New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-05-12
pnRLTn BDuOATION.

/ WndG I6n8bny SbttO0HlOAA' - 2
done in Congress for the advancement OF
public education, it is just and proper to
show what has been accomplished under
the present State administration for the
dissemination of knowledge among the
people of the State Of Louisiana.
In arranging to reinstate Louisiana in
the federal Union in the manner pre-
scribed by the reconstruction laws, the
representatives of the people, chosen for
that purpose, met in convention in 1868,
and framed State constitution. Article
one hundred and thirty-ive of that con-
stitution provides that the General Assem-
bly, shall establish at least one free school
in every parish throughout the State,
and shall provide for its sup
port by taxation OF otherwise
The same article also makes it in
cum bent on the Legislature to see that all
children Of this State, between the ages of
SIX and twenty-one, shall be admitted to
the public schools OF other institutions of
learning sustained or established by the
State IN common THAT is the exact lam
guage of the constitution, without dis
tlnctlon of race, color or previous condi-
ton. This article of the constitution fur
Their provides that there shall be no sep
arate schools or institutions of learning
established exclusively for any race by the
State of Louisiana. The constitution also
declares that there shall be elected by the
qualified voters of this State a Superintend-
ent Of Public Education, who shall hold
his Office four years; that his duties shall
be prescribed by law; and that he shall
have the supervision and general con-
troll of public schools throughout the
State, at salary Of $4,000 per annum. 1t
IS also stated in the, constitution that the
proceeds of all lands heretofore granted bv
the United States for the use and support
OF public schools, and of all lands or other
property which may hereafter latter the
adoption Of 'the constitution be be-
queathed for that purpose, and of all
lands which may be granted or bequeathed
to the State, and not granted or be-
queathed expressly for any other pur-
pose, which may hereafter be disposed of
by the State, and the proceeds of all
estates Of deceased persons to which the
State may be entitled by law, shall be
held by the State as a loan, and shall be |
and remain perpetual fund on which |
the State shall pay an annual interest of
six per cent, which interest, with interest
of the trust fund deposited with this State
by the United States under the act of
Congress approved June %, 1886, and the
rent Of the unsold lands, shall be appro-
priated to the support Of such schools, and
the constitution makes it incumbent that
this appropriation shall remain inviolable.
An ordinance attached to the constitu-
ton provided for the adoption of the con-
stitution by the people, and the election
Of State, judicial parish and municipal
officers, formembers of the General Assem-
bly, and members ofCongress.
At this general election the present very
efficient Superintendent of Public Educa-
lion, Hon. Thomas w. Conway. was
chosen to the position he now occupies.
Under his supervision suitable school laws
have been framed and adopted by the
Legislature, and system of public educa-
lion inaugurated that has already pro-
duced astonishing results in the domain of
public learning. Mr. Conway has toiled
hard to secure for the people Of the State
his great blessing, and he has the proud
satisfaction of knowing that notwithstand-
ng his efforts to establish free school
system for the State, on the broad basis !
aid down by the constitution, have met
Nth serious opposition, they have been /
rowned with much success.
In letter addressed to Senator John
lay last winter, when the Legislature had /
nder consideration another school bill
II. Conway said: t
Our school law is no longer an exneri- a
lent. Our division superintendents have
Explored every parish in the State Thew s
ave met and almost entirely removed, the t
pposltl0n OF an aristOcratic class, who t
now that before the piercing light of pOpu- a
II education their domination over the col y
req race must cease forever. These super. e
ltendents have nObly braved the dangers e
| our chmate-have gone through feVers a
most as malignant as the foes of our pub 81
schools. 1t one or two have proved unfit Il
II the great work intrusted to their care. IL
4o ! VI
ore suitable than to again change the D
'hool law. We have this day in operation Ia
tins State more than 200 public schools. d
nls IS nearly six times as many as were
yer In operation in any one year in the his n
~ Of our State, and yet the amount of b
Oney appOrtiOned for their support during q
e year has been less than half what was Is
pended in 1859. II
The object Of the new school law was to f.
feat the efficiency of the school system
ivocated by Mr.. Conway; and this was r. I,
tempted to be done on the plea of econo-
y. Superintendent was deemed I'M 81
,cessary by those who would defeat the al
Dad and efficient school system advo- "a
ted by the Superintendent of Public ~
ducation; and in answer to their argu-
ents for adopting such course, Mr..
onWay very correctly and effectively OBJ
rVes IN his letter to Senator Ray: IN
As well might we expect good cotton or tn
.gaT crops from plantation without a tn
lta3le manager to plan and direct The :.
hooI superintendent is to his division Cd
nat Uhe manager is to the plantation One an
just as indispensable as the other. ST,
Under the very effective advice and Of