The Weekly comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1853-1855, 1854-06-04
pusl,c sch..i system nev,esved.
tCbntse.st .fpsn, sg,tmdoy's Dnfiy)

portion of the State, and the settle
ments were thrown together, go as Il
permit the formation Of suitable schoo
districts and the establishment 4
schools at convenient distances. stil
it would be impossible TO make
available in the accomplishment Of tn
great purpose Of free and popular edu
cation, from the most cogeht Of Al
reasons. that the funds are not sutii
cient.
TO prove this, simple arithmeti-
cal calculation ia all that is necessary
There are in the State about 10000
children, entitled to the benefits Q,
education under the provisions Of the
school system. There is an annual
school revenue Of about $2eo,oou-
though the whole of this amount is
never appropriated, portion, being
necessarily consumed ID the assessing,
collection and disbursing Of it. But the
whole Of this STUN divided among the
schoolable children, will only give to
each about "a 50 annually. Now
fixing the rate Of tuition, at the low
price Of NJ per month per scholar,
and you see that our children can re-
ceive but small fraction over two
months instruction in year, from this
fund.
This then II the utmost limit. the
farthest scope Of that magnificent fail
ure, called, "Free Public School sys-
tem,' 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 yet,
this is all they can get under the oper-
alton Of our huge free school system,
scperate and apart from that supple
mental aid, which it has been SHOWN is
extended by corporations and private
individuals.
To carry out the system az now Or
ganised, and required by the Consti-
tuition then, Ia impossible from the
want Of funds and never can be, be-
cause II will require an amount of mon
ey beyond the ability Of the State to
raise. We are taxed to raise the pres.
ent school fund. 10 cents on every
hundred dollars worth Of property,
and this we have seen. only gives two
months schooling in year. TO givc
ten months instruction, which Is the
usual time, the school tax must be
raised from ten cents up to fifty cents
on the hundred dollars. Instead of
100000 as now, we must raise and
expend annually sl,5oo,ooo. Now
does not every sane man know that
This sum cannot be raised by taxation 7
The thing Is absolutely impossible.--
The people already overtaxed and
grooming under the burthens of an ex-
Lravagantly wasteful administration of
Ihe State Government, would rebel at |
The onerous imposition Or leave the |
State to find home where the laws
would be more eonsonant with the
true interest and prosperity Of the peo-
pie. i would bankrupt and depopu-
late the State.
II this sum then. cannot be raised
'or school purposes, our school system
must remain inefficient and useless, so
lar as the education Of the youth of
our State is concerned, and never can
oe made available to the furtherance
II that great and laudable object.
And if it cannot be made available.
Why in the name Of common sense is
: perpetuated from year to year, Is
t only chat political partizaus may be
'ewarded-receive a few crumbs"
rom the.public table for their sense
ess vociferations during an exciting
'ol'tical csmpaignl That a few ass.
ssors, collectors and superintendents,
nay obtain from the "dear people," a
title more money! Common intclli-
;ence is outraged at the picture, which
he operation and history of our school
ystem. form during the last five years.
Why then is il continued ! Are we
9 remain satisfied with the mere name
t "Free Public School," when it is
bsolately destitute of every feature
nd element Of usefulness Shall we
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