New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-01-23
PUBLIC EDUCATION IN LOUISIANA,

R7-" ----s-------- ~ 1880
The State Superintendent Of Public Education has
sent us his annual report of the condition of public
schools in Louisiana during the past year. It is
rendered rather voluminous by documentary and
statistical tables but in view Of the importance of the
subject we have been at some pains to examine it at
tentively.
According to the Superintendent's opinion and the
opinions expressed his numerous in
different portions Of the State the present school law
is full of imperfections and altogether inadequate to
the educational necessities of the State Our own in
formation upon the subject Though we have not had
much opportunity of observing its operation) leads
us to believe that such is the fact yet there seems to
be nowhere an inclination to dispense with the law
whate yer its defects until better shall he framed
those who are interested wisely rejecting no doubt
that if the school appropriations are too small to ac
complisl much direct good they at least invest educa
tional matters with some interest and fix the atten
ton of people who would otherwise never trouble
themselves about them. This we believe to he tr,e
The majority of poor parents are anxious to obtain for
their children the benefit Of whatever educational
gratuity the State may provide, and. when the fruits
Of mental culture begin to appear the interest of he
people will be enlisted and private resources will be
brought into reuuisition.
Thus far however we do not perceive that the
school law and the abors Of the idetatigae Super
intendent have effected ANYTHING like revolution in
school interests nor produced any very surprising
results Matters could hardly be worse than reported
in those parishes from which his correspondents write
and while we are not disposed to attach any respon-
sibility in the premises to the Superintendent, we
may be permitted to hope that there will be better
showing at the end Of tile present year as no impor
tant political canvass interyenes.
The Superintendent furnishes statistical reports
from forty parishes only in which during the past
wear 74l schools have been tauobt for an average of
six months, the aggregate attendance being 7o49
scholars and the compensation to teachers $166 2S A.
The rather unsatisfactory statement is made that with
full reports the showing would have been greater.
We agree with the Superintendent in many of his
suggestions. Experience has proved that it is wise
step in founding system of popular education to
see to it in the commencement that the persons who
are to teach the young generations are properly quail
flied for the discharge of their important duties.
And to this end plan that has yet been devised is
better than that of normal school for the education
of young men and women, with sole view to the
profession of teaching. Such an institution should
be founded in this State, or expedent incorporated
MS a department in the State Seminary. Something
more is necessary in the qualification Of n,od |
teacher than knowledge Of the things to be taught
he should also be familiar with the best methods Of
inparting instruction and Of maintaining discipline,
system and regularity among his pupils, and for this
a regular course of training is redusite.
In the matter Of textbooks, the report places much
stress upon the necessity Of uniformity. (which is
yery wel) and the duty Of discar1inr books having
d sectional bias.v We cannot imagine what mar. |
ticular school books contain the bugbear of I" sec.
tional bias alluded to by the report We remember
one of the primary readers, in which appeared
poem, commencing:
..clafned in the n,arke. place he stood ,,etc.
mt tben that vas s,n,o,hxro +,,
Western coast OF Africa not in Louisiana, and the