our noble State
is determined be left behind in the great educational
which in progress large portion Of
Union but that sh too has taken her station side by
side with her sister States energetic effort place the
Of moral and intellectual culture within the reach and
at the command OF every child within her borders As you
express yourself DESTROYS Of contributing far you
the promotion Of the interests Of eeschoo education in the
Southern part of Union, doubtless any information
what has been done and what is doing this great wok
throughout any section Of the South will assist your efforts
Therefore, take the liberty make this communication to
you order furnish you with be sketch of the history
opublc education in louisiana and show the results OF
her longcontnued endeavors the good My state
men of derived from the most reliable sources
such documents and pamphlets printed by authority.
Previous the year 1884, period Of thirty years,
the Legislature Louisiana had been engaged in efforts
lay the foundation permanent system OF education for the
people Municent appropriations had been lavished with
no sparing hand experiment had succeeded experiment.
each costing much treasure and each in turn abandoned
its failure aitesed the policy and mistaken judgment
of lis authors Without going the details of all that was
done throughout the Se will be sufficient TO glance the
history Of education find under the different systems
adopted by the Legislature for the immediate benefit Of the
city Of New Orleans up to the year ls4l, which city,
that time commenced the free-schoo system, which has had
you viii presently see, the triumphant success and
has given impulse the onward march of public edu
cation in every part OF louisiana and may add, in the
states Of Mississippi and Texas.
On the 9th OF March, lsl9 an passed making ap-
propatons for the support the College Of Orleans corpora
ton which had been established years before By this act
the Regents Of the University authorized raise
exceeding S25 900 by OF lotteries An act approved
February 10 ISL, entitled = An act 10 extend and improve
the system Of public instruction in the State Of Louisiana
abolished the body polite created by law under the title Of
'fhe Regents of the University of Orleans provided
for the formation Of Board Of Administrators in lieu thereof
to consist OF nine persons residing 10 the city, who be
annually appointed by the Governor and Senate. By the Ih
section OF the act the 81 00o in addition the 81 900
appropriated Under previous laws be paid BY the Trea
surer Of the State for the support of the College
Subsequently, the Legislature passed another aboshng
entirely the Corporation Of the College Of Orleans and esab
fishing one central and two primary schools in the city and
suburbs By this law mn children, chosen from among the
poorer class, were admitted each OF the schools free
charge their being presented the Director Of the schools
either by their President the Mayor the city None of
the children TO be admitted gatutously under the
Of above the of fourteen By the
OF S27 the number OF pupils entitled 10 grauous admance
into each Of the schools exceed hundred I'm
der the administration OF the gentlemen composing the Regen
cy these institutions conducted with various
I'll the 10th Of February Is4l The may be said Of the
other institutions foered by the Legislature throughout the
State IT. then, this period the expectations and wishes
Of the friends Of education had been disappointed, you will
perceive did from indifference the subject
from Of beay in the expenditure Of money the
part Of the people The failure rather be attributed
imperfect organization OF the school SYSTEM defec
tive administration of the plans education adopted
by the Legislature At any rate in the year 1884, the mag
nude Of the evil felt keenly that number jealous
and enterprsng held meeting in New Orleans the
purpose Of deyng remedy and the result Of their deli
bcraons successful application the Legislature
the passage Of ac authorizing the several Municipal Cor
poratons establish and organize, in such might
70 them uilclous, Public schools each Municipal
for The gatutous education of the children residing there
in, which public schools all resident white children were
I" he admitted BY this too, power granted the
Councils levy for the support Of the schools the
Treasurer Of the State required pay annually for their
support, To each Municipality the Of So GU for each
and every taxable nhabtan in said Municipalities paid by
law TO other parishes.
Shortly after the passage Of this the Council of the Sc
cond Municipality created Board Of Directors Of Public
Schools, by selecting twelve Of lis respected fellow. citizens
who together with standing Committee on Public Educa
ton, entrusted with authority prescribe rules and dis
cpne for the schools directing the system and course Of eu
cation therein and selecting teachers Happily for Inc cause
selected take the lead in this enterprise 10 whose
untrng industry, fidelity and zeal, united with peculiar apt
and ability, the success prosperity and usefulness the
schools then organized chiefly ascrbabe Turning their
attention the Of long tried xperence developed in
the Northern schools Of the Unon they adopted 10 the main
after mature debcraon, the system Of public education
successfully pracsed in New England and up 10 this day.
under uniform Of progress aud improvement, they
have matuel for New Orleans system Of free schools
surpassed 10 any portion Of country. The
vices Of the Hon j. Shaw, Of Massachusetts, Superin
cndent secured the of the enterprise who had
been for many engaged teaching, and perfectly
yersan With the Improvements made public education and
the favorable opinion entertained Of his qualifications and st.
70 suPenntcnd the schools has been strengthened from
year 10 year by Their eyergowng efficiency and their
ed adaptedness q The wants Of the pupils.
The system OF instruction introduced into these schools and
the rules Ivy which they have been governed in strict ac
codance with those prescribed by enlightened experience in