The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-04-21
COMMUNICATED.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.


cal difficulties, on the Wheeler plan,
was found, by those who disfavored
it, to be an inevitable arrangement, it
was certainly right and sensible that
all further opposition should be with
held; that no practical hindeaance or
murmuring should be put in the way
of the full development of the bene-
fits which the friends of the move
ment had promised should immedi-
ately or ultimately flow therefrom.-
This we believe to be the proper
spirit in which the new situation OF
affairs should be met by the people.
We have now a reasonable right to
hope that some advantages in the
shape of harmony, moral strength,
economy aud good legislation will
soon dawn upon our long suffering
State.
AS a further offspring Of this
Wheeler conception, we also have a
right to expect that the Federal and
State administrations will meet and
treat the unfortunate white citizens
of Louisiana in a spirit of friendli-
ness and fairness.
AS they are now, through their re-
representatives., regarded as co-ordi-
nate part and power Of the State gov
ernment they should also be entitled
to some local advantages in the shape
of appointments to positions that in
timately concern the home interest
and welfare Of the people. That
President Grant, however, will so far
forget himself as to appoint a Fede-
raj officer in Louisiana who is honest
or capable or worthy, we have not
grown stupid enough to presume
But the white people of Louisiana do
expect and have a right to demand
that in one department of local au-
thority, at least, the Republicans
who have the appointing power shall
install honest and capable men,
The new School Board Of Rapides,
for instance, is composed of men
whose stupidity and want of educa-
ton are notorious, and who are only
conspicuous in politics because of
their partisan zeal and their proscrip-
tive animosity towards the white peo-
pie of our Parish.
The position to which these igno-
rant people have been assigned is one
Of more real, practical Importance to
the mass of our citizens than all the
other local officers of the State COM
bined. To them is confided the un-
limited control of the educational in
te,ests Of the poorer class Of white
youth in our Parish. These local
school boards should therefore be
filed by men whose scholarship and
neral worth are questionable; who
have the intelligence and the admin
istrative capacity not only to select
competent teachers to superintend
the moral and mental training of
children, but who are able also to Or
game q thorough and comprehen-
sive system of education under our
public school laws. No political con-
siderations should enter into the ap-
pointment of men to such position,
and so much the less should one I'M
fit and unqualified ask or accept such
appointment.
They have control also of large
money interests of the people. The
school fund is no inconsiderable
amount, and this fund is placed by
law entirely at the disposal of this
board. The tax upon which the
school fund is based is ona.which the
white people alone are caffed upon to
pay, or at least nine-tenths of which
they furnish. Now does not every
one know that the management of
this fund, since it came under the
control Of the School Board has been
so reckless and the system of public
schools so loose and inefficient that
the white children who depend upon
this source for education, are practi-
cally deprived ofany valuable advan-
tages whatever? There have been, it
is true, in Rapides, here and there,
now and then, few public schools
for white children, but these were OF
such limited and fitful duration that
no instruction could be impaired to
the scholars. This is a notorious
fact, and none the less palpable impo.
sition upon the mass Of our white
citizens. The people of our Parish
should, in some emphatic and public
manner, protest against putting the
administration of our public schools