The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-08-21
THE PEABODY EDUCATION
FUND.
Lou siana to be Deprived of its Further Cse'
Owing to the Unsettled State eff Affairs
Within Her Borders = Interesting Cor
respondence ON The s. beet.

respondence on The S. beet.
The following correspondence between the
Hon. R. M. Lusher. agent for the fund in
this State, and Rev. B. Sears, general agent,
will be read with interest throughout this
city and State. It is much to be regretted
that the general agent deems it advisable to
prevent its further use in our State
GENERAL AGENT TO LOCAL LOUISIANA AGENT.
STAUNToN, Va, July 5, 1875.
Hon. R. M. Lusher
Mn Dear Sir-In consequence Of the unset
tied state of affairs in Louisiana. we think 1t
best to suspend operations for the present l
| therefore request you to make no further en-
gagements as agent of the Peabody Education
Fund. Yours truly,
B. SEARS, General agent.
LOCAL LOUISIANA AGENT TO GENERAL AGENT.
NEW ORLEANS, July 9, 1875.
Rev. Barnas Sears, D. D., General Agent, staun-
ton, Va:
1lv Dear sn-Your favor of 5th inst. has
| lust been received. Promising, as you de-
sire, to make no further engagements, as
agent, I would request you to inform me
whether, contrary to my impression, it is ia
tended that Normal Schools or Departments,
as well as rural Elementary Free Schools, are
| to be excluded from the bene6cence OF the
Board of Trustees. The closing of the Nor
NAL Seminary in this city will be deemed a
great public calamity; and. without such aid
as has heretofore been afforded from the Pea
body Fund, it must of necessity be closed.
On this matter especially would solicit an
immediate response.
l.. Uyw 81 al hail 1C
not clearly understand what is meant by your
remark that the i" state of affairs in Louisiana
is still unsettled" The respectable people OF
| the State have certainly acquiesced in the po-
litical adjustment imposed upon them by
the United States government, and are quietly
| seeking the impro vement of their material in
terests. If any agitation or turmoil is to occur
anterior to the canvass for the Presidency and
the State officials, which may be expected q
| year hence, it must be due to some insidious
scheme of Radicalism not yet detected. A
full and frank exposition of your views as to
the nature and cause of the disorder to which
you refer, will be very gratefully received.
Very respectfully and truly, yours,
RoBT. M. LUsHER.
GENERAL AGENT TO LOCAL LOUISIANA AGENT.
STANTON, Va, July IL, 1875.
Hon. R. M. Lusher:
NM Dear Sri fear general remark of
mine conveyed wrong impression to your
mind. What I should call q well-settled
state of affairs would be to have you State
Superintendent of Public Schools.
We have been working under discourage
ments (you and y, hoping. in time, to see
State system through which we could oper-
ate hope for that still. But we are work
sustain separate schools. I think it will be
better for the State, that zoe aoau for better
times, and then help more literally.
If the Normal Seminary of New Orleans is
still doing well and needs our assistance for
its continued existence and usefulness, we
will not now desert it. I think we must
limit ourselves to this one Normal School.
You have done all that any man could do.
and our trustees are highly satisfied with
your unselfsh course. But how little assist
ance is rendered you, or can be, as things
now are.
NY feeling is one of some Encouragement,
not of dissatisfaction. suppose We think
very much alike on this subject: only you
cling to the better citizens of the State with 3
tenacity that does you honor. But it clashes
too much with our general policy to do and
suffer, as much as you seem willing to do and
suffer. Yours truly, B. SEARS.
LOCAL LOUISIANA AGENT TO GENERAL AGENT.
New ORLEANS, July %, 1875.
Rev. Barnas Sears, D. D., General Agent, Staun-
Nj Dear Si-Your kind and indulgent let
ter of 18th inst, has been received. Your
allusion to the State SUPPLEMENTARY of Pub
lie Schools is heartily appreciated. Yet, 1
can not admit that my continued exclusion
from that Office should cause a suspension of
my willing labors as agent; for that, indeed,
would be infiicting upon an innocent people
punishment for their patient submission to
the foul injustice which has robbed them Of
the servants of their choice.
The State system of public education, as
defined by the Radical Constitution and laws
of this. State, is not such system as the best
informed classes of our community can ap-
prove but its administration, latterly, in
some of the rural districts, has not been
education. This has been noticeable since
the last investigation by the Congressional
Committee and the meeting of the extra ses-
sion in April last. More care learn, has
been taken in the selection of school directors
and teachers, of which, in part, l have posi-
tive evidence in the designation, by thesState
Directors, of two Of the Peabody free schools
as estate public schools" viz: those at Amite
City and at Minden. No public school, how
ever, can exist over six months in the year,
without just such aid as the Peabody Fund
has heretofore afforded.
As to the locality in which another Peabody
free school has been in operation during the
year just closed, viz: Montgomery. there has
been no State public school for white child
rem at all, l am informed; and hence the clos
ing of the Peabody school at such place
may be very embarrassing.
The two rural normal departments at Jack
son and Minden have been successful during
tie past year, and several of their graduates,
of former years, have been teaching in public
schools of the State. Thus their usefulness has
been apparent
The Peabody Normal Seminary, in this
city, has continued its session, from year to
year, with una bated succe So. 1t has not only
supplied the city public schools with large
number of efficient teachers, but has also
offered facilities for the scholastic training of
nthar tea cheers of those schools who hav va de.