The Donaldsonville chief., 1879-09-20

pfOspecAW0 foreign lr4u0 40nOulu o.
an additional argument for the. .reten
. ton of high schools and their .gener
Gus support. The provision author,
iziDg the teaching Of the elementary
branches ju the French language
where it predominates is an unstates-
manlike class distinction. The Ian
gnage and laws Of the country are
English. To secure homogeneous
people aud the exercise of intelligent
| citizenship, foreigners should accept
and use the language. The govern
ment should not assist in maintaining
a division almost as wide as national
ity itself, between it's citizens. And
why should the French receive this
special favor. There are Germans
and Italians, in sufficient number, at
several points, to claim like bounty,
yet our law makers propose to deny
them Of it. Another objection to the
measure is that the time spent in the
instruction of the French will be lost
to those pupils who are pursuing
English studies; SO, that virtually,
the American youths who are SO uD-
fortunate as to reside in a French
neighborhood must be content With
half-fare or inferior instruction. The
scheme is neither generous nor just,
it tavors foreign tongue at the ex-
pense Of the elementary branches Of
our own. The teaching Of French is
a high school perquisite.
The provisions of the new constitu-
tion for raising revenue for the sup
port Of the schools are unobjectionable,
save the danger that the small gener-
al limit of taxation for state revenues
five or six mills) may greatly dimin-
ish them, and the parishes fail, from
inability or otherwise, to supply a
deficiency within the fixed limit of
ten mills for all purposes whatsoever.
The despoiled funds, previously di
vested by corrupt legislation, are to
be restored in amount to the use Of
schools; and a poll tax Of 81 90 Ol
81 50 to be levied and distributed
within the parishes collected. The
efficiency of these stipulations, how
ever, will depend on the ability Of
the State under the new tax limit,
and the friendliDess Of tax collectors,
Auditor, and Legislators to the school
system. "...m
The constitution or 1868, Art. lao,
says:
"No appropriation shall be made by
the General Assembly for the support of
any private school, or any private insti-
tuition Of learning whatever"
The prohibition of the new consti- |
tuition in this regard is simply against
sectarian" schools, except as to the
proceeds Of poll tax which 60 "exclus-
sively" to the public schools as organ.
lied under it. The door appears to
be open for weak and over generous
legislation il favor Of private schools
at the expense Of the general fund,
which only the strongest safeguard
can check and it may be impossible
at times to discover a sectarian school
sailing under the colors of a privateer,
until it has carried of prize.
The new constitution reduces the
salary Of the State Superintendent
from $4,000 to $4,000 per annum, and
also provides that the aggregate an.
nual expenses of the Office, including
salary, shall not exceed $4,000. The
Office narrowly escaped abolition, and
is provided for in a niggardly man
ner. The Superintendent should be
Of high professional attainments as an
and given the means to in
troduce reforms, visit the different
parishes, and keep up an Office hav-
ing steady and extensive cores
pondence with teachers, officials and
public men Of the State. With sal
ary of $4,000 he can enjoy but small
margin over the plaiDest necessities
Df livelihood, without attempting
TO satisfy the many demands incident
to State official at it's capitol who
shall devote himself heartily to the
interests he is elected to serve. He
;nn not employ a clerk, thoroughly
visit and inspect the school work in I
he different parishes, provide furni-
'ure, stationery, ETC., with $1,000 per
.nnum. If this objection be met
With the provisions for parish super I
ntendents it is only necessary to re-
1ect that it is scarcely possible that :
'ver fifty persons can be fonnd in as !
many parishes, of commanding talent ,
Is educators and organizers aud ,
hey will not be obliged to follow a
uggestion or make report of paro.
l'ial affairs to the State Snperintend- j
mt, unless a Legislature shall SO di- e
ect. In the constitution of 1863.
Art. 1879 it is expressly provided:
"He shall have the supervision and
ontrol Of all public schools throughout r
he State,'
Says the new constitution:
ellis duties shall be prescribed by 9
aw"
This vague provision renders the Q
tate Superintendent subject to the v
aprice, intelligence, mercy or malice
t every succeeding Legislature. ;,
hat officer may be director, in fact
! in name, Of the school system, Just +