The daily comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1850-1856, 1852-12-08
Superintendent OF Public Education.

We have received the following circular
from r. 3. TnoRpn, Esq. The short time
between the nominations Of candidates and
the election, compes the candidates to issue
printed addresses, we thinkthis the most le-
climate style ofelectioneering under all cir
cumstanccs:
DEAR SIR Having been nominated by
the Wing State Convention, candidate for
the office of State Superintendent Of Public
Education, and the near approach OF the
election, not giving ME an opportunity 20
personally present views, take the liberty
of communicating with you through the
means of the mail,
Since have been able 70 take part In
matters of public interest, have not been
an unnterested spectator OF the working of
our common school systems, and have al
ways taken pride in facilitating every mea-
sure that would extend to all, the blessings
of substantial education. The duties of
the Office OF State Superintendent of Public
Education should include a strict attention
to the carrying out of the laws already in
force regulating the department, and the
careful gathering together from every part
of the State, facts relative to the practical
operation OF the present system, that an an
nual report may be made to the General
Assembly, that will he useful as guide in
any future Legislation, 50 that the inopera-
tive parts Of our present school system may
be, by Legislative enactments, made eff
Gent until the facilities of good education
arc extended to every citizen Of the State.
An interest in the cause of common
schools, is not with me of recent date, more
than str years ago, while abiding to the
subject OF education, thus expressed my
self through the New Orleans press
COMMON School EDrcAT.oN-- - One of
the -iost important provisions in the new
Constitution is that portion which relates to
the establishment of a permanent system of
common schools. The importance of this
subject cannot be ove,ated, and yet it is
difficult to bring public opinion to bear up
on it, SO as to make it in any way promi-
nent principle Of the Government. Less-
latures may appropriate money by thousands
of dollars, as has been the case for years in
Louisiana, yet no visible good is the result !;
no absolute advantage is gained A want
of proper system has been glaringly ex-
bihited throughout. Colleges, so called,
have sprung into existance, had sickly
growth and ceased to exist various exper-
i'm ents have been tired to remedy the evils
complained of, but without avail.
The great mistake that Louisiana has
made has been in endowing Universities
when there were no primary schools to
prepare students for the higher departments
of literature. We are much more apt to
vote money away upon things bearing nigh
sounding rames and requiring no particular
attention. than to provide for the humble
wants of a small community, that demands
the drudSery of going into details. Yet the
common schools, that merely imparts the
rudiments Of Education, are much, more i'm
portant to the public at large, than the col
leges upon which SO much money and Leg
islation have been expended.
To form general school system for our
State will be difficult, and require the great
est care. We have two languages to pro-
vide for, instead of one, and an extended
territory sparsely populated. To meet all
these demands will be almost impossible,
and therefore the greatest care in framing
the design is necessary. To render school
system satisfactory, it must be equal in its
operations, aud command indiscr Intimately