The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1880-03-26
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL sYsrEM:


e y
We copy the following article from
the Franklin parish Sun, and endorse
it fully. The public school system of
Louisiana, from its inception since the
war, has been the efEectual means of
killing Off good private schools. n We
join our contemporary in -reprobating
that system. The Sun says:
So long as the people did not look,
for the support of their schools, to the
funds appropriated by the Legislature,
so long did we have Furnishing private
schools, and competent, energetic teach
ers, men who made a profession of
teaching. But we are sorry to have to
state that the introduction of the pub
lie school system in Louisiana has al
most proved a death knell to the pro-
fession-at least among the white por-
ton ofthe community. One by one have
our private schools, which, for several
years since the war, had acquired a
name throughout the State for their
excellency and the high standard of
their teachers, faded away, and the
teachers have been compelled to seek
some other field of LABOR in which they
could secure more fitting return for
their mental accomplishments. Em-
ployed by the School Board for the pal
try term of three or tour months, before
they have even time to study the dis
position and mental requirements of
the children committed to their charge,
their schools are closed aud the teach
| ers compelled either to remain idle for
the remainder of the year, or emigrate
to some other school district to get en-
ployment where there are public funds
on hand.
The public school system has so far
been of no material benefit to the pub
lie. Three months tuition out of twelve
is just SO much time thrown away, un-
less the term be continued, and in how
many portions of the parish is that the
case? The new Revenue Bill provides
the munificent sum of one mill for
school purposes! This will have the
effect of cutting down the revenue OF
the school fund to nearly one-half OF
what they actually receive, unless the
poll tax he raised to 81 so, which we
think unlikely.
We remember once hearing an old
gentleman remark, that when he wish
ed a piece of work not done, he would
ask friend to attend to it for him;
when he wished it half done, he would
get his servant to see to it, but that
when he wished it we'll done, he did it
himself. We have been depending on
others for the education of our youth
long enough, and, in the meantime,
our boys are growing up with scarcely
any educational advantages. There is,
in our opinion, but one remedy, and
that is to place our private schools upon
a permanent basis. Employ none but
competent, faithful men and women
as teachers, persons to whom your chill.
dren can look for moral as we'll as in.
tellectual aid. Secure to these teachers
a liberal compensation for their services
employ them for a term of not less
than 10 months, and, depend upon IT.
your schools will be success. The
truth of this theory has been realized
in one or two neighborhoods where the
teachers are employed by a committee
of citizens and a liberal salary secured
and the result is, that these schools are
hourishing, and will become perma.
nent institutions.