The daily comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1850-1856, 1854-05-25

but do assert that the system is inefii
Gent, unsuited to the peculiar position
and wants Of our State, unequal anG
unfair 10 its operations. and that it il
impossible as at present constituted
ever to make it meet and fulfill tho
great purposes, which the people con.
templated in its adoption. These are
the positions, to which / wish the pub
lie attention directed. and if they can
be clearly and'distinctly shown to be
correct, it will be the peoples duty at
the earliest possible opportunity. to
alter, amend or abrogate the whole
system, as the best interest Of the ed
ucation Of their children may require.
That our school system is inefficient
that it fails to afford instruction to
all the youth Of the State, between
the ages designated in its provisions,
for any considerable portion of the
year, is 50 fully established BY our
united experienc since the year it was
organized, that it hardly admits Of an
argument for further proof. But as
some have only witnessed its operation
in cities and large towns, where,
owing to the great number Of children
collected together within the limits of
a small space, and tho aid extended by
those corporations, it has, to some ex-
tent been successful, it were better to
refer to some facts, to place the truth
Of this position, beyond. even the range
Of doubt.
By reference to the reports of the
State Superintendent to the Legisla.
ture (and they based upon the reports
Of Parish superintendent it will be
seen that Jess than one half Of the
schoolable children in the State, at.
tend the public schools, and they on
an avergc, less than six mouths in a
year. Now it is to be borne in mind
that this calculation embraces the
working ofthe school system in New
Orleans, where the corporation makes
liberal appropriations to keep up
schools continuously. And such is
he case in Thibodeaux. Qpelousas,
franklin and some Of the other large
Interior towns in the State while in
some ofthe Parishes it receives large.
y from private liberality, and yet with
III these extraneous aids and contribu.
ions thrown in, it il seen that less than
me half ofthe schoolable children get
Instruction, less than six months in q
ear. But even hiayiew Of the case
,nfavorsble as it is, is quite beyond
he truth.
1t is well known by every school
irector, as the reports of the State
show, that the school
ind only divides to each child about
4 60 a year. Now if tuition be So
er month, per scholar, this amount |
ill only give one month and a half c
'hooling in year. II however we :
ven put tuition as low Is 81 per
'onth, still it cannot yield I'VE months :
lstruction in, year. But This is
luch lower than tuition is afforded
y, anywhere in the State. If then, !
9 make an average of the prices Of !
lition throughout the State at the E
nall sum of W per month, which is i
as low as it can be had for, f
will be seen. that we can only get IA
average Of instruction in our free a g,
,blic schools of mere fraction over y
70 months in year.
II this does not demonstrate the to-
inefficiency of our public school :
stem, know not the force Of demon
and how any intelligent T
'gislature could permit such hide re
$ system to be fastened upon the 90
ople, and the people to remain quiet sr
der its oppresive-sickly and ineffi- IN
mt operation, am at loss to know.
ITO be continued r.
Notice to Cont "a ctorc. I
EALED YRnp0SAlS ,.,;li h. r..:,,