The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1880-01-07

One of the most important sub.
jects with which the coming Legisla
ture will have to deal will be the
Public School system. Article 22A
of the new Constitution declares that
"There shall be free Public Schools
established by the General Assem-
bly,, throughout the State, for the
education of all the children of the
State, between the ages of six and
eighteen years; and the General As
sembly shall provide for their cstab
lishment, maintenance and support
by taxation or otherwise. And al
moneys SO raised, except the pol
tax, shall be distributed to each par
ish iu proportion to the number o.
children between the ages of six and
eighteen years.
Article 227 provides that: "The
funds derived from the collection o.
the poll tax shall be applied exclu
sively to the maintenance of the
Public Schools as organized under
this Constitution, and shall be ap
piled exclusively to the support Of
the Public Schools in the Parish in
which the same shall be collected"
The several sources from which
the school fund will be derived are as
follows: LIST, the Poll-tax; I'd, a spe
cial tax for school purposes to be
levied by the Legislature; 3rd, the
interest on the proceeds of all pub.
lie lands heretofore granted by the
United States for the use and sup
port of the Public Schools; 4th, the
interest on the Free School Fund Of
81, 100, S67, at 4 per cent per annum
from January LIST, 1880. '(The bonds
representing this fund were sold IN
der an act of the Kellogg Legislature
| of 1872, but have been re-establish
ed by the adoption Of the new Con
stitution.)
The Constitution also provides
that every Parish may levy tax fol
the Public Schools therein, which
shall not exceed the State tax.
We believe that the new Constitu.
ton makes as liberal provision for q
system of free schools as is possible
in the present disordered State Of
our finances, and that, if properly
managed, the State at large will en-.
joy advantages in this particular moi
surpassed by any other.
The reason assigned by Mr.. Lush
err as the cause of the withdrawal Of
the Peabody fund from rural Louisi
ana, was the insufiiciency of the
means provided to sustain the schools
through the term requisite to emit
tie them to aid from that source
The last donation to our Town
schools from that fund, for the term
ending in February, was received on
ly few days ago. Mr.. Lusher now
says that lie will recommend the re-
storation of the fund to such Towns
for the prolongation of the sessions
of the schools to ten months, provi
ded sufficient means, from Other
sources, can be secured to maintain
them during seven months of the
year.
Our Town schools are now in s
more fourishing condition than eve,
before, and it would be a serious mis-
fortune if they should be permitted
to 60 down. The Corporation of AL
exandria have appropriated $500 tt
aid them during the present term
and we doubt not would increase thai
amount to any reasonable extent t.
enable them to continue.
The Police Jury Jury in 1878, lev
led tax of $4,000 for school purpo
ses which is now being collected, ant
for the current year they have levie,
a tax of $4,000.
Whether system of free schools
worthy the name, can be maintained
in Louisiana rests now with the Leg
islature. Prompt action upon a ques
ton of such vital Importance is de
mauded by unanimous pubic senti
ment, and we would invite the atten
ton of our Representatives and Sen
ator to this matter as one in whicl
any efforts on their part will be dull,
appreciated and generally recognized
We would say that the most liberia
provision which can be made ca
barely meet the actual requirement
and that any action not dictated b
the broadcast and most liberal view!
will meet general condemnation.