The daily comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1850-1856, 1854-05-30
Public School system Reviewed.


and equal, in its application, to every
portion Of the State, and the settle
ments were thrown together, SO as to
permit the formation OF suitable schoo
districts and the establishment o.
schools at convenient distances, still
it would be impossible to make j,
available in the accomplishment Of the
great purpose Of free and popular odu.
cation, from the most cogeut " all
reasons, that the funds are not sucfi
cient.
To prove this, a simple arith nett
cal calculation is all that is necessary
There are in the State about 60, 900
children, entitled to the benefits of
education under the provisions Of the
school system. There is an annual
revenue Of about $26o,O0o-though
the whole of this amount is never ap-
propriated, a portion, being necessar-
lily consumed in the assessing, collee-
ton and disbursing Of it. But the
whole of this sum divided among the
schoolable children, will only give to
each about ID SO annually. Now
fixing the rate Of tuition, at the low
price Of So per month per scholar,
and you see that our childasp can re-
ceive but a small fracti5hfoyer two
months instruction in year, from this
fund. -..
This then is the utmost limit, the
farthest scope of that magnificent fail
urs, called, "Free Public School Sys-
tenn" in the despensation of the bless
ings of education to the youth of our
State. And does any man in his SEN
ses, suppose that two mouths instruc-
ton in year, will ever educate the
poor children Of the State? And yety
this is all,they can get under the opsr-
alton ofour huge free school system,
seperate and apart from that supple
mental aid, which it haS been shown is
extended by corporations and private
individuals.
To carry out the system as now Or
yanized, and required by the Consti-
,ution then, is impossible from the
want Of funds; and never en- be, be-
,susc it will require asam5uht of mon
y beyond the ability Of the State to,
'aise. We are taxedto raise the pres
mt school fund, 10 cents on every
hundred dollars worth of property,
md this we have seen, only gives two
months schooling in a yean To give
ep months instruction, which is the !
ls,ial1iIne, the school tax must be
alscdfrom ten cents up to fifty cents
m theaANdred dollasA Instead of
100000 q now, we, must raise and
xpend annually s1,5oo,ooO. Now
Ices not every sane man know that
his sum cannot be raised by taxation
The thing is absolutely impossible
The people alS6dysovertaxed and
roaming under the burthens of an ex.
ravagantly Kasteful administration of
he State Government, would rebel at.
he onerous imposition ; Or leave the
tate to find home where the laws
7ould be more consonant with the
rue interest and prosperity of the peo-
lie. 1t would bankrupt and depopu-
.te the State.
If this sum then. cannot be raised
u school purposes, our school systern
lust remain inefficient and useless, SO
II as the education of the youth Of
ur State is concerned, and never can
e made available to the furtherance
f that. great and laudable object.
And fit cannot be made available,
by in the name Of common sense is
perpetuated from year to year? Is
only that political partizans may be
,warded-receive a few crumbs
ON the public "table,' for their sense
IS vociferations during an exciting
olitical campaign That few ass
sors, collectors and superintendent,
ay obtain from the "dear people," .
tile more money! Common intelli- s
'nce is outraged at the picture, which
e operation and history of our school ]
stem, form during the last five years.
Thy then is it continued Are we
remain satisfied with the mere pane
Free Public School," when it is {
'solutely destitute of every feature J
ID element of usefulness? Shall we
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