New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-17
APPORTIONMENT OF THE SCHOOL
FUND.

Stair OF LOUISIANA. }
oftce State Superintendent of Public Education. ;
New Orleans, December 9, 1871.
In announcing the following appOrtion
ment Of school funds, the State Superin
tendent would express his qualification al
the progress made in the organization OF
new schools. and the increase of pupils
during the last quarter.
When the existing obstacles to a rapid
extension of the school work are consid.
erel: the active opposition of some and the
apathy of large numbers of the citizens of
the State. together with the Inadequate
means at the disposal OF the various Parish,
Boards it is encouraging to state that there
are at this time, outside of the city of New
Orleans. seven hundred schools in success
full operation, while the number is steadily
increasing.
Nor are the schools merely nominal Or
CARNATIONS. In nearly every instance they
are largely attended, and often by such
numbers that the accommodations are in
sufficient Tor the pupils, Since nv last cir
cular on this subject was iss ued, the increase,
n attendance has averaged thirty per cent,
which, though taxing the energies Of the
teachers. has been attended by no diminu-
ton in the progress of the pupils, the graft
tying nature of which speaks well for orr
public school system.
The school fund has, during the past
year. been largely drawn upon by the
IreaAlrers of the various parish and town
boards to meet the necessary expenses of
the schools. Back apportionments, pre-
viously unused. have, in nearly every i'll
stance. been drawn and applied to the pur-
pose for which they were designed. with IL
consequent reduction Of the inactive sur
plus hitherto reported. This Is the best
evidence of the activity which has prevailed
u the prosecution of the work, inaslnuch
"a undrawn appointments are the strong
est evidence OF the neglect of popular e,lu-
cation in the districts to which they belong.
Yet, with all the drafts that have been made
on 1t. there remains in the hands of the
State Treasurer $92,762 63 to the credit Of
the school fund. The treasurers Of parish,
city and tnwn school boards who have
qualified according to law. and have filed
authenticated copies of their bonds in this
office, can call at once and draw the
amounts hereinafter apportiOned to their
respective parishes, cities or towns.
The sum apportioned to the city Of New
Orleans has been in part anticipated by
payment to the Board OF Directors of Pub
lie Schools in that city. which We're assented
to II order to lessen the sutferngs Of the
large body of teachers employed by them.
1t Is. however, deemed advisable. after con-
sultatlon with the highest authorities of the
State, to continue the advance by allowing
that Indebtedness to be carried forward to,
and cancelled by the next apportionalent,
especially as this will involve no lessenins
OF payments to any other portions of the
State. and no serious embarrassments for
the time being. Through the opposition of
a portion of the citizens. no school tax has
been levied in New Orleans, and, except
the State tax, not dollar has been col
lected from it's people during the
year for the support of the seventy
puplic schools which furnish instrnc-
ton to the children of the city;
notwiths. anding which, the city board and
the State authorities have been censured in
a leading journal for allowing the large and
merl;OriOuS corps of teachers to remain IN
paid. Stripped of resources by those
on defect in the law to deprive the schools
of support. The means that should have
been provided for the payment of
the teachers ruthlessly denied to them,
against the strongest pleas of the friends
Of education. An attempt is now made by
IA paper which tacitly assented to that sui
cidal attempt to destroy the public schools
to tasten the consequences of acts tor which
it had no rebuke on the authorities who eX-
hausted all legal measures to defeat them.
Such is the justice of the opponents Of the
school system.
1t is gratifying to state that owing to the
Eberality of the city authorities in recogniz-
ing ana canceling former unpaid apprOpr-
alton. in connection with the single advance
from the State fund and the prompt pa
ment of the quarterly appointments, the
schools of New Orleans will reach the close
Of the year with the Board but two months
il arrears to the teachers. and with an as
sured prospect of brighter days beyond.
THOMAS w. CONWAY,
State Superintendent OF Education.