The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1885-05-09
Communicated.
school Subject Reviewed.

4
the "school subject" and while ] in
dorse the entire course of his logic, a
given in the article, on the method Q
improved teaching, and the system o
training, ETC., am not altogether al
advocate, if | rightly understand hi
| idea, of his plan Of appropriating pub
lie funds. 1t is very evident TO al
observers, from the educational condi
ton of our parish, that there is a con
siderable lameness somewhere in thu
public school management, either II
the amount of money expended, or IL
the way that it is expended; perhaps
partly both combined. The present
condition of matters will certainly
prove deplorable to all who examine
into facts, when we come to consider,
as has been previously stated, that
there are various examples throughout
our parish of grown-up young men
and ladies who are not even able to
write their own names, nor read the
first lessons in our school readers.
Such is in no wise commendable to
the present progressive ago.
The idea of establishing public
graded school in Lake Charles seems
to have been the leading object Of
Mr.. Observers article; and inasmuch
as it is founded upon the basis of i'm
provement, | appreciate his step; but
to the extent that said improvement
will be none the better for country
people, who, it is easily proven, are
more in need of it, I disapprove the
idea. We should first help the needy,
and those who are not able to help
themselves.
Unless there be a change in some
way, heartily agree with Observer,
that there is no equivalent obtained for
the money, but do not think the pro-
posed change is the right ono. Many
of our public school localities through
ont the country are visited by public
school only once about every four or
five years, and this is certainly not
suggestive of much benefit. Three
months study, during this period, with
out further application, will be almost,
if not totally, lost. If there should
be no chance of improvement what
ever, then would join many Others,
and say: Abolish the public school
law, and We will depend upon our own
support to far better advantage. But
| fatter myself with the idea that i'm
provement lies not far distant in the
future, and hopefully say, work for it,
In the first place, to even begin the
work of establishing said graded
school, our treasury would have to be
more literally supplied; and if the
funds were on hand, would it not be
far more appropriate to direct atten-
tion to those country localities referred
to above, and secure an equilibrium in
the educational advantages of our
parish, which does not now exist by
any means, before considering and
delineating plans for comforting such
an especial favor upon Lake Charless
| am absolutely in favor of creating a
greater revenue for the support of
public schools, sufficient that each To-
cality may have at least three months
term during every year, but see no
reason why one should be favored at
the expense of all the others; there
fore, if any locality desires a school
of extraordinary character, which all
the ambitions do, and sis rich enough"
let that locality support its school, and
thereby set an unparalleled example
to the world. ..a
Mr.. Observer must certainly be ac-
quainted with the inability of many of
our public school teachers, or else he
would not have spoken SO appropri-
ately on the subject of preparing teach.
ers for the parish. There is no small
drawback in this line, and think
should be more strictly attended to by
the board of examination.
Our writer yentured to approach the
subject of text books, saying they
should be uniform and correct" bnt
did not tax his educational skill by
telling us which were correct nor
which were incorrect; suppose want
of space forbid, but it seems that he
might have borrowed enough to give
his dsapproval to the nse Of such as
r. G. Smiths English Grammar, for
they certainly require too much ap-
plication for what they impart, when
It can be otherwise, obtained.
The School subject" is by no
means exhausted. It is free for the
discussion OF all interested parties,
that Mr.. Editor is impartial,
without which injustice would accrue.
Its importance renders it worthy Of
the consideration of all classes, from
the humble farmer to the highest
standards Of literature and legislation.
And may such consideration be given,
till the rising generation Of our land
be enabled to drink freely from tho
wholesome fountain of knowledge.
AYTCH.