Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-12-23
RELATIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY
TO EDUCATION.

The following extract from the an
nual report Of the President OF the
State University to the Superinten-
dent of Public Instruction embodles
Col. ,Johuston's views of the relation
of. the University to the common I
school system of Louisiana. The
mutual interdependence of the two IL
clearly set forth, and the authorities
are urged to help tho white people OF
this State to secure good education
beginning at the common school, anu
gradually rising to the University:
az am not well known to your PEG,
pie, respected sir, and it may not be-
come to obtrude my advice upon them;
but I trust that the high officials who
have done me the honor to repose 30
large q confidence In me, by calling
me to the head of their State Univer-
slty, willnot take it amlss, II ! call
their attention to its important place
in the public education of the State,
On the free school system OF edlca-
ton rests the hope of the develop
ment, fnot of the preservation OF o''r
material interests aud Of our liberties
in the United States. This is espe-
cially true of the South, and IN no
State has 1T greater significance than
in Louisiana. The control of the most
sacred rights of property, OF the sub
tlest questions of morals and law, OF
the most delicate functions of polity,
and of the fundamentals of civilization
itself, are now, perforce, entrusted to
the masses, largely made upof isno-
rant freedmen. It bchooves the State,
rs the CONSERVATION of society, to use
every power and energy to cnllghten
this dense and dangerous darkness.
It should extend to its colored citizens
the benefits of education, and lead
them to higher and purer plane OF
intelligence. But it should remember
that it must depend chiefly upon the
white race, with its immemorial right
of leadership, for its ability to keep
pace insthe march of civilization with
happier and more favored common
wcalths. It should not withhold, nor
stint its hand in giving, to equip
these of its sons for the struggle OF
life.
TO this end common schools should
invite the humblest of its citizens to
learn those elements of knowledge
which should be the general heritage
of freemen. Higher Schools should
receive generous State aid, so that
those willing to make sacrifices
should not be without the opportunl-
ty of advancing along the rugged
path of knowledge; and, browning
the public scloGl system as cap
shcaf, the most fruitful gift of this
benignant harvest of learning, SHOULD
be the University. \ part of that
system and its elimination, the Uni
-versity should open its doors freely
to all who aspire to the higher cdu
cation. 1t ought not to usurp the
functions of the Primary School, o.
the High School, but reserve its encr
gics for those who have patiently IN
dcrgone their preliminary training
These it should foster with the mos
scdulous care, and the Univelslt,
should be the nursery of the teacher
of our public schools. From its wall
yearly should go forth men full
equipped by training, general infol
nation, and special instructions i
the best methods of the normal schoo
which has its greatest efficiency as
branch in q University. These me
should constitute thatarmy of schoo
masters who are to vanquish lgno1
ance in Louisiana. %.
To achieve so laudablc Il purpos
the State should endow q Norma
School in the University, and shou]
also grant benefactions to those st'
dents of the University who wi
engage to teach in the public schoo
a stipulated period, say two yeal
II should be engraved on the publ
mind that the primary schools, Il
HIGH schools, and the Universe
are not rivals, are not antagonist
,4,,, th, +l,rap stems TO fine altar