Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1881-02-05
Our Public School System.

Free public schools have come to
b regarded a. necessities in every
State iu the Union We believe; at
least, we believe no state is without
its public school law. But Of course
the benefit derived by the children
from the system is in proportion to
the funds appropriated to tho supper:
of The schools. In some states the
fund. under judicious management Of
. wise and we'll arranged system.
appears 70 be amply sufficient to &C.
couplish the purpose for which the
law was inteodsd-,be giving Of o
common school education to the poor.
er classes Of children whose parents
avail themselves Of its provisious-iu
which instances it is proving q great
blessing. But in our state We sctu.
ally consider the law curse to q
majority Of the children. because many
parents who are able TO educate their
children try 70 dodge the responsible
II and throw the blame Of their fail.
urs ~ do 90 upon the public school
system. The cousciences Of such
people are very elastic. and all they
want 10 . little loophole through which
to escape public censurs. aud their
children may grow up in iguo' snce for
aught they care.
The state tsx levied for school pur.
poses, even including the poll tax.
which constitutes large per cent Of
the fond. 10 totally inadequate to the
support Of public schools q sufficient
lsngtb Of time each year to be Of any
practical benefit to the children, es-
pecis!ly 90 long IS the practice of Civ
Jog big salaries to teachers Of public
schools in the country parishes is con.
tinued. The teachers as q rule are
not persons Of such literary or scien-
ti6c sttainments as would com rand
such salaries in any o,her positions.
The fact is. many of them are totally
unqualified for the positions they
occupy.
Hence. We conclude that four things
are necessary to the accomplishment
Of any good results, or the obtaining
Of Guy practical benefi: from the pub
lie school fund Of the state, to.wit !:
A moro careful and rigid examination
Of teachers BY the boards, q reduction
Of salaries. the levying Of q parish
school tax aud the financial assist uce
Of the patrons Of the schools-lbat is.
the giving Of preference to coumu-
mites who are willing to pay q pro-
rata Of the teachers salries, in the
employment Of teachers. Parents
who are able to pay anything for the
education Of their children must learn
that they must do 30 or their children
cannot be educated, or else the Law
must be SO amended as TO give The
exclusive benefit Of the school fund to
the children whose parents are totally
unable to provide for their education,
il We would educate the inssses, until
the state emerges from its impover-
isbed condition and the people ore
sble /, bear the burden of q taxation
Sufficient TO educate all the children
alike.
We know that it is q characteristic
Of human nature to want to reap per.
sonslly the beoefts Of taxation; but
We must remember tina, We cannot
always do this 4; that we are morally
bound to take care Of the unfortunate
aud afflicted poor. aud. DO matter bow
in'provident and dissipsted the par.
ents are. tho children of all classes Of
the poor belong TO this class Of our
population.
We want 10 see oil the children
educated, but to realize this desire
there must b . radical change 10 our
entire public school system.