The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-02-17
GOVERNOR L. A. MILTZ On PUBLIC
EDUCATION.
tboutpiana Journal VI Education ]

/ HDItl, HNtu HLN OtkNlttNLiIUU. JlH Htt6 uNtI
identified with their history and progress b,
his public services as director and presden
Of the City School Board. and as chairman q
the Committee on Education In the Genera
Assembly of the State The friends of TIL
public schools conf ientiy look to him fol
important aid In lifting the system from tn.
| slough OF dependency Into which Il
has now fallen, and In communicating
thereto new and beautiful i'm.
pulse Our schools need a helptnghand from
one high IN authority. f,r the outlook Is b,
| no means encouraging. On the one hand, W.
have Increasing wants growing cut OF the ne
cessities Of Increased attendance, and on the
other hand we have diminished means. pre-.
| caiious revenues, and constitutional Itnita-
| lions. We hear much about the revival I'll
business, and there are unmtstakable indiCa-
ttons that many OF our citzans are having a
prosperous season.. But. with 90 large a class
Of employees rs the teachers In our public
schools unpaid for services rendered during
| the last three months. and with no prospect
| Of being paid In the near future; with the
| almost certain prospect that, without leglsI.-
| tive aid, our city public school, must b.
either greatly Curtailet In their PROPORTIONS,
or closed for portion Of the year-unless
kept open by the charitable labors of
the teaehers- with these things staring us In
the face, It Ia but too evident that the revival
Ia only partial, One-sided flair and not worth
q general laudatton. II H. b., IN very truth, a
real. genuine wave Of prosperity. 1t is proper
that public education should enjoy its share
OF the benefit. In the presence 1T sore trials
and many anxious mtextvin9s, the teachers
and other friends of the schools look to the
powers that be for such legislation as will
afford relief and place the public schools ana
especially the onDensatiUn or the teachers,
upon a more satisfactory basis.
From the able aud exhaustive inaugural
message Of the Governor, we republish that
portion which relates to
PUBLIC EDUCATION. 5"
Article 224 makes 1t the duty of the General
Assembly to provide for the establishment,
maintenance and support of free public
schools throughout the State, BY taxation or
otherwise. After a careful estimate OF the
sum required for the support Of the state gov
eminent and other constitutional demands,
and OF the rate OF Tax necessary to secure
such sum, you will be required to ascertain
what further rate of tax, Within toe limit
fixed by article 300, ought to be assessed for
public schools and other educational pnr-
poses, to provide for the thorough collection
of such tax, and to prescribe the manner In
which the proceeds thereof shall be dis-
tr1buted to each parish. The absolute re-
quirements OF the debt and government Of
the State will absorb 90 large part of the
proceeds OF six mill tax as to leave an In
adequate provision for school purposes: but
II school funds are faithfully applied under
the direction Of parish boards OF education as
provided In article 225, tho benefits of In
struction will to some extent be brought
within the reach Of all children In the State.
An education Ia elementary branches Is a
debt owing by the government to every boy
and girl within the borders OF the State
This is "a obligation that rests upon all the
taxable property ID the State, as sacred as
the obligation to protect that property and
the persons OF its owners The school house
ranks ID Importance with the conrt-house
The benefits of political liberty, of wise laws
and of just government are enhanced in value
nv tnnrpN anD tina initial ~ Fart
nate enough to enjoy them. Education in-
ereases the usefulness Of the citizen and en-
larges his sphere OF enjoyment: education s
In no small degree an antidOte for vice aud a
communities II Is held as one OF the most po-
tent aids to public morality.
Heavy obligations and limited resources
must, for some years. prevent Louisiana from
providing adequately for public education,
but trust that the first return of property
Will be- followed at once by increased J appro-
priations for this patriotic purpose. Until
then, 1t is our duty to see that our limited
amount OF school money shall be made to
produce the greatest possible benefit to the
children Of the State.
The General Assembly Is required to fix
the salary OF the superintendent of the par
ish OF Orleans, also to provide by law for
the levy In every parish Of a tax for the pub
lie schools therein, not exceeding the rate of
the State school tax. The constitution wisely
OF the general school fund, as well as OF
the proceeds of the local school tax, leaving
citizens to assess them selves according to
their means and good will. It may be an
ticinated that this liberal plan will stimulate
the friends OF education and develop in
creased public interest In our school system.
Article $50 authorizes appropriations for
the University of Louisiana In New Orleans,
and the Louisiana State University and Agri-
cultural and Mechanical College at Baton
Ah.,A Sk.,A-
granted these deserving Institutions to the
full extent Of $4,000 each, as limited In said
article, II IN your Judgment the condition OF
the treasury will warrant the same. 1t is
sound policy TO encourage and build up our
home institutions, and give to the young
men Of the State the means Of obtaining
instruction In higher branches with
out going abroad.
Article 231 makes it the duty Of the General
Assembly to establish In New Orleans a uni
versity for the education Of persons Of color,
to provide for Its proper government, and to
appropriate annually from $4,000 to $40. 900 for
Its maintenance and support. hope the con-
ditton OF the treasury will justify the largest
allowed by the article, for
hold the Object ~ view as highly meritorious.
The establishment OF such an institution
under the fostering care OF the State will not
fail to produce valuable results. The advan-
tages Of our public schools are open to all
alike with Impartial liberality, and 1t is emil
nently tit and Just that the opportunities for
a higher education should ba offered to all in
the same equitable spirit. An act OF incorpo-
ration and the appointment Of board of ad-
mintstrators will be required to put this laud-
able ENTERPRISE into practical operation.
Article 233 authorizes the General Assembly
to cause to be destroyed certain bonds belong
Ing to the free school fund, the seminary fund
and the Agricultural and Mechanical College
fund. loo much care cannot be taken In
framing the necessary statute for this pur-
pose, in order to prevent or defeat all past or
future frauds which may have been or may
hereafter be attempted BY means OF such
soever found.
submit the suggestion that the constitu-
ion OF Louisiana and the United States shall
% required BY law TO be read and studied In
,ur public schools.
W. 81. Vanderbilt gives employment to
I. 600 men.
L = - 49, .~r NJ A.