New Orleans daily crescent., 1866-06-19
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

The council is to act night on the very impor
tant subject of the public schools. Two drafts Of
ordinances are before the beard of aldermen, pro
ydirg for different systems of organization--one
introduced by MIR. S6th, and the other by Mr.
Clark. Mr.. Stith's project contempIates return
to the old plan of separate boards, and indepen-
dent machinery for each Of the four districts Er.
Glarks bill retains the existing system iuits essen
tial features, but increases the number of sgk1ol
directors 80 thirty-two.
we hope that these TIVE projects will be
examined by the council with the 2tten-
ton and impartiality demanded Ny the
Importance Of the subject Every one con
ceaes the necessity Of adopting some plan for the
organization Of our schools which, while il win be
satisfactory to the public, will at the same time
assure the greatest amount of efficiency in the
operations of this important department. 1t is to
BE regretted however, that there is ss wide diff
ference Of opinion as to the fundamental form Of
organization as is indicated By the two plans to
which we have referred but we sincerely hope
that this difference will net cause injurious delay
in arriving at a decision.
We presume that Mr.. Stith would not have
offered his project unless convinced that an abaud
onment Of the present consolidated system is to be
desired but we must confess that with the lights
before us we see no good reason for the change
An abrupt alteration of an established system is
always likely to be attended with embarrassments
and difficulties, even when necessity demands the
step. In the present case these embarrassTents
and difficulties are to be hazarded without any
compensatiBg advantages. One objection to the
present system is its origin, the consolidation Of
the schools having been effected by military order
shortly after the occupation Of the city
by the Federal forces, But if the system
is, in reality, a good one, as compared with
the disjointed and cumbersome machinery formerly
in use, it would be unreasonable to discard it on
account of prejudice against its authors. This is
the point to be debated, and we hope that it will
not be obscured by the introduction of any irrel-
evant considerations. Another reason urged for a
return to the old pan is that the Districts being
diverse in language, require distinct modes of in
struction, which can only be effectively provided
for, by means of separate school boards and super
intendents But it seems to US that if such differ
euee of requirements really exist, they can be
recognized just as well by one board as by four
boards. There is no reason to believe that single
board, properly constituted, and representing
fairly every portion of the city, would not do JUS
toe to all the Districts. On the contrary there is
reason to believe that the lower Districts are the
very ones which have derived the most benefit
from the establishment of the actual system. The
plan of four distinct school boards remained after
the consolidation of the city, as solitary relic of
the old municipal divisions which had been dis |
carded pernieous to our interests and our pros
perity 1t is not too much to say that the reasons
which dictated union of the municipalities under
a single government, apply even more strongly to |
the schools, and demand consolidation in their |
case, even more forcibly than IN that Of the city
On the score of economy the advantage is IN
Questonably with the consolidated system. Under |
the independent plan there are to be four separate
school boards, four separate superintendents, and
eight high schools. Whereas the actual machinery
costs $4,000 per annum, the former plan cost for
those features in which it differed from the present
one, $4,000, showing saving of $4,000 per an
mum. This sum, if devoted TO the improvement of |
the library the rent purchase of school houses,
or other similar objects, would certainly be en-
ployed with much more advantage than if ex-
pended in the salaries of superfuous officials.
On the other hand, while the main features of /
MIR. Clark's scheme are unobjectionable it seems
to us that his contemplated school board would be
entirely too numerous for effective action. Thirty
two members are too many for the purpose We
do not need numbers in the board; we need intel
ligence, fidelity and zeal in the work to be per-
formed, board Of seventeen, or twenty-one, at
the outside, wenld be fully large enough We
mention an odd number, because it is desirable to
have deliberatiVe body thus constituted, and the
odd member mightbe given without injustice to
the First District, which so far exces any of the
others in population, aud in the number of It's eda
cable child en-.