New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-01-21

ton OF national greatness and prosperity, q y y OF
individual success in the world Jet 10 oar own State
the cause of public instruction does mot occupy the
attention and prominence il Importance demands.
We have good system in the main, but unques-
tonably It Is capable Of many improvements some Of
which are pointed out by the Superintendent in his
report to the Legislature for the past year.
He states that on assuming the duties Of his Office
be found balance Of $50 0s4 remaining from the ap-
preparation for the fiscal year ending March 81 1858
the Legislature At its last session, made further ap
preparation Of 100000 for the fiscal year ending
March ST. 1852 and up to the date of the report the
Superintendent had apportioned among the parishes
Of the State the sum Of 1903 1924 a. leaving balance
on hand Of s77,ol5 &C to the credit Of the public
school fund. The enumeration in 1867 fixed the num-
Der Of educable children at 76,50s, Of which only
about onehrd have attended school during the past
year. according to the returns Of the parish treasuers
The Assessors in some of the parishes have failed to
make faithful enumeration Of the number Of edu-
cable children, but the Superintendent was compelled
under the law to be governed by their returns. He
recommends that the law be so amended as to place
in his hands the power to remedy the evil whenever
proper exhibit is made BY the parochal authorities
The Public School System has cost the State about
four million dollars since its adoption in 1s47 "yet"
says the Superintendent, Sin consequence Of the apa
thy which has apparently pervaded the minds Of
those who are directly interested taxpayers" the
law has not been faithfully executed in every district
BY those who are charged with carrying it out.
The Superintendent has examined the practical
working Of the school systems of other States, aud
thinks the secret Of their success has been in the
adoption Of the most ehicacious means for the ad-
Yancement Of education, rather than the most eco
nomical. He says:
II is respectfully submitted that our system is still
wrthng under the effects of the hue and cry of ire
trenchment and reform which was raised in 1852,
nor will It find relief until return to the system
il then existed which, together with such amend
ments and notifications as are obviously necessary,
will place our public schools on footing which will
compare favorably with any in the United States
in Europe. Such, indeed, may now be said of New
Orleans, the City OF Jefferson, and few other local
ties which form noble exceptions to the general rule
The recommendation made in former reports to re-
establish the Office of Parish Superintendent is re.
peated in this The substitution Of the Parish Treas
erers saves to the State altogether only about $780,
and there is no obligation upon them to perform the
numerous and important duties that devolyed upon
the Parish Superintendent The report estimates q
fourold loss for this gain by the employment Of in
competent teachers.
By the first section Of the school law, all white
titled to the benefit Of the fund appropriated for the
support Of public Schools and this the Superintend
ent recommends be amended SO as to read, between
the ages of eight and eighteen" We think this a
sound suggestion, and endorse the opinion that
children confined to their books at the tender age
Of six years soon acquire a dstaste for study, and
will not learn so much in period of four years as
those who are placed at school at the age of eight
nxui In fv1,nB <Ink 81
systematic custom of treating childs mind as one
would dollhouse plants pernicious and danger
ous one.
The Superintendent disapproves Of the clause
which provides that where children attend private
school in any district where no public school is
taught the teacher shall receive the same compensa
tion for each child as if he had charge Of public
school, This he thinks unjust to parents who are
unable to pay the extra rate of tuition demanded in
such cases. and tends to discourage public schools
and draw off the means Of their support. This is
the fact be says in several districts in the parish of
East Feciana there is not solitary public school to
be found and out Of nearly 1000 educable children
the returns from that parish show only about $50 at
tending school. Among other amendments to the
school law recommended in the report is one to pay
teachers only in proportion to the number of child.
rem taught instead Of stipulated salary agreed upon
with the Directors one to attach penalty to the
failure Of Directors to perform the duties devolying
upon them by law; one to require the Parish Sur
veyos to furnish information as to the condition Of
the school lands, etc, etc.
The Superintendent warmly approves the policy
Of establishing Normal Schools, and thinks that no
extra taxation need be resorted to to carry out the
idea (:
Ofthe three hundred thousand dollars annually an.
prated BY the Legislature for the support of schools
let hundred thousand thereof be set apart for the
establishment and support of four normal schools in
the power and extend the privileges of the one
already established in New Orleans; and on the same
basis establish one in each of the other Congressional
Districts let these schools be opened for the recep
ton Of such young men and women as are DESTROYS
Of qualifying aud pledging themselves to become
teachers in the public schools Of the State and in less
than three years we will have corps of teachers Of
whom the State will be proud
The report closes with recommendation that the
Legislature establish On educational journal, as an
auxiliary to the public school SYSTEM and an aid to
education generally throughout the State the Super
ntendent thinks that it would not only become self.
sustaining in less than two years. but might operate
to reduce the expense of maintaining the Deaf and
Dumb Asylum by affordiug employment to many Of
its inmates as priaters.
1@FIve Hundred Dollars Reyyard.-The