New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-07-23
LGoNMUEICATED.
Public Night schools.

j
Council at its last meeting 10 pass the usual appro-
priation for the maintenance Of the Public Schools
dorng the ensuing year, has been very generally
commented upon. The attempt to destroy night
schools is matter Of public interest. The member
from the Third District who presented the minority
report stated that be did not know before that there
were night schools nor did he know that money had
ever been appropriated for their support. This ap-
| pears to be singular statement from gentleman
who has for several years occupied an honorable posi-
tion on the Committee on Education. Having made
the discovery that night schools do exist and more.
over, require money for their support, he immedi-
atey endeagors to kill them He will vote for no ap
preparation in their behalf the city, he states has
no right to maintain night schools ants then By an
enparte, inaccurate report he proceeds to show the
great disparity between the amount claimed and the
actual expense Of these night schools.
Now, Messrs Editors let Us briefly consider few
ofthese objections, and first as to the actual right
which the respective School Boards possess to estab
lish night schools.
The original law of 1871, establishing public sys-
TEN Of education in the State of Louisiana, as also
the revised statutes as late as 1856 both declare
that "any white person under the age Of twentyone
years shall have the right to at least two years
tuition in the Public Schools.
The Chairman of the Committee on Education
stated that of the 1000 pupils attending the night
schools there were but sixteen over twentyone years
of age. By the State law then, 14s4 of the pupils
were clearly entitled to the benefits of public educa
ton. These pupils, by their employments, being un-
able to attend the day Schools and not being enrolled
as members of the day schools clearly appears from
the various reports, the question arises by what au
thority are night schools established.
The powers of the Common Council in regard to
the management of Public Schools are clearly de.
fined by section 38 of the old City Charter and con-
sst FIRST in the election of separate Board of Direct
ors of the Public Schools for each District and Sec
ondly to make annual appropriations for the main
tenance of the schools in each district in proportion
to the number of pupils day pupils only,
nor night pupils only but in proportion to the tchole
number Of pupils. The organization and control Of
the schools, with the disbursement of its annual ap.
preparation has been wisely left to the respective
School Boards.
The ordinance providing for the establishment of
Public Schools in the Second Municipality made the
Standing Committee of Public Education of the Com.
mon Council component part Of the Board of Direct
0rs of the Public Schools The President of the
Common Council was ex offieio President of the
School Board. The Board so organized established
the first nightschool in the Second Municipality in
October, l845, and the school was opened with an
average attendance during the first week of seventy
pupils, The nghtschools have been regularly opened
during each succeeding year, and have formed an
important department OF popular education In the
Fourth District the night have been in session
for five years. The condition Of these schools, with
the attendance of pupils, has been shown in the an
nual reports to the Common Council and the num-
Der OF pupils so attending has always been Joined to
the attendance in the day schools as basis for the
annual appropriation. Is it not therefore strange
thing that city father and an ex.member OF the
Committee on Education, shonld openly proclaim in
minority report that he not alDare Of the erist
ence Of ofnight8chools, and had neper kuoing g Doted
! for ther maintenance.
In regard to the statement of the actual expense of
the night-schools, word only is necessary. The
whole subject was fully and fairly discussed in the
committee, and three of the four members were of
the opinion that the basis of appropriation as in
cludlng the attendance in the nightschoo was mani
testify just. The estimable and intelligent chairman
OF the committee was of this opinion and yet he
represents the Second District, where they have no
nightschoos. The disparity between the actual
expenses of the night-schoos and the amount /
which would be received for them is not SO great as
VLS llotlpol GluShfOLGu 10 SHOW. f1au ne sought i
further information he would have found that the
amountactuay paid to the teachers was greater than
appeared and that there are other expenses save
salaries, as fuel lights, stationery and the like But
it has never been claimed that the expense of the
nght.sGhool is equal to the amount received. 1t |
does not cost twenty dollars for each pupil receiving
instruction in these schools. The same is true of the
children in the primary departments. The actual
cost of tuition to them is also less than twenty dol
lars But on the other hand the cost of instruction
to pupils in the intermediate departments exceeds |
the sum allowed and in the high scho Is the excess
is much greater To attain the proper mean, a uni.
form sum per pupil in high district or night schools,
was long since adopted.
The conclusion is inevitable, if the appropriation
for the night-schoos is too great that for the day.
schools must be too small. In the offices of the
school boards are vouchers for the expenditure of
every dollar of the annual appropriation. The re.
ports OF the last year show that instead of an excess
the appropriation has been insufficient to meet the
increase not in nightschoos, as was stated but in
the dayschools In the First and Fourth Districts
there was an actual want of more teachers and more
school room And yet that appropriation, based
upon the actual attendance in both day and night.
schools, allowed $40 per pupil, instead of giving $40
to each day scholar and SO to each pupil in night.
schools, as was proposed in the majority report on
Tuesday last A FRIEND OF NIGHT Schools.
CRoPs IN TExAs.-We clip the su9oined para
L., Al.