New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-14
APPOKTlONMENT or THE SCHOOL
FUND.

Stair OF LOUISIANA
Office State Superintendent of Public Education
New Orleans. December >, 1911
In announcing the following apportlon
ment of school funds, the State Superln
tendent would express his gratlhcatlon a
the progress made in the organization o.
new schools. and the increase OF pupil'
during the last quarter. -,
When the existing obstacles TO RAPID
extension of the school work are consid
cred; the active opposition of some anu 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
tul 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 for the pupils. Since my last cir
cular on this subject was issued. the increase
in 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
fying nature of which speaks well for our
public school system.
year, been largely drawn upon by the
treasnrers Of the various parish and town
boards to meet the necessary expenses Of
the schools. Back appointments, pre-
viously unused. have. in nearly every ill.,
stance, been drawn and applied to the pur
pose for which they were designed, with
consequent reduction Of the inactive sur
plus hitherto reported. This Is the best
evidence of the activity which has prevailed
81 IL, al,
as undrawn appointments are the strong
est evidence Of the neglect of popular edu-
cation in the districts to which they belong.
Yet. with all the drafts that have been made
on it. 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 town 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
hereinafter apportioned to their
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 were assented
to IN order to lessen the sutferings Of the
arge body of teachers employed by them.
1t is. however, deemed advisable, after con-
,ultation with the highest authorities of the
State to continue the advance by allowing
hat Indebtedness to be carried forward to,
md cancelled by the next appOrtiOnment,
specially as this will involve no lessening
If payments to any other portions Of the
state. and no serious embarrassmpnts for
he time being. Through the opposition Of
portion of the citizens no school tax has
,een levied in New Orleans. and, except
he State tax. not dollar has been col |
ected from its people during the |
ear for the support of the seventy |
ublic schools which furnish instruc-
ion to the children of the city: |
ot withs, anding which. the city board and |
he State authorities nave been censured in
leading journal for allowing the large and |
corps of teachers to remain un- |
aid. Stripped of resources by those
n defect in the law to deprive the schools |
f support. The means that should have
cen provided for the payment of
he teachers ruthlessly denied to them.
gainst the strongest pleas of the friends
education. An attelpt Is now made by
paper which tacitly assented to thai sui
dal attempt to destroy the public schools
} tastcn the consequences of acts tor which
had no rebuke on the authorities who ex-
austed all legal measures to defeat them.
UGH is the justice Of the opponents of the
:hOol system.
1t is gratifying to state that owing to the
berallty of the city authorities in recognz-
lg and canceling former unpaid appropri-
ton, in connection with the single advance
ON the State fund and the prompt pay
ent of the quarterly appointments, the
,hools of New Orleans will reach the close
the year with the Board but two months
arrears to the teachers, and with an as
lred prospect of brighter days beyond.
THOMAS w. CONWAY,
State Superintendent Of Education.