St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-08-16
The Public schools.
New OrIealls states.

We entertain the opinion that it il
not the duty of society to furnish its
youth with more than an elementary
education that the taxpayers are not
in right and Justice bound to do more
in this direction than to give every
child an opportunity to acquire enough
instruction for the ordinary needs of
life, and that it is not necessary to the
interests of the body polite that the
higher branches should be taught at
the public expense. 1t is essential to
the welfare of the State that its citizens
should not be illiterate. 1t is not need
full that they should be all skilled in
the sciences, che arts and the ancient
and modern languages. Those parents
who are SO circumstanced as to be able
to give their children the opportunities
for culture, can do so without cost to
the taxpayer. For those children who
have aptitude for study, and who are
mentally qualified for an education be-
yond the sound groundwork furnished
at the public charge, there ls seldom
much difficulty in the attainment of the
best Intuition at moderate cost. The
perseverance and industry which would
| be called on, in some cases, to attain the
desired end, in themselves would be
not the least valuable part OF the edu-
| cation ACQUIRED. They would strengthen
nnrpose. add be fitting preparation for
| the coming contest with the world.
The boy who has been we'll grounded
in the common school course of studies,
who reads, who writes, has fair
| knowledge of grammar, arithmetic, Re-
Opraphy, history, and the constitution
| of his country, and State, presented to
4 him by the public, can make his way 1t
/ he will, and has reason for lifelong
gratitude to his benefaCtOT. With this
vantage ground, his future depends
ImainIy on himself. Our American his
tory id crowded with the names of self
made men who have attained the high
est rank in craftsmanship, scholarship
4 science, art and finance. 1t seems tC
Ms that " hen the Siale gives such ar
education to it's youth as we have sug'
eested, its duty is performed, and thai
more entails unnecesssary, and there
fore in principle, illegal exaction from
the people.
In this connection we advocate tina
the high schools he not re-Opened, anC
that the money hitherto devoted Il
them be used towards paying the teach
ers in the other grade OF schools, IN I'm
proving the condition of those schools
and in extending and lettering on
sysrem for teaching the very young
We are very earnestly in favor OF til
introduction of the kindergarten mod
OF instruction in connection with gu
public schools The efficiency and de
stability of this system has been full
: established in Europe and in this coun
trv, We would better our common
schools in every practicable way, " hill
We would not encourage supporting
High Schools.
At the same time, the normal school
i should have State support. They ar
, to tit teachers for the common schools
Just as the general government sup
ports West Point and Annapolis 70 pro
3 vide officers for it's army and navy. $
3 the State should provide we'll qualifie
, guides for its youth acquiring schot
education.
An old-time magistrate in Georgi
; once delivered the following decision
the case of an industrious settler VII
: was sued for Is small sun: Tie defer
dams in the case is q haTd-WOrkinp maj