The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1868-06-13

NoA ''.s and~ria. - 1000
Normal Department Centenary College, 500
Normal Department Female Seminary. at
plaquemine. 4O0
Normal Department Female College,
Mount Lebanon. oOO
Normal Department Morehouse College,
Bastrop.- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 3U0
Sehaels 500
5000
Mr.. Insher, continues the Bee, has ad-
dressed the following eireular to certain
influential citizens in the most popuious
town in each parish of the State. This
eireuEar aypIaips itself, and we doubt
not PROMPT replies will be forwarded by
the parties receiving this circular:
The PEABODY EDUCATIONAL FUND
OF LOUISIANA.
Agency, New Orleans, May 1st, 1868.
Conference.-The Rev. Barnas Sears,
D. D., General Agent of the Peabody
Fund, having recently favored me, IL
this city, with an interview, | am now
fortunately able to communicate the
plans on which he proposes to extend aid
in behalf of the education of as large a
number as practicable OF the white chill
dren of this State. 1t will be noticed
that the embarrassing circumstances OF
our people received a degree of consid-
Grafton in pleasing unison with the en-
lightened philanthropy of Mr.. Peabody /;
and it is thought that, with appreeiatiye
energy on the part of three on more pub
lie spirited citizens, aided by the persua-
sive zeal of benevolent ladies and the i'll
fuenee of concurring teachers, the rev.
erend clergy and the press, the now ne
elected children of your most populous
town and its vicinity can soon be at
traeted to the refining associations of the
school room.
I. The primary plan-preferred by the
Trustees and General Agent-contem-
plates that s'provision shall he made fol
the establishment and Organization, In
populeus towns or communities most in
need of aid, of one properly graded
school for each sex, Tor one for both sex
es,l i'm which all white children shall be
entitled to instruction, free of charge,
in the common English branches for at
least eight months of the year, The
aid protfered in behalf of such schools is
O contribution of about five dollars per
edueable child, for the year, based ON the
whole number OF such children within
the corporate or school limits. and q lib.
eral donation of text books for the use
of the pupils in the elementary depart
ments.
The prerequisites for this contribution
and donation are the providing by the
tewn authorities, or citizens, of suitable
selfool- houses or rooms, of such fuTni-
ture as may be deemed Indispensable, and
the raising, by taxation or suscription OF
an amount sufficient, with the contrihu
tions, to compensate teachers and Other
employees, at agreed rates, for at least
eight montes, active service.
Competent teachersof existing schools
eonsenting to open their portals free h
all white children, may report the tuitioI
fees paid or promised them, for eight o.
nine months, as an amount .'snscribed, :
aud the estimated annual rental of theil
buildings and school furniture as addi
tional amounts provided, tsee form 'sAH
but it is understood that, in any sehoo
aided by the Peabody Fnmd, equal atten
ton and consideration shall be bestowed
on every pupil.
III. Should the circumstances of th
people In any populous town that ha
been desolated by war or afflicted by pes
thence or mn inundation. preclude the re
aIization therein of the foregoing plal
of aiding In the education 0f its ehll
dren, Twill cheerfllly submit to the Gen
eraI Agent any other reasonable projec
for the promotion of this important oh
iect that may be accompanied by th
statistics, guarantee, etc, requested i
blank A. Ii should, however. be borl
in mind that, where provision shall b
made for the free instruction of only sue
children as are not now attending school
the contribution from the Peabody Funa
will be but half the amount proffereshil
the primary plan, or In just proportion
To the actual number so instructed.
M, B.The whole amount apportione'
for the elementary education of whit
children i'm this State the present year
unavoidably limited Co $l2,OO0. To ai,
I'M the professional training Of 100 teach
ers iri normal schools or departments
there has been allowed an additions
amount OF 5000. Normal pupils thu
aided must be over sixteen years of ag
and already versed In the ordinary En-
glish branches, 30 that after one year
methodical training and exercise the
shall be competent To teach such branch
es Iii elementary schools. They must Il
30 be obliged TO exercise the teachers va
cation for at least two years-H oppol
ttanity offer--in schools free TO all whit
children Of the vieinage lor to sue
others as they may be willing to in
struct.)
Having thus explained. gentlemen
briefly as practicable, the outline lai
down for my guidance. have also i
anndunee that i have been ''requeste'
end authorized By the general agen
to make all the arrangements necessal'
for carrying ont the foregoing plans fl
the distribution of 81, 600 of the Pei
body Educational Fund, appropriate
for the henefit Of the children Of Lonil
d Iasia;;a and that, grateful for the cont
dence heretofore reposel IN me in an OIL