The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1880-05-12

innocent minds of helpless youth.
Now, I am not sure whether our
more modern text books have man
aged to smooth over any of these
difficulties, or to present them in
more attractive form, but shrewdly
suspect that feelings very similar TO
these l have expressed have entered
toto the minds of some of those who
are now before me. If there be any
such, let me implore them to dismiss
at once aud for ever all such ideas.
Nature has wisely provided that
youth should be the formative period
oflife, the season of development, and
if in after life harvest Of wise and
useful knowledge is to be enjoyed, the
germs must now be planted which are
to ripen later into the abundant har
vest. know it is difficult to do all
these things. When the sun is shi,
ming forth in all its glory, and the
birds are singing TO each other in
the trees, and all nature is radiant
with a new born life, l know it is
hard TO be cooped up in a school.
room with a knotty problem TO solve
or an ugly sentence 10 constue; but
if YOU would heed the advice of one
VIII has drained to the uttermost
the cup of experience, be would say
to you, stick to your books, be pa
tient, be studious, be obedient, and
some day you will find that you have
been repaid thousand fold for your
temporary selfdenial.
Aud now let me say word to you,
my friends, who are charged with the
rearing of these tender natures for
the duties of society and citizenship,
upon the great question of the hour,
the educational system of our State.
The Constitution of 1879, which is
now the supreme law Of the State,
declares that public schools shall be
established by the General Assembly
th, oughout the State for the educa-
ton of all the children of the State
between the ages of six and eighteen
years; and it further declares that
the General Assembly shall provide
for their establishment, maintenance
and support by taxation or otherwise.
It further provides that the funds
derived from the collection of the
poll Tax shall be applied exclusively
to the maintenance of these public
schools in the Parish in which the
same shall be collected, and also chat
the interest on the proceeds of all
lands heretofore, or which may here
after be granted by the United States
shall be applied to the support of the
public shoots. Under its provisions
the parishes are also authorized te
levy tax for school purposes, which
shall not exceed however, the State
tax. Such are the provisions made
under our new organic law for the
maintenance of a public school svs
TEN, and to the casual observer il
would seem that they are ample anc
generous in their nature. 1t is too
early as yet to predict, or to asser
| with any certainty what the revenues
will be in the practical operation o
the system, but l very much fea
that the aggregate amounts realized
from every source will fall far shor
of what is really needed for the sup
port Of an efficient school system
In their great desire to reduce Taxa
lion to The narrowest limits, the fra
mers Of our Constitution have gon
TOD far, and seriously crippled 70
some time to cone the most impor
tant interests Of the State. The ed
deationa| system ntf;.rs no exceptio
to .ne common law governing all til
g"est agencies established for TIL
advancement or Improvement Of til
condition of mankind. 10 he use
rnl, to be effective, it must rereiv
} full and a generous support. Com
t pared with the standard of othe
/ States which we would be slow t
confess as in any way our superior:
[ the sum of one million of dollar
i would be required for the mainte
nance of an efficient system of edu
cation in Louisiana. Maine with
+. population but little larger, expend
annually largely over that amour
: In this State under the old law, a Ia
7 for shool purposes Of 81 mills upo
3 an increased assessment was foun
f inadequate, even in the ADMINISTERS
/. ton of partial system. Under tn
5 existing laws the tax will scarcel
| exceed two mills, both State and Pt
] rlsh upon reduced assessment, an
: it is simply impossible to obtai
! from this source revenue which wi
: even approximate to the amour,
t actually demanded. The result /
/. inevitable, and the educational il
e terests of the people of Louisian
e must languish and suffer for years
: come. Now what shall we do abol
] it? As faithful sons of Louisiana an
/ devoted TO her honor and materi,
f advancement, what is the duty of tn
o hour? 1t is universally concede
E that good system of education To-
S tiers virtue, truth, submission to al
4 thoritv, enterprise and thrift, an
e thereby promote national prosperit
4 and power; on the other hand ths
S ignorance tends to laziness, povert
5 vice, crime, riot and consequent
!, national weakness.
o 1t is conceded also that univers
education cannot be secured witho,