The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-06-23
Of both races would DO greatly promoted by con-

|
Quoting IL in separate schools.
| WIZ RECOMMEND This COURSE
with less reluctauce. ~ we are assured that al
| least nine-tenths OF both races warmly up 9rove
IL. Your committee, therefore, uuhesitatingly
| recommend separate schools for the two races
portunutes Of obtaining an equal education.
Besides the foregoing >ressons, witch your
committee deem ample TO warrant them In re-
commencing thai white and colored children be
educated apart from each other. they are CON-
frmed In their belief Of the wise policy Of this
plan by the examples Of the great oities OF New
York, Philadelphia and Cincinnati whose school
reports are before us-in which u appears that
separate schools for the two races forms part oil
| their system OF public education
/ Your committee la Diminishing this subject
! would remark that II feelings exist which i'm
properly aienate the two races, reasoning az well
| ~ Gil historical evidence have clearly proven.
that laws or coercve force Of any kind instead Of
eradcsting them, will on the contrary streng hen
and perpetuste sentiments, which, IL not founded
on reason, would gradually fade away and be for
gotten.
Besides the question OF separate schools for
| the two races, your committee have the equally
important duty OF submitting their views In re-
gard to the means by which our education sys-
tom may be efficiently conducted, 80 that our ex-
penditures shall not exceed our income from all
sources. In approaching this part OF our sub
ject. we think II 10 proper TO advert to the diff
ouMes that lilo In the way Of this board comforting
| an education on the public commensurate TO that
| which was given some years ago.
WE HAVE now TO EDUCATE
| ut least thirty per cent more children than
| formerly, with the additional disadvantage of
dra ing the revenues which support the schools
| from property OF much less than half its former
| value. Our system Of education was established
when we were wealthy; raason and experience
both prove that Ii is impossible to continue IL
the same seal, In our present impoverished con-
dition.. Bad government, manifested by exorbi-
tant taxation, has SO impoverished the people
| and deprecated the value OF property that Ii is
perhaps, impossible to devote sufficient amount
TO defray the expenses Of puoic education on LIS
former sca' without touching upon funds indis-
pensable to, the proper administration OF public
| affairs. With the intention OF defraying the in
| creased expenses OF education, legi lstures and
municipal governments may impose heavier taxes
up IN depicted people, but the result would
probably DO that the amounts eventually collect
ed would be actually diminished in consequence
| Of the ffeot OF the tax in diminishing the value
Of the property taxed.
In entering upon their duties, this board fully
appf eciates the dificu,ties of their poeition.
They resolved that cash payments 9 ,ould be
| m ade; and let the appropriations OF the city and
State be what they might, their disbursements
should not exceed their revenues, whist the eff
cheney Of the schools should be kept up to their
frmer standard as nearly as the means at their
disposal would permit.
OF the present board, their predecessors OK.
pended during the three first months of the year
whilst they had control of the schools about S5O-
600 IN excess Of the estimated revenues Of the
schools. In addition to this legacy Of woe IL has
since been ascertained that, In consequence Of
years OF neglect, school-houses, furniture. ETC.,
have become 80 dilapidated that at least $50, 900
would DO required TO put thsm in passable order.
With this statement we will now consider our ex
penditures In detail and the probable revenues
.ry En- vv.nA thas
On the threshold Of this subject we ale met by
the most perplexing difficulties In regard TO the
revenues we will eventually receive from the
city and State.
An act Of tho Legislature this season fixed the
city tax to defray the expense OF public educa-
tionat two mills on the dollar. After the or
dinkry deduction for non-collection, this would
yield revenue OF less than 500, 900 per annum.
This amount being deemed insufficient, upon
petit on the Legislature, with the view of increas-
its act, so that the city should appropriate def.
nite sum for the support Of public education, not
exceeding s275,0sO per annum. The Council, In
making up their budget OF expenses, fixed this
amount at $2l5, 600 per annum, after deduoting
ten per cent for non-oollections We considered
this positive amount which we could rely upon,
and as subject to no abatement, but in the City
Hall we have been informed that In consequence
OF the inability OF the people to pay their taxes It
was quite probsble that the amount to support
the public schools, appropriated by the city, would
not exceed $200, 900.
SINCE THIS INFORMATION WAS OBTAINED,
q large saving has been made to the city by the
adoption Of the contract system, In view OF which
we feel justified In fixing the amount that will
probably be received this season at $4,000.
In regard to the amount received from the
State we are in the same perplexty. From the
best authority It lie more Than probable that Il
will not exceed $4,000 per annum.
We will therefore assume that yearly revenue
from all sources will be about $3.50, 900, which,
with the lights now before us, is we believe, in 4
cess Of the amounts that will be at our dispo sal.
After reducing salaries Of teachers and other
expenses 40 per cent, our expenditures are about
900 per month, or, in so :sion OF ten months,
Sac. 600 per annum. But our future disburse-
ments must include the expense Of separate high
schools for colored children, it Is our duty to
provide an equal education for all. Our three
high schools at present cost about ga 600 per
annum. Two high schools for the col0red pupils,
one for each SEX could probably be run for $14,-
00D per annum. An additional expense Of about
$4,000 would have to be incurred for the first
year. to provide furniture, maps, books and
scientific apparatus.
Our expenditure FOR the year 1877, for season
Of ten months, will then be as follows:
Expended by our predecessors for the
months OF January, February and
March. -....... SlZO,UUO
Expenses for the remainder Of the year,
seven months, at $24 000 per month. 166,0C0
nitare, etc ETC.. '..................,.... $4,000
Cost Of fitting up two high schools for
colored pupils ..................... 1000
four last months. .................. 5000
Total. ......... .s547, 600
Revenue. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 250,000
Deficit for 1877 $4,000
In subsequent years, ct this rate Of expendi-
ture, the current expenses OF the schools would
be as follows:
For ten months, at $24, COO per month. .$24O000
New colored high schools. ............. $4,000
Annual repairs Of school-housee, etc.,
ABOUT. ................. lV,VvU
IOthl ''..'. SAot,VoV
It will be observed that this amount greatly ex-
ceeds our revenue from all sources. Under these
it seems to us that the only means
IF keeping our expenditures within our income,
without materially mpairing the efficiency Of the
public schools, will be to abolish the high