New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-21
from the New orleans Times. May Nl
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL QU EsXAON'

THE PUBLIC SCHOOL QU EsXAON'
There seems to be scarcely reasonable
hone that the public schools will escape .ne
difficulties and embarrassments by WhlGn !!
,hey are now surrounded. II they shouin
escape the admixtnre question there sun
remains the financial difficulty. 1ne oss.1
fund is insdequate to the support OF tne .ity
schools. The system OF waro taAa.u, u1,nt
not unconstitutional and an Infringement
upon the rights of the municipal govern
ment, is confessediy unreliable, ana may; r II
desirable, be used against the scnoois: Lno
CITY administrators can not contlhue w Pa'
the monthly schools rolls wlthout aeom M.
| ing expenditures Inwarranted py Sw, aS
| June apportionment may enaoie .t1 Du r"iis.
| of Directors to pay one OF It's mohthAs iuas,
| hut even that is doubtful, and beyond that
| it is difficult to see how the schools can oe
sustained. o;+i
zens are already beginning to move III ine
matter of private schools. The CatholIcS
and the Hebrews already nave oneii Onr
eanized systems in full operation. our
German population has taken lnitlatoty
steps. looking to the education OF shelr
class, Church schools are already cohteM-
plated by various denominations OF fsotes-
tants. So far as sec{ar. An Influences pie
ponderste in these schools, thelr Sstsi'iness .ss
win be limited to the societies WHICH tney
represent. =;
In addition to these movements many III.
dividual efforts will be started, ana many
| good teachers, renting such rooms as cah oe
ohtained for the purpose, will draw around
them small classes of pupils; but. notWltn-
standing their capacity and experience,
their nsefnluess viii be limited by the de-
facts incidental to weak and poorly sus-
tanned private enterprises. or
II would obviously be to the advantage OF
teachers and pupils, if some degree OF CO.
operation could be brought to pear 10 tlis
matter. Something must be done toWalu
) the establishment of good elementary, non,
sectarian schools, where the rates OF luleloi
should be within the reach Of all. Cnurcn
societies. benevolent associations ana the
like. could give moral support oy lheIr
strength and numbers and, also afford prac-
tical assistance in the use Oh cohVeh leh,
rooms and buildings. The energy anu y
teaching ability, otherwise expended 10
;soIatsd feeble enterprises, could be concen-
trared to advantage in weIi-organlzed
| graded schools.
some basis of uniformity, so far as uni
formity is desirable could be adopted IN the
= nse of text books, in the classification o.
| pupils, in the course OF lnstrnctlon, III tn'
notifications and pay of teachers:
The following may be mentioned IS amons
the advantages likely to result from thl'
combination:
command the attention and support 0
mapy of our citizens who. without person
Al interest in the public schools, yet &C
knowledge their Importance TO the seHel"
interests of society.
Q The efficiency of the schools would o
nromoted. The distinctive features OF wei
Conducted public and private schools coul
he preserved. Modes of discipline and IN
struction could be subjected to generai law
of progress. .,,;
3. By a system of general averages, tnl
tion fees could be reduced to mlnlmul
rates. Schools established in more prosper
ons sections of the city could be made
contribute to the organization OF other
!. in localities chiefly inhabited by the poore
classes. o.u,
committee might be appointed IN "nlc
,N the different interests ulSA' o0 AoPAN
sented.
Should the public schools be disorganizee
| some General plan viii be necessary 10 pre-
vent a great increase OF ignorance ana 'lc'
It. might be regarded as temporary al
!. rangemens until the time when our pupl
- sch5olhouses shall again become aValiao
for the benefit of our white chlldreh. E1t
cation is of common interest and should {
encouraged by united efforts. 1t would
m a matter of regret to see our Guy dlV!oe
into opposing classes upon THIS suGJec
We do not wish to see the interest OF al
- one class cOnnneQ 10 seC1hilau ooh'ot'
to schools representing any distinct natlo
vs., ality. Even if no bitterness or strife shou
ars be epgendered, there would. at least,
produced an indifference to those NOV
,,v ments which are designed 10 oehent olh
out out classes of the community. The German
nos for EXAMPLE, are interested IN the prop
, education of their own children, OUT
good citizens they are also Interested IN u
ntoner education of other classes
children. .o.,;.,,
Their own schools can be establlsh
,,x upder their direct supervision, but comm'
W good could be secured by cooperating WI
Other societies in this work. Their pl'
rds proposes the organization of primary, gra
,e. mar and high schools. Many socletl
res would be unable to maintain district MI
md schools, while they would desire su
- instruction for their more advanced ca
dren. Let one or two high schools be 9
ganized in connection with this movemei
npon broad, liberal, catholic principle
omen to all schools of lower grade, yet for
ing a part of the sytem and eqnallty une
the direction of the central committee.
These remarks are made in view OF !
q. possible, nay, probable abandonment OF
publjc schools and school funds for the til
being to the Radical disorganizers who n
undertake to control them for their own 9
vantage in the name OF civil liberty.
The Democratic press corresponds