Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1856-05-17
EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
j. BRYsoN BURROWS. EDITOR.
Parish superintendent.

We want parish superintendent Our schools
are anguishing for the want Of proper and ud'cous
direction. If the old system Of parish superlntend
ency failed it was because the spirit OF the law was
not enforced No one will deny the necessity Of
having some competent person to exercise super
vision over the various schools OF our parishes
This, it was supposed, could and would be done oy
directors of the several districts thereby removing
the expense and necessity Of parish superintendent
1t was mistaken policy.
which they are chosen to direct and, consequently
our schools having no head, no competent person
to direct their energies are loosely conducted, &C
compishing little or no good, and in many instances
only a burlesque on the common school system
It Is urged that men cannot be found who are viii
ling to devote their time and attention to the sub
iect This is mere assertion. There is at least
one man in every parish Of the State with mind
tact and soul large enough to pay attention to the
wants of our schools, even though the salary be
small. The great difficulty the system had to en-
counter was the abuse of the appointing powers.
Men were chosen not for the good they might &C
complish, generally speaking, but a return kind
ness for political influence Qualifications knowl-
edge of the wants of our schools-was secondary
consideration on the part Of the appointing powers,
while favorites stood begging for the few paltry dol
lars. Again it is urged that the State pays su-
perntendent large salary to attend to the business
e Il k1cksS b,o oh
less expenditure Of money to pay thirtyone men to
do the superintendent's work. This reasoning will
not hold good as regards our State Attorney. 1t
would be physically and mentally impossible for him
to attend to the business of the State and visit each
parish to discharge the duties Of District Attorney,
and it is equally impossible for the State Superin-
tendent to attend to his duties and give each parish
its quota of attention. The system Of county su-
perintendency has been thoroughly tested in the
north and east, and found to be practicable and
necessary, and because the system has fallen into
dsrepute in Louisiana on account of the incompe-
tency of men to perform its duties, is no reason
that it should be abolished. If it succeeds every
where else, producing the results for which it was
created, it can do it here. There is but thing
necessary to make it the most practical, efficient
and successful principle of common school educa-
ton, and that is the selection of men competent to
fill the Office men who will be willing and able to
awaken correct public sentiment, and devote their
attention to the wants of the schools under their
direction. er
As to the salary of parish superintendent, it GER
tainly ought to be large enough to justify men in
spending their time and energies in behalf Of the
cause but not large enough to excite the cupidity
of the mammon-worshipers, or to create a spirit of
competition among the selfish political leeches who
are always bowling around the public crib of the
State.