The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-01-26
THE HOUSE SCHOOL BILL.

House bill No. 116, introduced by Mr..
Walker, Of Orleans" An act to provide fol
and to regulate public education, etc. will
probably be up for discussion some day this
week. 1t is intended to secure educ alton to
all persons between six and twenty-one years
of age by public schools in all parishes. towns
and cities uuder the control of State Super
intendent, assisted by two Assistant Superin-
tendents. at salary Of $500. These three
shall have control of schools, prescribe q
series of text books, make all needful regula-
tons, etc.
Section 3 requires a general regulation
making all schools open to all children, re-
CARELESS of race An interesting and edifying
debate may b expected on this provision.
The fourth section assesses a State school
tax Of one mill upon the dollar, which. with
one-h half the proceeds of poll tax of one
dollar and half on each person, shall go to
a school fand, to be apportioned to iies and
parishes pro rata, according to the number of
educable children, after salaries of off
GERS and general expenses Of the school
system are paid. The fund is to be drawn
by the parish treasurers, and by the
financial officer of the city Of New Orleans,
each parish treasurer giving separte and
ample bond. and mourning penalty and i'm
prisonment for misapplication of school
money, etc. The parish treasurer is forbid
den to take from tax collectors parish scrip or
warrants. Once each year, in November, he
~ t1o II,
received, the amount paid, the number Of
children attending school, and the average
time schools have been taught. The parish
treasurer must also report receipts, payments
and balances to the grand jury at each term
Of court, and once year the police jury shall
examine his books. accounts and vouchers
and if found correct, his securities shall be
discharged as to the preceding year.
The bill appears to give adequate protection
to school money in the hands of parish
treasurers, but the only true safeguard must
always be the selection of honest men for that
Office.
A parish school board shall consist Of four
directors appointed by the police jury and
one by the State Superintendent, and such
board shall have general supervision and
control Of schools, teachers, school-houses
school-money, etc. Police juries shall levy
parish school tax Of two mills upon the dol
lar upon the demand of the School Board.
During all times when public money is ap-
piled for the support Of schools they shall be
open for all children. The schools of each
district are to be controlled by three super
visors.
In section % it is provided that "if the
children in any district attend private
school, no public school being taught therein,
the teacher of the private school shall be en-
titled to the same compensation for each child
taught as if be had charge Of public school,
and shall be paid in the same manner"
Money arising from school lands in any
township are to be applied to schools therein.
Several sections are taken up with provi-
sions for dhpo,ing Of school lands and carry
ing proceeds of such sales to State fund, on
which a perpetual interest of six per cent
shall be paid for the use Of schools, etc, etc.
Section forty exempts school properly from
seizure.
Section Al enables the Mayor and Council
of New Orleans to appoint sixteen school di-
rectors, forming with the Superintendent and |