Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1867-07-16
The Peabody Educational Fund.


has placed us under obligations for
a copy of his last Circular addressed
to the various local authorities and
friends of public education through
out tho State who may be likely to
take such cognizance, official and
otherwise, of the subject, as will tend
to promote the noble aims it has in
view. Accompanying the Circular
Of Mr.. Lusher, is another from Mr..
Sears, the General Agent of the
Peabody Fund, together with GER
tain letters addressed by that gentle
man to Mr.. Lusher.
The paramount Importance to
every country Of well established
system for the universal diffusion of
knowledge and learning among the
masses of the rising generation,
prompts us to aid in giving publicity
to the whole Of these documents.
The auxiliary which it is pro-
posed to furnish through the Pea.
body fund in support Of and for the
successful promotion of public edu-
cation in this as we'll as other States
South, is susceptible of being con-
verted into a great and permanent
good, and viewing it in such light
its claims upon the public generally
for O wise, liberal and enlightened
cooperation, cannot be gainsaid.
Experience has shown, Though
we hope it may be disproved in tho
instance of the Peabody Fund.-,
that the agents and custodians Of
such funds are too apt to squander
or tritter them away, regardless OF
the true objects for which they were
intended and provided. The pru.
dent and careful selections made by
the generous hearted Peabody Of
! gentlemen distinguished for their
good Judgment, worth and integrity
to represent him in the Legitimate
and proper disbursement Of his mu-
nifcent bounty, would seem to at
ford sufficient guarantee that his
aims and desires in the premises will
be faithfully carried out to the end.
We shall be better enabled to satisfy
ourselves on this point, when IN the
course of time we shall see revealed
the inceptive and progressive opera
tions of the policy under which MIR.
Peabody's Board of Trustees are to
be guided in the discharge of their
honorable, delicate and responsible
trust.
We annex the documents alluded
to above:
Circular az to Peabody Fand.
|
OFFICE OF STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC |
| EDUCATION, New Orleans, July !, 1857
TO the Police Jurors. District School DhecfOr'
and other Friends Of Popular Eiucdt.on, it
tho RespectsDe Parishes Of Louisiana:
GENTLEMEN-Inviting your attention &c
the annexed circular AMI letters, ! would
earnestly bespeak union of your hearts
and hands Tor the organization of primary
and common schools, an charge Of competent
teachers. You therein have the assurance
that only "schools established, supported
aud superintended by the Southern people
themselves" will be encouraged and aided
by the Trustees, and that by common" OF
"firee schools" they do not moan 'school'
equally open to whites and blacks" The
whole question of education they wisely
leave to the discretion of the people them
selves.
Gratifed to learn that, in several par
ishcs, there have already been organizet
successful schools, maintained, IN part, b,
private contributions and free to all thu
white children Of the vicinity, in consider
alton of the payment thereto Of the public
fund-a system which is in strict accord
ance with the 22d Section Of tho Schoo
Act Of 1855, the closing paragraph Of which
says that, "in all cases during the period
when the public money is applied to tn
support of schools, they shall be free for al
aohite children OF tie proper age in the Dis
trict;" l would respectfully recommend
the permanent establishment of schools
on q similar basis, sohereuer practicable, ant
particularly in those localities which cal
properly be regarded, in the language o
{ the respected General Agent, as "radlatinI
: centres Of influence" in your parish.
From the closing sentence in the lette
of June llth, you will perceive, gentle
:, mon, that DR.. Sears proposes to visit thi
State, neat Wsnter, to secure "persona
r knowledge of the condition Of the peopl,
4 and Of the state and prospects Of you
Schools" To lay proper informal be
fore him, l must earnestly request fror
> you as full and clear report as possibl
in reference to what can and scaU be done i
=. your parish in furtherance of the nobl