The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1860-02-04
REPORT OF tn
OF PUBL

L IaNtdsG ~ Gs &NEti AS JoAittlS III l.
gesticne made to tie 1egislatu.
ton ct its present session.
The Superintendent States tb
Of bis lust Report, tasre rel
Treasury 10 the credit oftraf
snm Of sT6,7os e. was
at The last SEE tbs Legislature.
appropriate 5000 00. making IT
amount ef 1915, 700 66, for the su
the Free Public Schools 10 the Sta
year 1859: During the Year 1879
s3T4ssse 30, has been appartiened
several r~esisiles Of tie State; leat
anea on hand to the credit Of the
School Fund Of 1890 AZ.
The Superintendent refers to the la@saf
last session, fixing the amount apportioned /
each eaaeable child d 80 per year, instead Of
81. He says that he OF arst declined to com
ply with tie provisions Of this act, from the
fact that it would exhaust The whole appor-
t~ionment for the fiscal year, ending Dist
March. 1860 but upon consultations with
confidential advisers, be concluded to comply
with the provisions Of the ACT, hence the snpali
balance now renlainiiig on hand to The credit
Of the School Fund. In view of this increase
Of appr eFriatien to each edncahle child, and
the increase Of educabie children in the State
now numbering s5.85l, II will be necessary
for the Legislature al its present session to
make Az appropriatian Of s56l593 81, ID
carry out the provisions Of The act passed in
1883.
The Superintendent next refers to the act Of
the last session If the Legislature. authorizing
he several Parish Treasarers to retain out IL
the proceeds ~ The sales Of schaul lands. the
sam Of 2K rer cents for their services for
selling said lands. This act. the Superintendent
thinks il a violation af the spirit and letter of
fhe Act Of Congress. donating the sad lands
I'M HE Slate for School purposes. Besides, the
compensation allowed Parish T'reasarers for
such services is excessive, ard the policy in
augnrated il well calculated to e~ngender dis
satisfaction, especially ii those parishes where
Iths lands are valuable and the population il
sparse.
The Superintendent thinks that the present
School law is detective ID every essential par
t%icular and should be remodellcd. The first
change suggested is, TO increase the duties, en-
large the powers, and augment the ssasary Of
1.-The Stste Superintendent. Make ii his duty
10 visit every parish in tLe State, deliver
lectures on Public Education, and encourage
the teachers Of the various Public Schools ID.
form associations for their MANUAL improve
@inent. The paramount suggestion of The. su-
periDtendent is to restore the afiee Of Parish
Superintendent, The Parish superintendent
under the original law received fol bis salary
$500 per annun, while the Parish Treasures
under the change. acting only as ,eeeivers and
dasotsfse,i, get the annual compensation of
600, thus saving 10 the 48 parishes of the
State about $4,000. while the loss to the fund
ny the change has not been less than $4,000.
per amen, BY the employment Of worthless
and incompetent teachers.
Under the provisions Of the law Of Ie47,
establishing The Free School system, ii Was the
duty Of the Parish Superintendent to examine
teachers and grant certificates Of qualification
only 10 those Of good moral character, visit
every School IN the parish once a quarter,
correct nny and all maladministration which
might arise IN the management of the Schools,
All vacancies IN the School directory, infase q
spirit Of pride and emulation among The punjisl
ai'd TEACHERS ard il . word impart new Life
and sig,tr to the whole system.
Under this regime for six years, the aystem
workedAwea. md presaged important results 10
the yotish Of our State; bat.ssin 1853. our law
makers D through pretended motives ii re,rencl.
neusAdnd reform abolished the oaice If Parish
Superintendent, aud the result has been . 1er.
feet failarc IF the whole system except in New
Orleans, aud one or two other cities id The
Slate.
Since 1883 there has been no direct super
sisioa Indeed none at all) over the Schools,
The directors are not elected ID ten parishes in
The State BY the people as The law directs. bnt|
are appointed By the Police Juriea. frequently
without regard 70 aaalifcaiio ion, aud not anfre.
quently at the suggestions and wire-wurkines
Of partisans to keep certain teachers a little
longer IL the enjoyment Of sAe ioares and
fishes"
This matter rauat be reformed and our ler;s.
latoFs should 60 To- work III i proper spirit.
aud respond % the demands of public sentiment,
~ once, IL q 'harongha i camplete oyerha4ling
Eof our Free School law.
Restore tbe. Office 1t Parish Superintendent.
cit'the him With power to select teachers Of
Habiiitsy and good moral character, 10 keep.
regular supervision oeer the Schools 10 III.
sTarish and % correct any and all improprie-
ties IN the government Of the Schools then
wo may Look far the dawn Of i different state
Sof things n tho operations ef our Free public
Schools.
The Hon. il. Morgan win accep. oyy
hanks for important pubic documents from
Baton Rouge.
We take pleasure ID directing The a,te-, ion
u orr numerous friends 10 the advertisement
70 enr columns, Of Sands sarsaparilsa. which
roa y Ia i,car NO narnnt,.F a.& -, 49,