The Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1870-1871, 1871-01-19
THIRD WARD SCHOOL BOARD
"sUCH FANTASTIC TRICKS. "

hN Ni--INA -" OIL "a A'O1sA~~ IA N|SAA0O@ ~)A<S~
tors, after many an excruciating effort at
deyising most the approved method OF en-
barrassment to the entrance of children
to the schools of that ward, have at last
arrived at the following complicated res
olntion, which they print in the Repub-
Ican OF sunday last. THAT all applications
for admission to the public schools of
this ward, must, be made to the commit
tee every Saturday. between the hours of
II N. and 2. NJ, at the Fisk Branch,
OH Basin (Franklih?) street, between
Perdido and Poydras streets All pupils
applying must be accompanied by their
parents or guardian. Hereafter pupils
will only be admitted to the school every
Monday"
If any evidence were wanting to con-
vince the mind, that this Board had
utterly failed to comprehend the scope
Of their province and dudy; the impor-
lance OF education to the masses, and its
effect on the best interests of the State ),
and the paramount necessity of making
the approaches to the elementary schools
as facile and attractive rs possible, this
resolution has fully supplied that lack.
In every civilized community at the
present day the burden OF the cry of the
Philanthropist the patriot and the States
man is, Education. The object and ten
dency of all the efforts OF the honest
Press, and the Evangelical Pulpit are, to
shed light, to dispel darkness from the
land, and gross darkness from the peo-
ple; and all, in harmony and sympathy
with the cry of Wisdom are worthily
initiating each other in their efforts, not
only to furnish all possible advantages,
but 20 simplify and expedite accers to
every source of knowledge and enlighten-
ment. Governments, advancing with
giant strides, in every department con-
shutting and characterizing high civil
ization, are most trembling alive to the
necessity and importance of elevating the
masses by education, and SO strong is
their solicitude SO conscious are they OF
the power Of knowledge, that they are
making education compulsory, and infic-
ting penalties on parents who fail to
cause their Children to avail themselves
OF the educational advantages afforded.
But here in New, Orleans, where the
genius and institution of slavery, neces-
state men to glove darkness, because
their deeds were evil" here where IN
happily, the dreadful blight and shadow
Of that enormous curse still darkens and
olscures too many minds; here in the
third ward of this city, where there are
thousands Of ignorant and benighted
children, the SOILS and daughters Of ignor-
ant and benighted parents of every
kindred and people and tongle"-hert
We have q Ward School Board, deibera
tely, and with an ingenuity as remark
able. as it is disgraceful and injurious
setting in operation most efectnal OBJ
struction to admission into the public
schools.
F, Why surround the pale OF the schoo
with 50 perplexing a performance tt
illiterate parents What in the worl(
has the COMMITTEE" to do with simpl,
aGmission--or order to o Teacher to re
ceive q p,lpil-the terms of the issuing o
which are provided by law. But if thi
committee desire officiously to have
Ginger in the pie" why DO they not at
tend da,jy and receive applications, o
they may come in? They have NJ
authority in reason, or in justice, to res
| trict applications, and narrow the tim
; for parents to apply to three hours out o
six days. But this outrage is perhap
: the necessary outgrowth OF the evil Of rs
sunling the performance Of duties neve
contemplated rs its appropriate work
And what right have they to refuse I'D
mission for four days out OF five Now il
ali seriousness, if the present educationa
: system is to be anything better than
'mockery. delus;on, and snare any
thing BETTE. than an extravagant AM
5 outrageous farce, in the name of com
mon sense adopt rational method
"worthier of regard and stronger.
Abandon al devious Iaths, for there ar