The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1885-08-08
Thnt asrndra.l scI.ooH.
MANOR, Texas, Aug. |, 1885.
tor Lake Cbarles Echo:

MANOR, Texas, Aug. |, 1885.
Editor Lake Charles Echo;
Teacher" in your issue of the first
has an able and pertinent article head
ed, "Graded School," but, has he mol
to some extent, asked too much Of th
teacher3 The merchant, when h
comes to Lake Charles, or goes else
where, to do business for himself
has capital in money, and does no
of course ask aid from the citizens
The teacher, the average one, who
comes to Lake Charles has his capita
in,-what? Not in money, but in ed
ueation and experience. The mer
chant comes to go into business OF
his own capital and for his own bene
fit. The teacher comes with his eapi,
tai Of education and experience, and
goes into a school for stipulated sti-
pend, for the benefit of all who attend
his school His is a work for the
public, and hence the public are ex-
pected to build the needed school
house, and furnish same with the
needed appliances for the instruc,
ton of the children sent to the school.
"Teacher' might, with equal justice,
demand that the preacher who comes
to Lake Charles to take charge of a
church should "invest something" in
church property, OF that the ''clerk"
who comes to take position in a
store should be required to "invest
something" in that store.
There are towns that have even fur
nished ground, shops and tools to ma
chinists; and other towns have Elm
vested"--given-large sums to mills,
factories, etc, to have these enter
prises come to them. Other towns
have done the same for schools, and
all from the same motive, the public
good.
Teacher" also says: wet us di-
vide the burden, especially it it is to
be a private enterprise" Should the
graded school be an individual enter
prise And then, tho man who has
the capital and the education to build
and carry on such graded school
would find many other more tempting
and inviting channels for a more prof
liable and pleasant investment OF his
money and talents, right here in Lake
Charles, than in an experimental
school.
How many, think you, of the prin-
cipals and teachers in tho graded
schools in the land have capital
enough, IN money, to buy even tho
seats of the schools in which they
teach How many college presidents
and professors have capital in money
sufficient to come to Lake Charles and |
build and furnish such school as is
needed There are some teachers
who have capital in money but their
name is not legion, There are rich
private schools in the Union owned by |
The principals, and these, in ninety
nine cases of hundred, were started
BY the capital of others.
No, it is not "a debatable question"
hat "Lake Charles needs an academy"
Dnt 1t may be well debated the amount
1f appreciation such a school would
get IN the start, If opened by private
'r individual enterprise and capital
Yes, the right way is to "look at
his thing in business way, and act
Iceordlngly," but would It not bo a
Sood business way for the people who
're vitality interested IN a school to
mite ana balld one det up q stock
ompany with shares at S5, $40, S20
II 500 each; let each share have ono
ote 10 selecting board oi directors,
nd let this board select suitable
'rlnclpal and assistants for the school
4et TINS board pay these teachers a
tlpulated salary, or better sill, rent
he building and furniture to an edu-
ator This Would not DO Investing
heir money simply for tho purpose OF
experimenting to ind ont whether he |
as the requisite qualifications to sue
eed as an educator" for it he was a
allure he could, and shonld, be re-
loyed' Many hundreds OF such |
ohools are IN successful operation
nth true educators at their helms.
Now, ! am satisfied that 'Teacher" /
as ability, and as one Of the frater-
ity ho knows OF the chronic impecu- {
iosity of the average teacher in mon
capital The true teacher, however /
oor, is not beggar, and always tries
:, should moi go " debt but like !
le gooa preaeher' give tlll value re- q
'lSea toi al nc gels tor 1eschlnag'
ood teaciers can always pay rent Tor {