The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-12-15
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

we nave easily TesIeu on our uaIs
and our meek patience for two long
weeks, and yet the questions of i'm
portance and our vested minority
rights, which we have been seeking
at the merciless hands of the School
Board of Rapides, have remained un-
answered and to all intents and and
purposes we have been snubbed, and
the powers that be seem bound to
their idols and more determined than
ever to cheat us of these rights. We
are almost forced to admit that no
other School Board in the State would
dare act with such shameless obsti-
macy and injustice, and we may add
no other people, but those of Rap
ides could be made to stand it, and
have it 80 we'll rubbed in.
Viewing the question as one of the
most vital Importance we have thus
far shaped it as Parochial one, and
really had hopes the interested ones
would come to our rescue and back
us up little while we we're fighting
for their rights and the cherished
ones Of their children. But it seems
we have been counting on weak hosts
and that all aid and back bone oil
have abandoned us, and left us alone
in our glory, fighting at tremendous
odds the perfumed chambers of KEEL
logg's power in our Parish. But as
we are composed Of some stern stuff,
we cannot abandon our fight thus
early in the action, and turn to 9th
ers nearer at home to listen to us,
and force that good fight with us.
We now propose to choose Alex
andria, our Town, as the future field
of operations, and here throw out our
skirmish line, believing we can force
the enemy from his position, and f.
nally regain our Parochial reinforce
ments. Within the limits of the
Alexandria Ward, under the direc-
ton of that School Board which has
so long maltreated us, there are fully
twice the number of schoolable white
children than colored ones; the white
parents Of those very white children
are taxed and pay nineteen dollars
and seventy-6ve cents out Of every
twenty dollars assessed and collect
ted, and how stands the school rec
ord as arranged by the Board2 We
blush as we are forced once more to
give it to the public in these columns.
There are in Alexandria two colored
schools, one for boys, and one for
girls, whilst our white children have
only one school in an old hy-specked
shanty, with teacher not of their
parents choice, but an importation of
the School Board, and who has Sc
lect night negro school in that same
old shanty, and not, mind you, in
either of the other fine school houses
used for the little darkics. We mean
no insult to this teacher personally
but merely take him along with the
false position we are placed in at the
present juncture, and must gropc all
the shades in to make The real pic
lure more sad and glaringly unjust
to us. And right here we may as
we'll have another little injustice and
meauness of the Board slipped in
they have had a new lot of benches
made, painted and drayed to the ne
gro school palace, and the old ones
therein they graciously gave for the
use of the little white ones of the
shanty, but they had to pack them to
that school shanty, for no drayage
can be allowed them, as all that sort
ofcontingent expenses are only al
lowed to the darkies!
Now, good people of Alexandria,
you parents who have schoolable
children and pay the school taxes to
which we allude, come to the trout
and make yourselves heard, and give
the Democrat, your friend, your or
gan, little moral help right here,
and we honestly believe we can make
an impression on the Board and force
them to do the right and fair thing:
give US our minority rights, where we
should really have the majority ones.
Come to our rescue, view the situa-
ton in it's proper light and then act.
We believe We have at last struck the
right vein and that our Town par
ents will take up the matter at once
and force practical justice from our
hard headed and obstinate Board
Who will be the first to move and
move in earnest in this matter?
FIREWORKS.-A FULL SUPPLY
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