New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-08-22
THE LEGISLATURES.
[coNrINuED FROM FIRST PAGE. !

lition of the Office Of Parish superintendent
The effectiveness of our system in Other
particulars will appear from the following
extracts, in which also appear useful sug
gestions for the guidance Of the legislator
Mr. Hamilton says:
have stated that the present school Law
is defective in every essential particular
and should be remodeled. The first grea'
change which strikes the mind of every
| observing man as necessary to be made, is tC
| increase the duties, enlarge the powers, anC
augment the salary of the State Superintend
ent. Make it the duty Of said officer to visit
| every parish in the State, deliver lectures or
| public education, and encourage the teachers
| of the various public schools to form associa
| lions fo- their mutual improvement. The
masses are not enlisted in behalf of public
education, nor will they feel that interest Oh
take that action in reference to the subject
| Of education which they should take, il
order that our public schools may be placed
| upon sure and prosperous foundation
| This Tlan has been adopted by many of thu
| States where public schools have been o.
| ganized, and incalculable good has resulted
| both to the teachers and pupils from thu
same.
In another place be says;
Our system is very defective in nearly
every essential particular, and before VIC car
| possibly realize the benefits which should
How from the large amounts annually eX
| pended for the purpose OF carrying 1t out, II
| is absolutely necessary that the same be
| entirely remodeled and placed upon a more
practical foundation As the law now stands
| 1t will continue to drag its slow length along
| for years to come and hang as an incubus
over private enterprise.
After speaking of the impractcability Of
procuring suitable schoolhouses and appur-
tenances under the present system Dr..
Bard, in his annual report, makes tho fol-
lowing remarks concerning the manner in
which the office of the State Superintend-
ent is furnished, (The State Superintend-
ent had an Office in those days.:
Not far removed from this subject is the
condition of the Office of State Superintend-
emit which is in an ineXcusably shabby con-
dition-without any necessary furniture,
and as far removed from the state and ap.
pearance it ought to have as can well be
imagined. 1t is scarcely possible, indeed,
to suppose that its actual occupation is Sc
riously contemplated by the Legislature.
1t is indispensable, however; and what is
more, if the duties Of the department are
to be properly performed clerk will have
to be appointed by the Legislature to attend
TO it, or the salary of the Superintendent
must be increased so as 20 enable him to
employ one.
After urging the necessity Of the States
continuing her efforts in the cause of public
education, Mr.. R. NJ. Lusher, the late Su-
perintendent, in his last annual report, uses
the following very eloquent and praise
worthy language:
From the imperfect success Of the free
school system in the past. however, it is not
legitimate TO argue the uselessuess of such a
system nor to predict similar failure in the
future.
We should rather seek to remedy the de
fccts in existing legislation, and at this crit
ical iuncture IN the history Of the State
make persistent efforts to advance the cause
of popular education.
In answer to objections that might arise
in the minds of Legislators in regard 10 the
expense Of an efficient system of public
education, DR.. Bard makes use of the fol
lowing truthful expressions
If the demands made upon the Legislature
for the improvement Of our educational
status appear in themselves heavy, let but
generous mind compare them with the vast
interests which arc to be weighed against
them, and it will acknowledge that they are
as but nothing in the balance, and must in
continently kick the beam, Louisiana as it
is is the empire State of the South. =
And why should she, instead of taking the
lead of the whole South, as she ought, and
as ultimately she must, wrong herself so
egregiously as to suffer her educational
system, the basis on which alone her true
greatness must ever depend, to remain be
hind fhnt nj CfhGr Gfufp IN bn TTp5nn
The following eloquent appeal on behalf
of public education in this State is taken
from Mr.. Lusher's report Of last year, and
should sink deep into the heart of every
member Of the Legislature as well as every
other citizen in the State:
Upon the General Assembly of the State
now rests the responsibility Of meeting the
question with the prescience of an intelli-
gent and patriotic craftsmanship.
No sadder comment upon legislation can
exist than a blighted national Intellect 1t
paralyses every interest connected with the
glory and prosperity Of q commonwealth.
II eaps alike the foundations of public spirit
and private virtue. 1t clings Ike shirt of
kessus 10 ihe body polite Of hee people,
and its poison testers until the strong frame
grows impotent and grovels in the dust,
ton of the masses. Az
Prussia, Austria, and all the German
States, France, Switzerland, Great Britain,
and most of the minor kingdoms of Europe
have long since recognized this important
truth by their liberal provisions for the free
education Of their people, and even Russia, |
in the far east, now struggles with her Cos |
sack hordes, and for the first time in her |
history as an empire spells out the primer
Of popular education. In the sympathetic
of civilization nov reeounding
through Canada and most of the American
States, we Of Louisiana shall not fall back
to the rear line. v
We are Americans and must therefore be
Though the late conflict has left us broken
and Impoverished, surely that does not
divest cur people and INDECENT children of
their sacred claims, our statesmen of their
solemn responsibility, tue Commonwealth |
Of Its potential authority in all matters |
affecting the public welfare.
The war has increased the number of neg.
lected children; the State must, il possible, |
double her love aud tenderness toward |
them. IL has left them In the tolls of pow
erty, the State alone can free them from the |
still more fatal bonds of ignorance,
II has LETT them poor in lands and reYen.
ueei 70 the State must they look to be made
rich in such instruction as will strengthen
the mind and purify the heart-as Will make
true patriots Of her sons, and intelligent,
noble women Of her daughters.
Al there be one deduction more strongly.
marked than any other, to be drawn from
our changed political condition, II is that
hereafter Louisiana must be peopled by
educated citizens.
The children cf these days viii find
themselves compelled TO struggle with
greater and more subtle difficulties than
have ever fallen upon US.
by the system OF Public Education nlnne