New Orleans Republican., 1868-08-25

ent. Make it the duty of said officer to visit
every parish in the State, deliver lectures on
pubic educationeand encourage the teachers
Of the various public schools to form associa-
tons for their mutual Improvement. The
| masses are not enlisted in behalf of public
education, nor will they feel that interest or
take that action in reference to the subject
OF education which they should take, in
order that our public schools may be placed
| upon sure and prosperous foundation.
This rlan has been adopted by many of the
states where public schools have been Or
| ganized, and incalculable good has resulted
both to the teachers and pupils from the
| same.
In another place he says:
| Our system is very defective in nearly
| every essential particular, and before we can
| possibly realize the benefits which should
flow, from the large amounts annually ex
| pended for the purpose of carrying it out, it
| is absolutely necessary that the same be
entirely remodeled and placed upon more
| practical foundation. As the law now stands
| it will continue to drag its slow length along
| for years to come and hang as an incubus
| over private enterprise.
| After speaking of the impracticability of
procuring suitable schoolhouses and appur-
tenances under the present system DR..
Bard, in his annual report makes the 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-
| ent 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. It 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 to 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 uselessness of such
system nor to predict similar failure in the
future.
We should rather seek to remedy the de-
fects in existing legislation, and at this crit
ical juncture 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 to 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 are 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 that of any other State in the
Union?
The following eloquent appeal on behalf
of public education in this State is taken
from Mr.. Lnsher's report of last year, and
should sink deep into the heart of every
member of the Legislature as we'll 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-
i gent and patriotic craftsmanship,
No sadder comment upon legislation can
exist than blghted national intellect. 1t
paralyses every interest connected with the
glory and prosperity of a commonwealth
> It saps alike the foundations of public spirit
and private virtue. 1t clings like a shirt of
Nessus to the body polite of free people,
and its poison testers until the strong frame
grows impotent and grovels in the dust
Modern civilization is based on the educa-
tion Of the masses.
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
march-step of civilization now resounding
through Canada and most of the American
States, we of Louisiana shall not fall back
| to the rear line.
We are Americans and must therefore be
progressive.
Though the late conflict has left us broken
and Impoverished, surely that does not
divest our people and INDECENT children of
their sacred claims, our statesmen of their
solemn responsibility, the 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, if possible,
double her love and tenderness toward
them. 1t has left them in the tolls of poy-
erty, the State alone can free them from the
still more fatal bonds of Ignorance.
1t has left them poor in lands and reven-
ues; to 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. .==-zz-==s-
If there be one deduction more strongly
marked than any other, to be drawn from
our changed political condition, it is that
hereafter Louisiana must be peopled by
educated citizens.
The children of these days will find
themselves compelled to struggle with
greater and more subtle difficulties than
have eyer fallen upon us. e+ as-- - - 9
By the system of Public Education alone
can the great majority of them be prepared
for the conflict. -
If that system pass through the ordeal to
which it Is now subjected, we may hope
that its usefulness will be permanent.
But if, through any lukewarmness on the
part of its protectors, it be allowed to fall,
its framework-now trembling in the bal
ance, will be shattered, and the hopes of a
struggling generation Indefinitely post
poned. If the protecting shield OF the
/ commonwealth be withdrawn from it, and
| great nublic Institution he th1s sacrificed