New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-09-07

tols, and the raising OF 81 62l2 as poll tax,
for school purposes.
Thus far in history there was no respon-
| siole head TO school interests, ard the Legis-
lature of 1883 undertook to remedy the
matter by creating an ex-ofiicio superin-
| tendent In the person Of the Secretary of
| State. 1t also provided for an annual ap-
| preparation for each scholar actually in
| structed. as follows: For each school OF not
more than ten pupils, 81 each; ten and not
more than twenty, So each; twenty and not
more than fifty, s. 80 each.
Let it be understood that this and pre-.
vious laws provided for INDECENT pupils,
| and was construed as an act of charity.
| This law required ali administrators, re-
| gents and trustees, under penalty, 60 sub
NIT annual reports, embracing certain datas,
| and IN case of failure it was the bounden
| duty of the Attorney General to prosecute
| delinquents.
The first report was by George Eustis,
| Secretary Of State. He began in saying
| that he had fulfilled tine requirements of
| the law in apprsing school officials of their
| duty in the making Of reports, but that less
| tkan two-thirds had complied. Further:
Unless the object of the Legislature is
| encouraged and sustained by proper
| sense of duty and preserving public spirit
| on the part of those to whosej trust its ex-
! ecution is committed, the efforts made to
| support the system of public education In
our State will be utterly fruitless. and il is
| to be regretted that intelligent citizens who
are charged with it," etc.
1S34.-Mr. Eustis says that less than one
| half of the school officials have been heard
from, (which makes il impossible TO present
anything like general view of the condition
of the schools" He speaks a good word in
favor of pecuniary aid to an association
formed under the title of the Medical Col
lege of Louisiana" and asks: "Why should
not the arts and sciences be taught in Lou
isiana !'
1S35.-The report of Martin Blanche, sec
retary, etc, is burdened with lamentations
of the noncompliance of those who should
render account @f their stewardships-bu
one-third having made returns, and some of
these being, in fact, no returns.
Alsa, Of pecuniary distress caused Uy the
repeal of the law licensing gambling
houses, from which revenue was received
lS3S.-H. A. Builard, superintendent,
seems to fully appreciate the Importance of
his mission. He reports that from less than
one-fourth of the parishes mas he heard,
and suggests as a remedy that he be au
thorized to withhold all moneys until the
law oe complied with. He says: There
exists an alarming apathy among the people
at large regarding public education" and
regrets that in government like ours
fathers can nat be directly coerced into
sending their children to school, as IN the
military monarchy of Prussia and eff
arbitrary power be IN any case excusable,
It is when exercised in such a causeV He
points out in extenso the defects and needs
OF the system, and pays an eloquent tribute
to the cause of universal education, as fol-
lows: "But even if my own feeble efforts
should prove vain, the time l propose to
devote TO this object will not ha-0 been
wholly lost. | shall have at least the con-
ISOLATION that l have endeavored to pay a
debt of gratitude TO my ancestors, to whose
early estabish hment Of similar system ia a
Northern colony owe the best part of my
own education
1889, 1910, 1S4l.-Levi Peirce Secretary
of State, recommends Board of Public
Education, and compensation for the sarse,
and says the amount of money accounted
for by school officers is less than that re-
ported by the Treasurer. His second report
is burdened with the same charge of dishon-
esty on the part of school off cials In the |
third, de gives the number OF INDECENT pu-
pills educated as li47, and the number OF |
paying scholars as 500.
The State pays at the rate of 500 per an.
mum for each pupil educated in academies, |
and S45 for each one educated in the dis |
trict schools. He quotes from parish re-
ports: 'Snce 1882 public schools have been |
established in this parish, and We are una |
bic to designate one who has been benefit |
ed by it" [theml. He speaks of the wealthy |
citizen sending his children as INDECENT as
a notorious abuse
This Superintendent says: THE state and |
of public schools, appropriation
and benefit arising from the distribution of |
$4,000 by the State, is as unknown to me
as any other citizen
lS43-44.-Robert Carter, Superintendent.
assigns various causes for the failure of the
system. But, perhaps, the most serious
difficulty presented by our character ~ is
that the teacher does not occupy the ele-
vated position in society and in our estima-
ton that is entirely due the emnence of his
RI1tt ha nd |
S the keeping up OF the odious distinction
INDECENT and paying scholars"
lSi5.-Charles Gayarre, Superintendent,
says: The perusal Of these documents ian
1ual reports of predecessors convinced me
hat the system of education adopted in
his State has proved great abortion from
is birthdayO The reports l allude to form
well concentrated chain of indictments
against the present establishment of parish
choos."
The constitution of this year embrac-
ID the following: Article l33 creates
he office of Superintendent of Public :
Education. Article I34 obliges the Leg
stature to establish free public schools
md provides for their support Article
% provides that the proceeds of lands
granted by the United States and the pro-
eeds of the estates of deceased persons, TO
which the State may be entitled shall be
leld as loan by the State.
An act OF the Legislature of this year au-
horized the appointment of board of
commissioners for the maturing of a plan
or the better organization of schools.