The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-08-19
A New System Of Public Education.

The capacious mind Of that disinterestef
Iparson, enlightened philanthropist anG
prince of carpet-baggers in Louisiana, who
halls from the land Of the Puritans, til.
Honorable and Very Rere,.ena Mr.. Con
way, late Chief Tycoon of the 8: Bureau o.
Freedmen, Refugees and Abandoned
Lands" has been in labor with a new sys.
tenn of public education for the poor be.
lnighted inhabitants of Louisiana; and has
been safely delivered thereof We have no
doubt he can readily incubate similar sys.
tens for any State 10 want of his services
and bring them forth gs easily as the peas
ant women of Europe and the Indian
squaws Of America bring forth their chill
dren.
We stand aghast at the originality,
learning ana profound wisdom of this new
| light in the educational armament, who has
come to Louisiana with such disinterested
and philanthropic intentions, who has been
moved to take such pity upon the ienor-
ance of its people, but his boldness reminds
US of remark made in this city, at the cor
ner OF Dauphin ard Ursulines street, in the
French quarter, during the reign of Butler
or Banks in 1863, by an old and very re-
spectacle creole lady, ON witnessing one of
the new-fanged Yankee contriyances then
being put into practice. It was this The
Federal officers finding some difficulty in
becoming acquainted with the names of the
streets, which at that time we're not placed
at the corners as they are now, and being
able to traverse them only by asking their
way OF the .passers by bethought, them of
the same device which has lately been
adopted here and now being carried ont.
They had the names of the streets printed
on strips OF paper and pasted on the inside
OF the gas lamps. The remark of the lady
referred to op seeing this done was to this
effect: Well, what are we coming to I? 1
hava lived here sixty-five years and have
generally managed to find my way through
the city without such assistance. These
Yankees have come down here to tell us
even the names of our streets" The tone
and the manner with which this was said
and the shrug OF the shoulders was ini,nita-
bic and cannot be put on paper. s
Mr.. Conway, of course, is above turning
an honest penny by has New England no.
ton, which we are toldby the official Jour-
nal has been submitted to the so-called
Legislature of our State. Being an enthu-
siast in the cause of education, he is mere
ly lro'hing for the lone of.tAe Mino. He
has been moved to take our case in hand.
we are told, first, on account Of "thc fail
ure OF our former school system secondly,
on account OF the vast number Of the in-
habltants oil this State who can neither
read nor write; and thirdly, on account of
the utter disregard Of the aristocratic ele-
inent IN regard to public education, and the
warm desire OF the poor for it."
We are informed moreover that the old
system lacked harmony" and was inefIi-
Gent" that the power Of the State Super
lntendent was gradually taken away by
successive Legislatures, SO that he could
exercise no salutary influence or control
over the schools-that the Police Juries
were generally neglectfnl of their duty in
regard to education in their respective
parishes, and the 1'reasurers of the School
FUNDS, In not few instances, were either
allowed to pocket them or divide them
among company of favorites who used to
run the local machines in the various dis
tsicts." Now all this is 10 be changed.
The power OF the State Superintendent is
to be upheld and increased, and his influ-
ence over the schools is to be strengthened,
People of the Conway stripe never "di-
vide end never have any afaS7orites.'
They keep all to themselves.
The State owes debt of gratitude for
the deep interest thus exhibited. by Mr..
conway in her people, and will doubtless
mark her sense of that interest bv giving
heed to his suggestions and putting his
system into operation. 1t therefore be-
hooves us to know what that system is.
and what its principal features. Mr.. Con.
ways, scheme aims, we are informed. g ut
complete remedy of all the old evils from
winch the State has suffered go long and
so terribly. The old school laws Of the
State are entirely ignored. Not line of
them is preserved, They smell too much
OF aristocracy and secession. We quote
from the official journal:
A completely new system is offered. It
flrst proposes State Board of Education.
consisting Of the Lieutenant Governor as
chairman and six others, to he appointed
by the Governor and confirmed by the
Senate. To this Board will be given the
power to manage the public schools of the
whole State, and to receive and disburse
all school moneys. It then prescribes the
powers and duties of the State Superinten-
dent, who Is declared, in accordance with
the constitutional provision, to be vested
with the power of control and supervision
OF all the public schools of the State, and
who; shall be the executive officer of the
State School Board
1t provides for the appointment, in each
City and Parish, Of Board of Public
School Commissioners to be appointed by
the state superintendent, and confirmed
BY the State Board, in like manner as the
appointees of the Governor, on the State
Board, are confirmed by the Senate.
1t provides for the division Of tho State
into six General School Districts, each
general district to embrace several Par
ishes, and for the appointment to each of
a General District Director, who shall be
to each district SO created what County
are to the Northern
States, where free schools have been work
ed mp to degree of success almost with
out parallel These General District Di-
rectors are to be appointed by the State
and confirmed, and their
salary fixed, by the State Board.
1t provides for division of each Parish
into school districts of not more than ten
miles square.
1t provides for uniform system of text
books to be used in all the public schools
of the State, and for State Normal school;
for high schools in each Parish. or for
number of Parishes combined; and for
system Of scholarships for the encourage
ment OF yonng men and women whose de-
sire may be to fit themselves for the work
OF public school teaching in this State
Each scholarship shall amount, If d high
SaIt nf.I m h4r al IL u w