Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1877-10-06
[ Communicated. ]
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS,

MIR. EDITOR:
1t is proper that some report sll ould be
made to the Public to account for the ap-
parent neglect of duty of tho School
Board, and in answer to the numerous in
qllirics which are made by citizens in
terested. propose as ooncisely as possi-
ble to give an unofficial statement OF the
affairs Of the Board, and All explanation
of their action. The Board entered upon
its duties under very embarrassing cir
cumstanccs; for some time no books or
records of former Boards were before
them, and when finally received, the I'rca-
surer'ss Book was unaccompanied by any
vouchers, and the Secrctary's Book was
simply blank, containing no proceed
inGs whatever of tho former Board.-
With nothing in the past as Il guide, it
was evident the Board would have to
begin precisely as if there had been no
schools in tho parish, aud endeavor gr:l-
dually to reorganze them. TO dothis the
Board could scarcely be in a worse con-
dition financially. A warrantof 76 un-
encumbered was received amounting 20
$113i. Against this fund t NO suits for
services Of teachers III 73 are now pend
ing-one for $50 and the other for S5G0-
with another claim of same nature for
$16O- Until these claims are decided, the
proceeds of this warrant can hardly be
considered available by the Board In
August, under the State distribution, the
parish received 1898 which still remains
in the Treasury, less 81 used for Secre-
tary's book and stationery. Each citi-
zen can decide for himself how far the
Board would have been justified in con-
vening the Public Schools, remembering
that so far as the Board is informed there
is but one Public School house in the
parish, and that sorcly in need Of repair.
A slight calculation as to what would
really he needed to properly organize q
sufficient number of Public Schools for
the parish will be Instructive. There are
ten Yards or School Districts in the
parish, each of which would doubtless
claim one white and one colored school.
Suppose that half of these required first
class teachers at $40 per month and the
other half second class teachers at $50
per month-:lnu we have for session of
ten months $4,000 required for salaries of
teachers alone. Add to this 10 school
houses to be provided, with benches,
desks, etc., and estimating these at 500
each, and adding 500 for contingent en-
penscs, wo have q total of $4,000 which
would be really required to place the
schools of the parish upon a proper foot
ing. This work, or as much of it as pos
sible, has to he accomplished by the
Board !Tith school fund which is not
likely to exceed 1T present s. 900 per an
mum, of which amount only 1898 has at
this date October 1st) been received.
Art. s., Sec. 5 of ''Digest Of Laws relat-
ing to Public Education,' says: "Be 1t
further enacted, etc, That said Parish
Board shall limit the aggregate annual
expense of accommodating and maintain
ing the Free Public Schools of the Parish
to the amount of revenue derived from
the State, Parish and such donations as
shall be made by pubic-spirlted citizens
| for or towards the support thereof"
| The Board has been of. the opinion that
| some funds should be secured to at least
provide houses for the schools; and thai