The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1883-03-31
Written for the CHIEF.
OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
Serious Evils-Wholesome Suggestions.
DoNALDsoNvILLE, March 20, 1888.

OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
Serious Evils-Wholesome Suggestions.
DoNALDsoNvILLE, March 20, 1883.
EDITOR CHIEF:
The Indifference Of the citizens is q serious
evil. Little care is taken and small the anx
iety felt on the subject of education. Mer
do not generally appreciate its worth, ant
are satisfied with such requirements as viii
enable the possessor to write his name ant
roughly to keep his accounts. Hence. il
many places no attention is bestowed OF
schools, the teachers or the scholars: the
directors are left to manage them in Their
own way, and even in the selection of these
officers little regard is paid to their qualifi.
cation and less to the performance of Their
duties. 1t can not be expected that those
who are ignorant of the treasures of educa-
ton should place high value on the means
| to attain it. Where no sheaves have been
| gathered, in the stubble of learning the re-
| treshing influence of the speechless dew will
not be perceived. To arouse public atten.
ton on the subject of common schools; to
impalt to parents, as far as possible, q
knowledge of the invaluable blessings of
sound instruction and the Importance of the
system to the future welfare of their child
rem, should be the aim of the Legislature
and the effort of every good citizen.
beneficial effect in this particular would
be exerted from additional taxation in the
school districts. Every parish in Louisiana
can raise all additional tax of five mills for
common school purposes, which would
enable the School Board of such parishes to
keep open their schools for at least eight
months in the year. Let the Police Juries
order an election for such purpose and by
vote of the majority of the tax payers of a
parish tax of five mills can be levied and
collected. BY such proceedings on the part
OF the citizens they would elevate and slim
ulate the standard of education Not only
would the condition of the schools, the i'm
provement of the scholar, AMI order and
harmony of the scheme awaken a lively
sense of we'll founded regard but tho i'll
creased amount of money raised could not
fail to attach a deep interest in it's success
Where oar treasure is, there oar hearts ure
also The influence of this pervading prin-
clple must startle even the sluggishness of
indifference, and attract the attention of the
unconcerned. Other methods, however,
should not be left untried. The public press
throughout the State would find it to their
interest to devote a column periodically to
the subject of education. Ministers Of tho
Gospel could exert an influence which might
reach every Preside, opening Tie eyes Of the
blind, md atnstoppi',g the deaf ears, on the
subject of rational and moral instruction.
The apathy of parents in regard to the
of their children, although the
result of ignorance of its benefits, is lament
ably mischievous. Did they know that a
higher tone of moralits and. religion at
tended cultivated INTELLECT mat the past
afforded its lessons of instruction and the
future its hopes of reward, with deeper So
lemnity and brighter colors did they know
that learning, even in it's elements, opened
the vista which leads with irresistible i'm
pulse to the throne OF Omnipotencc; were
they conscious of the higher energies of the
human mind when awakened with q draugh
from the fountain of knowledge, and could
they see the " ladder set upon the earth,
and its top reaching to heaven" were thew
that the little rill from which their
offspring drank the rudiments of education.
and deepened in its progress, until
earth and sky were reflected from it's bosom;
were they capable of understanding the un-
told wealth in the treasury of Knowledge
they would tear from their sleepy energies
the Ieaden weight of insensibil.ty. their
hearts would expand with str.snre affection
for their children; no sac.i1ice of wealth or
time or attention would be deemed prodieal
until they had n.lbarred the prison door of
Ignorapoe ard given liberty to the immortal
spr;:..
Education may appear trifng to some,
out it is nothing else than the buwark of
our nation, and if this be tri1ing, education
is trifing. Our fathers, and mothers too,
bought for US civil and religious privileges
which we enjoy at q dear rate, and every
interest calls upon us to perpetuate them
Our liberty was procured by arms, but it is
to be perpetuated in this way. Our army
and our navy may be ever so strong, and
every attempt to continue orr admirable
prove abortive, if ignorance
pervade the land. In education, moral as
we'll as literary, is our only hope C.