The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-03-29
that the Roman Catholic Church en-

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are communicating and injurious,
because neglecting the religious edu-
cation which it deems necessary for
the morals Of the youth. tits hoped
that q more generous and a higher
minded policy will be pursued by the
advocates of that church than would
be evinced by an effort direct or in
direct to deprive thousands of children
Of aid which is absolutely necessary
to fit them for the duties of citizenship
and society, because they do not con-
form to views entertained by them as
a fraction of society; rather let all
religious exercises be excluded from
the school-room, eliminate obnoxious
or sectarian matter from school books
and let the children Of all classes meet
without distinction or a difference
from any cause, and leave to- the
churches and sects the propagation,
on an equal footing, Of their own pc
culiar tenets. The wealthy class re-
gard the public schools with Il peculiar
dislike and an unworthy one. 1t is
well known that previous to the war
| it was the custom to send the youth
of the better class beyond the limits
Of the State to enjoy superior advan-
tages in acquiring education, and the
public schools became almost entirely
the receptacle of the children Of the
poor and laboring class, and conse-
quently became a matter OF secondary
consideration to the wealthy. School
officers were not held to strict account
10y official restraint OF. popular opinion
to discharge their duties with energy
teachers were not subjected to proper
tests; school-houses were few and far
between, and too often in dilapidated,
unhealthy condition. The withdrawal
of sympathy by the. wealthy, the lack
Of supervision on the part OF the State,
made our public schools q by-word
and reproach. Times have changed.
The wealthy class can not afford the
luNuries of former years; their chill
dren must be educated at home. In
many instances a practical view is
taken of the situation, and children OF
all classes are found in the same school
preparing themselves for duties which
they will perform in common i'll after
life. 1t is to be regretted, however,
that feelings of pride-a heritage of
other ears-should prevent II large
number of parents from placing their
children in the public schools; extern
ding a cheerful and hearty sympathy
| to- the poor and toiling teacher; CO.
operating with school directors and
corporate authorities in building neat
comfortable school-liouses, employ
ing first-class teachers, and making
them an honor and a blessing to Louis
lana. 1t is prudence, economy and
| wisdom that should licate this course.
1t is practicable, it is desirable, that
our schools should he increased in
number, improved III quality and made
| equal to those OF any other section.
1t is practicable, and it would require
but Il small outlay to enable every
three or four contiguous parishes to
enjoy the benefits of a high school,
equal in advantages to the colleges of
other sections now patronized at great
expense, and draining from the coun-
try a portion OF it's wealth, which
should he used i'll the encouragement
Of home talent and home enterprises
SCHOOL LANDS.
1t is impossible for he at this time
| to present any satisfactory data with
reference to interest funds from the
accumulation of rents and sales of six
teentll sections. a number of treasu-
rers have drawn from the Auditor
amounts which afforded them great
| relief. 1t is hoped that treasurers,
the coming season, will institute dill
gent inquiries with reference to the
location and description of sixteenth
sections, to the end that the proceeds
| of their rent OF sale may be utilized.
TAXATION.
This word is expressive of a deplor-
able condition of affairs in every par
ish of my division. With the return
of a more prosperous era, ! have no
doubt that little difficulty will he ex-
perienced in procuring local taxes for
school purposes. / have written to
some of my secretaries; l know that
some Of them have displayed most
commendable zeal and deserve great
credit for their efforts; and / know
that others have worked without
avail to secure local taxation. Neces-
sary improvements Of a public char
acter, besides the school, must suffer
until the burden Of bad Legislation is
removed from the shoulders Of the
| people. Yet, in any event, | hope the
corporate authorities may be persua-
ded to consider the public school as
the most important of public institu
tions, and reflect that patronage be-
slowed upon it will, in the future,
materially relieve the expenses Of
court-houses and jails, by giving to
their chargefewe culprits and enemies
to society, made so by their neglect
to assume the guardianship of the
growing youth.
! LEGISLATION.
1t is hoped that our legislators will
restrain tn eir earnest desire to win
| glory and fame by tampering with
the school law. Two Legislatures of