The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-04-12
School Report

ton, State of Louisiana:
Sir-In submitting to you my annual
report at this date, | am aware of the
fact that it is far from being perfect in
its details, and, in many respects, quite
unsatisfactory. On May twentieth of
the present year, at the urgent request
and upon the recommendation required
by law from the State Superintendent,
K. X. Diossy was removed and I was
commissioned as his successor in office.
Mr.. DiOssy promptly transferred to me
ed his satisfaction at my appointment
and ceased to discharge the duties of
the office. [ entered upon my duties
Immediately after appointment only to
find an extended field Of labor, requiring
a large correspondence and constant
travel to make me properly acquainted
with its wants. In September Mr.. DiOSsy,
contrary to his previously expressed in
tentiOns, and to my serious embarrass-
ment as an officer, commenced suit in
the Third Judicial District Court, under
the Intrusion act, and subsequently in
the Eighth District Court of the parish
of Orleans, in the name of the State,
suits for the salary and emOluments of
the office. Owing to the neglect of the
Attorney General to appear in these
cases (being properly notified according
to law and defend the interest of the
State, Mr.. DiOssy was allowed to obtain
Judgment for services he never perform
ed or claimed to perform, and moneys
to which he was not entitled by a shad-
OW of justice or equity. This money,
taken from the school fund under the
protest of Auditor Graham and myself,
through the C%Onnivance of the Attorney
General, deprived me of the means to
visit the majority of the parishes of my
division, confer with school officials,
and to properly discharge all other du-
ties of my Office. With this statement,
which will enable you to understand the
obstacles / have had to encounter, and
an apology for this meager report, I
proceed to the consideration of
THE SCHOOL WORK.
The Third Division is comprised of
fourteen parishes, extending in length
from the southern boundary of Miss
issippi to the eastern boundary of Texas,
a distance of over two hundred and
fifty miles in a direct line, with a width
of from II hundred to one hundred
and fifty miles. It's population i'll 1870
was 155,051, and is increasing by immi-
grafton steadily. Within this large area,
which is, because of itsnatural resources
Ullh bLIC uClIIdIltIS vi CJItIIlClCCs uESGlItCu
to become a wealthy and most pOpulOus
section of the State, are estimated to be
between $4,000 and 10000 children of the
educable age prescribed by law. Last
year my predecessor reported upwards
of 10000, o only one-ffth of the num-
Der in attendance at school. [ now re-
port from official sources $40. Lett he
remembered that in this statement | do
not include several parishes and pOr-
lions of parishes from which no report
has been received, but i'll which, from
general information, I have reason to
believe there exists a number of schools,
with an attendance equal, if not greater,
than that of the past year. | feel war
ranted in saying that a larger number
OF schools is now in operation i'll this
ing the estimate that near $4,000 chill
dren have enjoyed their benefits the
present year. There has been no lack
Of zeal On the part of school officials. In
several parishs a local tax materially
aided to their efforts in the prosecution
of their work. One of the marked signs
of improvement was the building of a
number of new schOOl-hOuses and pur-
chases of necessary and comfortable
furniture, which tend to demonstrate
that the day of uninhabitable, disease
breeding barns, heretofore used for the
congregation of healthy, active pupils,
is passing away. 1t is a general COM
plant, however, that the present school
fund Of the State is far from being ade-
guate to the necessities Of public educa-
ton. In parishes where (fOr various
reasons) alocal tax could not be levied,
and the State appointments were
solely depended upon, schools have eX-
istedi in irregular terms, or have been
suspended for several months in the
year for want of funds. It is hoped that
the school officials, backed by a whole
some public opinion, will have no diff
Guilty in procuring from police iuries
and other corporate authorities the
coming year sufficient aid to meet all
necessary requirements.
POPULAR OPINION.
/ have not q single report in my pos
session indicating opposition to thepub-
lie school system from political sources.
It is a fact worthy of note that some of
the most efficient school directors in the
division are men who but. recently were
bitter opponents but are now warm
friends of the system. The public press,
as general rule, have abstained from
unseemly attacks, and have given a
valuable cooperation in many lOcali-
ties. I am satisfied that If any serious
opposition does exist with reference to
public schools, it does not spring from
the merits or dement's of the system it.
3 self, but from religious or a%ristOcratic
views held at variance with the genius
and spirit of the political institutions OF
} this country. 1t is well known that the
Roman Catholic Church entertains the
belief that public schools are contains
mating and injurious, because neglect
ing the religious education which it
: deems necessary for the morals of the
youth. 1t is hoped that a more generous
and q higher-minded policy will be pur.
| sued by the advocates of that church
than would be eyinced by an effort di.
r rect or indirect to deprive thousands Cd
children of the aid which is absolutely
necessary to fit them for the duties OF
citizenship and society, because they dc
not conform to views entertained by
them as a fraction of society rather
> let all religious exercises be excluded
! from the schOol-roOm, eliminate Obnox.
l iOus or sectarian matter from seh0o
| books and let the children of all classes
meet without 81 distinction 81 a differ
ence from any cause, and leave to The
]! churches and sects the propagation, OF
an equal footing, of their oWn peculiar
> tenefs. The wealthy class regard the
| public schools with o peculiar dislike
| and an unworthy one. 1t is well known
? that previous to the war it was the Gus,
!, tom to send the youth of the better class
beyOund the limits of the State to enjoy
= superior advantages in acquiring educa,
8 ton, and the public schools became al
most entirely the receptacle of the chill
Inox, 1F Aim Moan ar6 O1crsnn a1occ o1,c