The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1882-04-22
S2,747 Go
Ats 90
500 90
25 90

s,747 &C
Cash OH han December 81, 1882. SAL IL
The several schools began the current
year with perceptibly increasing vigor.
Parents, teachers and pupils have be-
become interested-your committee
would be glad to know that the two
newspapers published weekly in Mon
roe Recognized the existence of these
schools, as adding factor to the invi-
tation to persons abroad t6 settle among
US. There is nothing more conducive
to immigration than good schools. We
invite comparison with any communi-
ty, North or South, in this respect
but we do not recall a single intimation
in the editorial columns of our public
prints, that there are fine public schools
for both sexes and colors in the city of
Monroe.
Your committee, in closing their Ia
bors, desire to return thanks for the
kindness and good wishes extended by
many in furtherance of their efforts to
establish schools for education at home !;
they can also point with pardonable
pride to the success of those efforts and
consequent confusion of the many
chronic grumblers of Monroe, who can
not say: 81 told you So"
We earnestly request all Weil-wishers
of those who are soon, in the ordinary
course of nature, to take our places, to
visit.the schools to encourage both the
little folks and the teachers. There is
a great deal more of good than of evil
in the boys and girls of Monroe. En-
courage the good and the evil will per-
force die out. Too many in our COM
munity seem to fail to realize that it is
their duty, morally aud to the State,
to give the children an opportunity TO
become useful citizens-to whom they
can point with pride as grounded in
their education for future usefulness at
our home schools. There are monthly
reunions at each school-at the white
male school on the 1st Friday, at the
white female school on the 1st We'd
nesday; and at the colored school on
the 1st Thursday of each month. At
tend these reunions; every citizen of
Monroe has the right to be there on
those days. which have been set apart
by the com mittee for the public. Go
and see if the teachers are ready for
you-whether you think they are doing
their whole duty for the little ones.
1t might be something new to you
you might learn something yourself.
Suppose you lose few hours from your
there are great many men and wo-
men in Monroe whose business would
gain by losing them few hours. And
by all means persuade your editors to
make the visit with you-the greater
the number who learn to read, the
greater the number they may help to
educate through public their prints.
Finally, your committe recapitulate
that the schools are doing well during
the past month of March, 1882, the
reports show a marked contrast to the
first month of November, 1880, when
we opened the schools. For March,
1882, there were enrolled two hundred
and twenty-four pupils in the public
school departments, white and colored.
OF these: S3, with daily attendance
of 20, at the colored school; IS, with
a daily attendance of 60, at the white
male school; &C, with daily atten-
dance of 81 at the white female school.
Prof. r. A. Smith is superintendent of
the white schools-he is also principal,
with Mrs. Smith assistant, ofthe white
male school; Mrs. Evans is principal,
with Miss Lacy assistant, of the white
female sthool F. w. Darlington is
principal, with VIM. Bessie assistant,
OF the colored school.
On the 18th OF March, 1882, your
committee for the city school depart
ment acquired a controlling interest in
the judgment against the Ouachita Fe-
male Academy, which practically gives
control of that fine property for educa-
tional purposes to the city of Monroe.
The city now owns $lO2O.25 of said
Judgment; aud Miss l.. S. Borden the
balance, $36s.75. The several transfers
are duly filed in the clerks office o.
the 5th District in this parish. The
Bofenschen property il also valuable