The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1885-04-25
NO. II.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
What Teachers Are Doing to Decrease this
Percentage of uliteracy.

Percentage of nliteracy.
The members of tho teaching profess
sion in this country are exhibiting, at
the present time, most commendable
zeal in all good works. A review of
the proceedings of the district conven-
tons, county institutes and State asso-
Citations reveals an extraordinary spirit
of progress. The columns of the edu-
cational periodicals abound in papers
which are full of interesting sugges-
tons, original ideas and theories of all
kinds. Every teacher seems to have
his or her peculiar view which, on the
proper occasion, is very courageously
advanced Opinions, Numerically OPP
posed, constantly clash, but all are tho
outcome of one unanimous desire-im-
provement. The country at large is to
be felicitated on this condition OF
things.
1t occasionally surprises the tuition
and Taxpayers to find how far some of
the vital questions in the administration
of the public schools are from being de-
finitely settled, but this surprise grows
out of the American disposition to re-
gard ten years a century and fifty years
an age, and to forget that we are yet,
and naturally, in the period of institu-
tional beginnings and experiments.
! The public at large should not, there
fore, grow FESTIVE because the teachers
are given to debate and disagreement
They will come to conclusions, doubt
less, in good time. Their energy and
devotion to educational interests must
be considered as devoid of the selfish
ness that characteristics place-hunting
politicians, for the reason that their
positions are usually arduous and their
financial expectations inconsiderable.
They certainly present themselves in
the attitude of soldiers enlisted on the
side of great and worthy cause, their
loyalty being due to purer and higher
motives than individual benefit.
The question of large appropriation
by the National Government to be de-
voted to the suppression of illiteracy
has aroused them as never before.
They now find themselves facing a
!. great evil with the possibility Of secur-
ing effective means for its overthrow,
and they feel something of that ardor
: which our forefathers felt when the
Stamp Tax enabled them to draw a
: line, and which the old Aboltionists
< experienced when the proposition to
; extend slavery brought their affair to
g an issue. Heretofore the teachers,
i though imbued with q desire to ban
: ish ignorance from the land, were con
n tent to plod along in their mission, be
o leying that the light would gradually
spread as the years wore on, yet witt
the discouraging consciousness tina
/ the lane was very long. Now, sud
9 denly, an over-plus in tho Treasury
suggests a plan whereby grand ad
9 vance can be made, and the conse
u quence is general stimulation of on
: crgy and eager desire to go forth t.
u conquer. Whether such an appropria
ton by the Government is altogethe
o advisable is not the question with them
, They have settled that to their own sat
L isfaction, and believe, if we may trus
n the reports, that the country's glor,
q can be subserved in no way so well a
I, by educating the great body of illil
ss crate voters. Whether or not the ar
O. preparation shall be made, the teacher
Is will have been greatly elevated in tn
10 public regard by the philanthropic pc
sition they have taken, and the assuI
IL ancp they have given that they M
rs irving according to their best light
ne to Improve the intellectual and mori
Ut life of the Nation.
Realizing, therefore, the progress I'll
Ut teachers are making in the work I
I'd educating the people-aprogress whic
O. has the positive testimony of figures
OF the relation of the teacher to reforms
nc tory measures in the prisons is ma
ed ter for the curious to consider II e'
III ucation means the increase of Il
ut citizens responsibilities, it may be pc
oil tinently suggested that, with the II
crease of educational opportunitie
re prison discipline should grow sharpe
u.s. and punishment rather than reform
US ton be the policy of the prison-kee
NJ ers. If the percentage OF illiterac
accordingly, continues to be reduce
We by the teachers, the social scientists
en- the country should not fail to give IL
us matter their attention. O. Mattteu
na IN the Current.