New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-01-05
Communicated
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO
THE SCHOOL LAW.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO !
THE SCHOOL LAW.
STATE cP LOUISIANA 4
oe;,a Stat, SUPERINTENDENT Public Education, } !
New Orleans, January 4, I'LL
Hon H. Hahn Bdtor Republican,:
/ promised you communication enl-
braclng my view Of the amendments needed
to make our present school law r.0re effect |
i've, and hasten to comply.
l. has been generally supposed that the
present school law is in all respects favor
ite with me, and some have industrlonsly
circulated the idea that l am its author
Both statements are untrue. have long
been of the opinion that the fewer boards OF
directors We have the better, and heree
did nv utmost to have but one board In
each parish, and one for each city and town
in the State, to be made up, AS far as praet.-
cable, by one representative from eacn
ward; but my view did not prevail with the
LEGISLATURE. and so We have the ward sys-
tenn.
As an officer | have exerteG ,Dy most
earnest endeavor TO have the law executed,
! and while admiring and indorslng the ~ard
plan ae possessing great merit where the
pop1,lation is more numerous and more
| cultivated than can be found "a the greater
number OF the districts OF cur own State,
F, We, am forced 20 admit, after doing my
| utmo est to make it a success, that It Will not
| succeed in this State for q number OF years
| 10 come, and that tie sooner We, 80 TAR
I amend the law ;.s 10 dispense with the
ward boards, the better for all concerned.
| Comparatively, nothing could have been
| accomplished were it not for the Division
! Superintendents These officers have visited
the various parishes, and by their personal
! exer,ions have secured the establishment
y! of a greater number of public schools than
! ever existed in Louisiana before
| N one of the Congressional d!visione. hit
| tie has az yet been done, except IN the "S-
| yanization of boards. q fact due largely 70
the opposition offered by the majority Sf
the white citizens to the school law and 20
the additional fact Of the Illegal and absence
| of the local superintendent during portion
of the time. l wish the amendment to add
! more strength TO that portion of the act re-
! latiny to THE powers Of the division super.
! intendencei and also TO those Of tho State
Board, so that in the event Of any board IN
any parish or town failing in duty. the
State Board ana the superintendent OF the
division may step IN and establish schools
! and secure thu education 81 the youth 81
our State at all hazardse
! The following extrac: :roIn NJ. Annual
letter TO the Governor Will probably Interest
you. l. gives, IN detail. tine question as to
VIVA. consider the amendment needed. l
nm Of opinion tina. the State Board, now in
! session. VIII recommend substantially slime
;la- changes III the Jaw. ! sIn pleased tc
state chat so far as have been able to judge
FROM conversation will, prominent friends
Of education IN New Orleans. those Views
wiici. ! otfc. touching the educational in
;eses.s a: the city. and tia: portion Of tie
! proposed amendment relating 20 THAT special
matter. are adapted to :',e sSfstin: eInsrc
encv. and are .ikeiy ~ 1!'ss ~.sa aa'
saest.,s:
4N5rA.:.
Y~ouif eee.,,cerd tia: sor the Purpose
: Of providing fund TOP the erection and re.
oair OF scAoolhouses. tina: each parish board
Of school directors t,e authorized ana EN-
4 DeWcrpu 10 lsN v = istAs INV SNiAc $500
: mills OH the dollar, on the taxable property
!. ! O. the parish. the same 10 be collected 81
I III. time and IN the manner OF other taxes
br the State SaS collectors and 10 be. b.s
! them. ,aid over 20 the :reasurers o: Tx
: parish toartiS. and that the ward boards BIZ
: ! abolished. Fo: the cont.ol and reSulatlor
!; Of the public. schools Il tie city Of New
> d;p.tors->one :roI. each ward Ok the
= :.i,...-to b. appointed by the State
: Board Of Education. art. one additional
= member, .yh shall be the treasurer II IT,
. hoard, to be appointed by the City Council
=. and WHO shall give bond in such amount
(. and under such conditions as the City Coun
II. ell may require: that this City Board sinai
j elect the Superintendent OF Public School
u for the Division OF New Orleans. who shai
r te ex-ot,icio President Of the Board, and 1t
. executive officer, and who, on their elet
i ton. shall form one OF the State Board o
D Education that the City Board shall deter
$ mine, annually. the sum needed to carry o.
TIE schools in the city, and report the sam
o to the Board Of Administrators, who sha
i niace the amount on their annual budget
= lew the same on the taxable property 0
| this CITY, to be collected at the time and l
] the manner of other taxes; the same whe
collected, to be paid to the Treasurer {
/ ! tie City Board OF School Directors for dii
II ! tributiCn il the manner and for the Pul
e poses provided for by law; that the sal
f board possess all the powers and privilege
It of a corporate body, and to be vested Wit
y the power to make al needful rules an
e regulations for the government OF tn
n schools. provided that no rule shall be N ad
r. Which shall conflict with those adopted
ii the State Board of Education.
e The foregoing recommendations
s. adopted, will. an convinced, meet ever
re necessity of tho case and make the scho
as system 10th .judicious and effective.
?, Respectfully,
Is THOMAS w. CONWAY,
- FAM n,Y nf a