The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-04-17
prRIIC SCHOOLS In THE COUNTRY.

The Superintendent of education
has addressed the following circular
to the boards of school directors
throughout the State:
DEVICE OF STATE SUPT. OF PUBLIC
EDUCATION,
New ORLEANS, La,
March 80, 1878.
CIRCULAR B, No. 100.
tn the Hon. Parish Boards of Directors Of
Free Public Schools in the Parishes Of
Louisiana
GENrLEMEN-The Undersigned who
was honored by the people with the
responsible office of State superin-
.epdent, in the interest, it is pre-.
ahmed, of reform in the vital cause
of public education, now deems it his
duty to explain that be has used
every possible effort consistent with
self.respect to secure from the Legis
ls,ure of Louisiana the enactment Of
an amendatory law that would i'm
proye the efficiency of the school
system in conformity to the wishes
of enlightened friends Of education,
as more fully set forth In the Annual
Report; but that nothing whatever
has been accomplished in this di.
rectiOn.
The honorable Senate of the State,
indeed, adopted bill which would
have materially benefited the
schools in many respects, and have
enabled the State board of education
To Oil vacancies in parish boards
with greater dispatch, and to correct
omissions and errors In the enumer-
alton of youth, in several parishes,
(see Annual Report, page q, such
eaumerations constituting the legal
bases of appointments of school
moneys to the parishes; hut this bill
was defeated by misrepresentation
arising from the ignorance which
hampered, and by the frivolity which
unhappily confused, the proceedings
ofthe House of Representatives, in
the last hours of its session.
1t is obvious, therefore, that the
success and improvement of your
school system for the present year
must depend as it has heretofore
done on the energy and patriotism of
your boards in their corporate ca
paeity, and upon the zeal and wise
discrimination of your individual
members, your officers, and the local
trustees by you appointed.
To aid you In improving the sys
tenn of education, and administration
allow me gentlemen to suggest:
l. Let your boards reorganize
where necessary, that your presi-
dent and secretary shall both reside
in or nesr the parish seat where the
treasurer of school funds is presumed
to be doiniciled. The reasons for
this movement are explained on pa
ges Xxx, XXI of the Annual Report.
2. That in parishes where the sub
division into school districts has, du
ring the past year, caused inconve.
nience or prejudice to the efficiency
OF the school system, you reduce the
number of districts to two, as you
have the undoubted legal right to do)
and that you apportion the school
funds of these two districts to well
located schools Of more than ten pu.
pills therein in proportion to the nun.
Der of children registered in each
school, on some equitable basis Of
compensation to the respective teach
ers, as suggested on pages XVII
XVIII, XyX, Xxx of the Annua
Report.
3. That in your incorporated towns
exempt from police jury taxation
You persuade, when necessary, you
town councils to raise and appropri
ate sufficient sum, with the State
aid, to maintain your town schools
for at least ten months in the year
or else that entertainments or fairs
be given in your towns, to raise
funds for prolonging the sessions o
the schools, as has successfully beer
done 10 the Parish of St. James
page xiv of the Annual Report-ant
more recently in the town of Thibo
daux, parish of Lafourche; and tina
you call on the police juries to levy
the two mills special tax authorized
BY law, to the end that your rura
schools may be kept open for at leas
six months, during the seasons whel
schools are most needed, or wher
they can be attended by the Iarges
number of pupils.
4, That when Won have a sufficien