New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-01-25

sence we have heard of the efforts
of the State Board, to organize
schools. We now learn from the
Representatives in the Legislature, and
others who come in from the country,
that the men appointed by the board,
almost all over the State, are unfit for
their positions as directors, and should be
displaced as soon as possible. Till this is
done, and the work undertaken with more
regard to the public school interest, we
have but slight hope Of seeing the present
deplorable situation improved.
We have taken some pains to ascertain
how this great public interest now stands,
and we find about as follows;
There is a State Superintendent Of Edu,
cation, elected by the people, whose
salary is fixed at $4,000 per annum. For
this amount of money the State expects
and is likely to receive large amount of
public service.
There is a State Board of Education,
provided by the Legislature, composed of
eight members, seven of whom draw
| $1,000 per annum, each. Six of these
members live in New Orleans, two
of them live IN the country. There
are six division superintendent,
each receiving salary of two thousand
dollars per annum. A secretary is pro-
vided for at salary of two thousand
dollars per annum. The present school
law provides for each school district in the
State treasurer and secretary, and au-
thorizes the payment of salaries to these
officers.
Surprising that each will rec i've
salary not less than two hundred dollars
per annnm-then we find one hundred
and ninety-six thousand dollars disposed
of in connection Mlh the salaries already
alluded to. The present law provides for
each incorporated town dorty in alD
supervisor of schools Estimating tie
salary of each at one thousand dollars, we
find forty thousand dollars more dis
posed of.
Adding all these salaries together loe find
no means left 10Th shich 10 pay teachers or
build or rent school houses. They make
total of two hundred and sixty-two thou
sand dollars.
Another school bill, which is a simplii
cation of the present law, drawn by Sena-
tor Campbell last winter, is now before the
Legislature. After a careful perusal of
its provisions, we incline to the opinion
that it will be great improvement on the
present one. It continues the system of
division superintendents, and makes each
of these officers a member OF thsState
Board Of Education, thereby disposing of
the present State board, and reserving to
the use of the schools the amount ofmoney
now paid TO members OF that body.
This change would make the State board
much more efficient than the present one
can be, for it will be composed of the
active workers Of the system. We pre-
sumo there will be a unanimous vote in
both houses in favor Of this measure. 1t
also proposes one board of directors for
each parish, instead Of one for each ward
as now provided, and one board for each
incorporated town having more thnn one
thousand inhabitants. The parish board
is TO be composed, when practicable, Of
men chosen from each ward ia. the parish
The school fund for each parish is to be in
the custody Of its own board.
The number Of boards for the entire
State would be less than q fifth Of those
created by the present law. The expense
for salaries need not be more than two
hundred dollars per year for each parish.
This bill throughout seems greatly the SUI
perior Of the present law. Of which it is
condensation. The proposition 10 create
an officer whose duty it shall be to ex-
anime the sixteenth secton-donated by
Congress for school purposes is wise, and
liz proper man is appointed,
the fruit Of his labor should
be, in ayear or two, an addition Of a mil
lion dollars TO the school fund.
We expect to see the Legislature take
early ind effective action on this matter,
for upon the school system now to be
perfected win depend much Of the strength
Of the Republican party Of our State, and
indeed Of the State itself The charge
that the directors appointed over the
State are, for the most part, not ht for
their positions will not be made when the
system, as now contemplated, is put IN
wogking order And, as to the schools q
ths city Of New Orleans, We arc pleased "a
ase 4 provision. which, Il adopted, will
soon seFmiaats the struggle for thsir coz.
ssoi
VITA the aownael and advice Of ths
Stats Superintendent uio nov seems -
hearty and vigorous a. ever, Ghe Lsgia
alaEs should puab. forward On efficient
~ aeailens cas- whose bemeai.
wa IA ged u4al4 hefors thil
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