Gazette and sentinel., 1860-01-28
THE SUBJECT OF EDUCATION.

Our obliging Representatives have sent Us
o number Of Reports Of the different depart
ments Of State, each Of which doubtless is
sufficiently lnteresting-or abounds in matter
oil sufficient interest to the public-to warrant
at least . review by US, if We can find time
among our multilarious duties mot to include
the service We are called upon at present 10
perform for the public as yuy0r) to sppropri-
ate to this matter. We will make . com-
mencement, however, by taking up that Re-
port which treats Of the subject most interest
ing to the public, or which merits the first
consideration.
The Report Of the Superintendent Of sdu-
cation is one thst really merits a much more
extended not &c than our Limits will permit,
or our capacities y i'll allows the cause of
Education should stand foremost and over
shadow all others in the minds of a frse or
self-governed people. Without a pretty tho
rough dissemination of the blessings Of Edu.
cation in a Government Ike ours, We stand
in need of the surest and most lasting pillar
necessary in its structure; consequently, the
people and the peoples representatives should
spare no exertions or expense in the carrying
out or accomplishing a work VI such impor-
tance-eyer keeping it in mind until it is fully
finished, until there is q unanimous approval
Of it in all it's parts.
The report alluded to, including the reports
from the New Orleans schools and from the
Treasurers Of the various Parishes, is very
'olulninous, and the suggestions Of Mr.. HAM
hToN, and his remarks upon this subject, are
highly crcditabie and deserving of attention,
and Of great interest to all who desire 10 see
the cause Of Education iourish in Louisiana.
The Superintendent commences by saying
that he has apportioned among the several
parishes OF the State the sum of 3374,S99 20,
which leaves a balance on hand to the credit
Of the Public School Fund of 81, 100 10. The
number of educable children il the State un.
der the enumeration Of last year, amounts TO
95,o5l, being an increase Of 1888 over that
of 1857. He is oppressed TO the law of the Lee.
g~islature allowing Parish Treasures 9, per
cent as their fee for selling the Schcsl Lands,
as he conceives il q violation OF the Act Of
Congress, donating said lands to the State for
school purposes. lie recommends the publica.
ton of a Journal Of Education at the Deaf
and Dnmb Asylum, /; suggests the increase of
the superintendent salary, and that he be
required to visit every parish and to give lee.
lures on the subject Of education. He urges
the revival Of Parish superintendent; he
advises that the Parish School Directors com
pei the citizens of each District to build q
suitable school house as near the centre Of
said district as possible and he warns against
the imbibing of anti Southern Sentiments,
through the employment Of imp roper teachers.
The late Superintendent concludes by saying
that the whole school system is defective and
wants remodeling. He asks the reader if his
or his neighbor's children have been benefited
BY the large appropriations annually made in
the same portions Of the State to advance the
cause Of learning2 Fo- one, we can answer
that we perceive very little good resulting
from such appropriations.
In the Report annexed of our Treasurer,
it is stated that there are but three districts
in this parish in which public schools are
held, and that in those districts there are %
scholars attending and 141 non attendingl-
We regret 10 say, on an examination of the
reports from the other parishes Of the State
that lberville is behind them all we believe,
without a single exception, in the number of
in operation and scholars in atten.
dance, while there arc not five parishes that
more or as much as our parish to-
wards the Public School Fund. There is some
great error or bad management some where.
The people Of Iberville owe it to themselves
to examine how it is, in connection with this
subject Of Public Education, that so much
money is spent to SO little advantage.