The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1871-11-18
Public Education


The following very sensible article
is copied from the Attakapas Register
edited by Hon. Emerson Bentley
Several weeks ago we published an
editorial article headed g Stop It."
This article had special reference to
the removal of school officials in diff
ferent parts of the State, in violation
of law, the removals being peremptory
and the accused parties denied u trial.
The evidence. upon which we base our
article, was an official letter from
Secretary Cole, of the State Board,
addressed to Hon. A. j. Sypher,
School Director, and President of the
Parish Board of st. Mary, announcing
his removal from office, without as
signing any reason; resolutions of the
Baton Rouge School Board. protest
ing against removal without trial,
and alleging partisan reasons as the
only ground of complaint, as the
members of it were opposed TO the
administration; also, an editorial ar
ticle in the Louisiana Intelligencer
protesting against the removal of Hon.
Anthony 0yerton, of 0uachita, with
out trial and to the detriment of the
school interest in that parish. We
deemed il our duty Us an independ-
ent Republican editor, and as a friend
of public education to take cognizance
of these acts. We at one time occu-
pied the position of Chairman of the
House Committee on Public Educa-
ton, and we had an excellent Oppor-
tunity to test the sentiment of the
peoples Representatives on educa-
tional matters, and we spoke in view
of our experience as well rs eonvic-
lions.
We knew it to be a fact that the
greatest opposition TO the school bill
in the House, was produced by the
fear that the school officials would
render the school departmental system
of political machinery; but when
State Superintendent Conway exhih-
tied the fact that the State Board
had been impartial in its appoint
ments, that opposition ceased. Hon.
Anthony Overton was member of
the House Committee and rendered
valuable aid Hon. j. Henri Burch, of
Eaton Rouge, contributed his influ.
ence and a happy speech to the school
bill, while Hon. A. J, Sypher gave
his vote in the Senate, and has
since proved an efficient school officer
in st. Mary, The school work III this
State is one OF it's most important
interests. The educational depart
ment requires host of supporters.
Such men as Sypher, Burch and Over
ton, should not be set aside without
good and sufficient reasons.
Our article has been extensively cir
culsted throughout the State, and
among the papers that lepublished it
ONLY two have raised exceptions, for
local or personal reasons, while the
entire number indorse this sentiment,
as expressed in the editorial tn ques-
ton
Let it be understood that the
department of education is above the
broils and turmoils of political strife,
and that it III devoted alone to the
nobler and better duties pertaining to
the impating Of knowledge to the
neglected youth OF the State. 1t will
then become the common pride and
receive an universal support
1t is now proper to add that cover
nor Warmoth interceded and procured
the re-appointment of Hon. Anthony
Overton ). he assured Senator Sypher
that he would be, and he has since
neen re-instated; md, from the best
ofom information, we believe that all
is well in Baton Rouge. We are in
receipt of letter from member of
the State Board, claiming for that
body a perfect freedom from partisan
motives in their deliberations.
We shall give that body an earnest
support and at the same time,
denounee the hasty and unvarranted
manner in which our contemporaries
have indited attacks upon Spperin-
tendent Conway and Governor War
moth Iii this connection.