St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1886-01-30
OPELOUSAS ::

n1aklur Tic llIllL . HILLS lIlSUeau Dt y, al
the law now stands, provided that thu
sively to the support OF public schools
throughout the State. This appears
to be a wise idea, as the success of the
public school system of the State is
something greatly to be desired.
But, as the able editor OF the Shreve-
port Times says, before any such
changes be made, it must be understood
that the mills will be used exclusively
to assist the public schools.
There is an immense amount OF mo-
MES now appropriated to two or three
universities and colleges that literally
are of no service to the parents who
have children to educate. Schools that
are patroniZed only by wealthy parents,
and the few who happen to reside in
the vicinity.
What is wanted in this State is to
EDUCATE all the children OF educable
age, and not colleges and universities
to educate the children of favored
neighborho0d, and of parents who have
means to send their children away from
home.
Unless the Blair or some similar bill
passes Congress, Louisiana legislators
could do no wiser act than to take the
necessary staps to increase the taxation,
for the benefit of the public schools,
but not a cent of such taxes to go to
the support of any college, of high
school or any kind of school, except
public ones, where the children OF both
rich and poor can go, and stand up on
an equality.
There is entirely too much money
new diverted to the maintenance of a
few colleges, whilst the public schools
languish for want of support.
Nothing will bring the State so great
return for funds invested as /. good
system Of public schools will effect.
Let every boy and girl have all OPP
portunlty to obtain a reasonable educa-
ton, SO as to be prepared to meet and
vanquish tile stern realities of life.
that they will encounter as man and
woman, and then Louisiana will as
sumo a front rank among her sister |
States, and point to her children as her |
brightest jewels Sentinel.
We agree with all the above, except
as to an increase of taxation. The
school money already mislpplied,
would probably make the school fund
sufficient for the public schools re-
luired. Ia the first place, the number
Of educable children furnishes no data
% determine the necessary number of
school, unless the attendance of chill
lren at school was compulsory because
schools in this parish, and without ,
loubt in other parishes, have to be
losed because, though there are plenty {
It children in the neighborhood, the
minimum number required by the i
chool board, in order to keep the ]
chool open, will not attend. You can :
lot make children attend school, against 4
heir own or their parents will, any a
lore than you can cram them with a
nowledge, without an effort on their y
art, when they do attend. A great 9
cal OF money can be wasted keepiDg 4
;hools open where there is little or no q
tendance. i
All the school boards, State and par G
b, and school superintendent, ought v
be abolished, and the whole business b,
public education turned over to the 81
'lice juries. This would simplify the tt
after and do away with q great deal m
useless expense. a,
The maintaining of high schools and tb
lieges out OF the school fund, in or a
r to give favored individuals already sll
ucated a still higher enucation, at lie.
Q expense OF thousands Of children pr
10 are thereby deprived of any educa- tel
n at all, is simply fraud. St
Moreover, the school fund might be
creased out OF the amount of taxes TIL
lected by the State government, if CO.
latter were properly and economi- fol
ly administered. We think the fault CHI
more with the legislative branch. thu
We have never been able to see what lar
lefit the parishes derived from our ia,
tie government. The State govern mo
Mt collects taxes from the parishes. del
Ianders q good deal of the same sin
8 the public lands by wholesale TO the
italists, and spectators for small ma
elton OF their value, and squanders dies
t. About the biggest thing the the
te government has been in the habit rem
ioing, is the corruption of politics. ant
more money the State government the
lowed to collect, the more power it VIII,
have to corrupt our politics there gro
we are not in favor of an increase latt
sxation for any purpose. lect
all people practiced rigidly the tuel
len Rule, there would be no need
ny government at all. The only
It of government is to protect good
ans against evil-doers. Since the W