New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-17


actual in place of . merely nominal con-
troll of the school work in the State. Too
timorous to grant all that was asked, that
Legislature, through its committees, re
jected the simple yet complete system pro-
posed BY the State Board of Education,
and left the cumbrOus machinery demanded
by the former law almost intact. Still much
was accomplished during the following
year. notwithstanding these disadvantages
The foundation Of subsequent success was
laid, but through an expenditure Of labor
and at an expense which would have been
avoided had not fear Of centrallzing power.
where alone power could be efficiently en-
plOyed. deferred the Legislature from pass
ing the bill proposed by the Superintendent
of Education.
At this .juncture the present members OF
your honorable body were elected, and dur
ing the session Of lS7E the school act was so
amended as to give the directness and sim
plicity which had been valnly sought from
the action of the previous Legislature, and
it is gratifying to know that the success at
tanned under it has equaled the expecta-
lions of the advocates of those amend
ments. Information furnished by the Su-
perintendent of Education enables me
to state that the towns and rural districts
of the State, where, at the commencement
of this administration, only here and there
a solitary school existed, now. six
hundred and forty may be found
fully organized, equipped with teachers
and moderately supplied with the appli-
ances Of education. SO successful have
been the workings Of the present law that
no hand should be allowed to disturb it. Its
simplicity and effectiveness are sufficient
arguments in its behalf and law which
is sustained in every feature by the APP
prevail of the Board of Education, should
not be changed at the demand of any the
orist unacquainted with the practical diff
culties that are to be overcome.
Obstacles, few years since deemed absO-
lutely insurmOuntable, have, under this
law, been overcome, and general good
will has been secured for the educational
system OF the State. Kindly feelings have
supplanted the hostility of thousands who
originally proclaimed their enmity to the
constitutional provisions which control the
public school system, and it needs only a
firm yet kind persistence in the present
course to bring the whole Of our citizens
into full accord with the State authorities.
The amount of the State school fund
which has been apportioned during the
year is $3O5,3O9 80. This sum gave to each
educable child in the State 81 Is, but being
applied only to the schools in operation, the
attendance of pupils at which is estimated
at 10000, it has given tor each child In actu-
al attendance the sum Of 80 80; whereas IN
the States of the North and West, the aver
age yearly cost of educating single pupil
in a free public school is $lS.
The whole number of schools established
and now in operation is six hundred and
forty. The whole number of teachers EN-
Dloyed and now reported is one thousand
four hundred and twenty. When these
statements are cOntrasted with the neg
lected condition Of the youth of the State
at the commencement of this adninlstra-
ton. they furnish ground OF honest salts
faction to those who have tOiled labOrlously
in securing such results.
While much yet needs to be done in order
to complete foundation on which to con-
struct State composed of intelligent men
and women, it gives me pleasure to recog-
nize the energy and success with which the
work of popular education has thus far been
prosecuted, and while l advocate retrench-
ment in some other divisions of our State
administration, ! consider that n wise and
far-sighted policy will justify your honor
able body in providing ample means for the
prompt and efficient education of the peO-
pie. Any measures adopted to attain a re-
suit so desirable will command my cheerful
support.
desire to call your special attention to
the work of education in the city of New
Orleans. The reports laid before you show
that the public schools are fully attended,
and are in prosperous condition. l can
not too earnestly bespeak your interest in
and assistance to this work.
At the last session an act was passed and
approved, February D, 1871, authorizing,
among other things. the appointment of a
Board of School Directors for the city.
Provision was made for the levy and collec-
ton of a tax, by the city of New Orleans,
for the maintenance of the schools therein
such tax being necessary to make up the
deficit between the amount received from
the general State tax and the additional
amount required for the more advanced and
expensive schools of the metropolis. The
city authorities were proceeding to levy the
tax when they were prevented by htiga-
ton. 1t was found that the seventh sec
ton of the general revenue bill, approved
March 3, 1871, prohibited the city from col
lecting taxes in excess of two per cent, and
that the taxes already levied exceeded
that amount. The tax was. therefore, not
laid Nevertheless. the officers charged
with the control of these schools have kept
them in operation until now. The State
Superintendent has assisted them. the city
government has helped them, but they need
immediate Legislative interference and aid.
l therefore recommend the immediate
passage of a bill authorizing the levy and
collection of tax for the support OF the
free public schools of New Orleans.
The report of the State Superintendent of
Education. which shall in due time be pre-
scented to the General Assembly. will be
found of great interest. and will give in de-
tail the facts which Justify the statements
and recommendations herein given.
The reports of the State Auditor for this
and the previous years, together with the
reports of the State school authorities. show
that large amounts of money have been
lost by the loose and inefficient manage
ment of the school lands granted by Con
gress for educational purposes, and known
as the sixteenth sections. From these re-
ports it is apparent that new legislation on
this subject is imperiously demanded, if
these valuable resources are To be saved to
the State. The matter naturally belongs to
the State school authorities. and an enact
ment authorizing them to take the steps re-
quisite for ascertaining the present condi-
ton of those lands. and for enforcing the
claims of the school fund against the pur-
chascrs of such sections as have been sold.
is the most feasible mode of protecting
the interest of the State in that valuable
grant.
LEGISLATIVE EXPENSES.
respectfully call your attention to the
fact that the extravaganza of the Legisla
ture at its last session has produced most
noticeable sensation throughout the State,
and has given the opponents of the govern
ment the means OF sowing distrust and pro
ducing the greatest dissatisfaction among
the people. The last session is known to
have cost the State. for the Senate, Sl9i,
163 s.. and for the House of Representatives
$767 100 Gan ayeraoe cost of $53OO for
each Senator and $1,000 for each member OF
the House, or an average of over $500 for
each member of the entire body, or of
Sll3 80 per day for each member during
the session. 1t is necessary that should
comment upon this subject with view OF
bringing the evils to your attention,
in order that You may guard against