The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1877-06-30
The PnbIic Schools of the Capital,
OR,
The Bourbon Flash in a Clear Sky,
BY EMERSON BENTLEY

merclal metropolis, ana representative
of all those political and social virtues
and vices peculiar to the common,
wealth. We may truly designate her
as the barometer of Louisiana in the
sight of the world. The influence of
her press, her tax-rolls, ballots and
population attest it. Because she &C.
cupies this proud position, is aware of
her prestige and glories in it, we are
justified in the opinion that whatever
transpires within her limits is mat
ter of interest to the balance of the
State. And particularly is this the
case whenever any act of her political
leaders tends to create public opinion
with view to future legislation.
A few weeks ago the city school
board assembled, and while laboring
under a mental depression which they
would desire the general public to
entitle veritable manifestation of the
spirit of economy-resolved upon a
reduction of forty per cent. in all ex-
penditures. There were no useless
officials to eurtail, no costly abuses to
suppress, or occupy the attention Of
the board. And the poorly paid army
of teachers were demoralized by the
forty per cent. subtraction from their
salaries. To begin with, the Legis-
lature had Numbered, by failing to
duly inform itself of public school ne
eessities, and appropriating a meagre
sum of 100000. On appeal from those
who knew 100000 to be required,
they authorized the City Council to
place 1875, 900 on the budget. The
Council Numbered by reducing this
amount to $225,000. And the board
was not infallible, and it blundered
into a sweeping measure, degrading
the highest public interest to the level
of the most ordinary. The schools
suffered from the want of lusty cham
pions, and New Orleans from a forty
per cent. lowering OF her progressive
standard.
The board rested from its labors, a
feeble protest went up in behalf of the
wronged teachers and against the de-
lusive economy. A special committee
-on discipline, expenses and general
efficiency" Archibald Mitchell, chair
man, reviewed the field, ana at a
subsequent meeting publishetaits re-
Elections. 1t was Bourbon flash
from q clear political sky. tt lifted
up IL dead issue and infused it with
life. As an essay in the direction of
political confusion it was subtle; as a
reform recommendation unnrofound.
This report, deploring mixed schools,
regretting financial straits, because
the way was not clear to double the
number of high schools, proposed their
abolition. 1t borrowed q pretext,
added to it undue Importance, and
reached a sorry conclusion. The mix
ture of schools was not the burden of
public complaint, while their impov-
efishment was. To crown this folly
a vacation of four months for all
schools was recommended, and the
opinion volunteered that" we do not
regard our high schools as indispen-
SADLY requisite to an efficient system
of public education, and are inclined
to believe that teaching advanced
studies at the public expense is an
abuse OF our educational system. And
if public education is to promote the
we'll being of society by the education
of the poor, the injury inflicted upon
the community by the discontinuance
OF the high schools will be insignifi-
cant compared with their expenses,
and, as we have reason to believe
that the greater part of the pupils of
the high schools were not the children
OF the poor, but of those who could
afford to educate them had an adj
vanced education been desired"
1t is a pleasure to note that this
oPiatic dose was insufficient to settle
the qualmishness of the true friends
of the free school system on the
board. Mr.. S. Coleman is credited
with the brave suggestion " that the
State would not allow the abolition of
the schools simply for the sake of a
few dollars;" and this gentleman
seconded the protest of q colored Re-
nm h1ioop ( NJ