The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1877-05-26
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS PATRIOTIC
WORK FOR THE PRESS AND
PEOPLE,
BY EMERsoN BENTLEY.

We shall not have good government
in Louisiana by merely wishing or
hoping for it. There must be we'll
directed labor to obtain it. The firing
of cannon, shouts of exultation and
flashes of oFatary oyer the change of
rulers are valuable, at the best, SIM
ply as All indication of hope that good
government is possible. It is no ex-
travagance to say that every thing in
the range of human blessings is pos
sible for TIE people of Louisiana if
they are willing to labor for it.
1t is generally conceded that many
of the ills affecting our body polite
spring from sources of ignorance.
Therefore, it would appear to be q
primary duty to remove those sources,
or provide check upon them. The
approved plan of the civilized cam-
munities is sufficient to accomplish
the purpose. 1t is practical way of
sowing seed before expecting har-
vest. The children of to-day will
BECAME citizens on the morrow. We
may not hope to change the course of
those who were born and reared in
ignorance, for they will die in the
same condition, but we will be clearly
responsible if their successors prove
to be no wiser or better.
The public schools of the State
should be increased in number and
efficiency, even to the exhaustion of
constitutional revenues, and remain in
operation until all educable children
shall have been offered or have en-
braced the opportunity to improve
themselves. This would be an emf
nently practical method ofdiminishiHg
ignorance, and can not justly be de-
nominated an over Jealous or mistaken
measure of philanthropy. Volumes
of statistics might be cited in evidence
that the general prosperity of power
full States was directly attributable,
in exact ratio to the intelligence pf
their population and the downfall of
States ensuing from their neglect to
keep apace in the pursuit of knowl-
edge, which is ii commnn impulse of
mankind.
In this connection we may cheer
fully note the utterances nf members
OF our State government pledgihg
themselves to maintain by all means
in their power an efficient system of
public schools. But it would be al
most fatal to the cause of education
to suppose that they aloue will grasp
and execute the work that wisdom
dictates should be done. They must
be supported in all they do, and urged
onward, hy strong, healthy public
opinion, generous in forbearance for
all reasonable shortcomings, but
prompt to critieise their defaults.
Here is presented an extensive area
of work for the press aud other lead
ers of the people-tle creation of
public opinion, by asserting the value,
and publishing the evidence favorable
to a well organized system Of public
education, 1t will be found at the
commencement thnt the few are zeal
Gus, but the many are lukewarm~-
although all are alike concerned. If,
the people are alive to their interests,
our Legislators, their representatives,
will be impelled to obey their wishes,
and cooperate with the State officials
otherwise their aid may not be de-
pended upon, an1 the executive off
GERS of the school system Will be Grip
pied.
The recent action of the school
board of New Orleans in reducing the
salaries of teachers forty per cent. is a
matter worthy of attention. 1t has the
appearance OF a peARyUise and hound
foolish transaction. The salaries of
the teachers were small enough be-
fore the reduction, even when paid in
cash, but it is notorious the warrants
were issued apd teachers compelled to
procure advances at outrageous rates
OF the money brokers. The reduction
is simply degrading the teachers be-
low the enjoyment Of plain necessa-
ries of life. and making an honorable
profession less remunerative than the |
ordinary callings of the day laborers. |
Shall this be done in the Capital of
Louisiana without protest9 Shall |
these poor teachers be deprived of
due championship? Remember, it is
not a few hundred wronged teachers,
who are alone concerned 10 the recti-
fication or rebuke of this grievous err
ror, out the system Of public schools 10
be protected from instdious attacks an
der dishoRorabte DISCUSSES. How many
reasonable people are there who will
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