The Opelousas courier., 1886-10-09
South Western Louisiana Uni
versity.

N. o. Progressive Teacher.
The people of Lake Charles
have subscribed $4,000 for the
purpose Of instituting a 'funi-
versity'' under the above name.
The fact that the people of that
place have proposed to put their
hands down into their pockets
and bring forth such an amount
is but one more fact to the many
already adduced to show that it
is more keenly alive to the ben
etits of possessing educational
advantages than any of our
Louisiana towns. But we have
arrived at a tide in Louisiana
educational affairs when a mis-
take made will be far-reaching
in its results. Hard indeed it is
to rekindle enthusiasm when
once it is dampened by disap-
pointment, and the moral effects
of a failure cling to us long after
wards, retrieve it as we may.
One of the drawbacks of the
South to-day is the high sound
ing names we give our educa-
tional institutions. Our primary
schools are all Institutes and
I" Academies" our high schools
Colleges" our colleges "aUni-
versities," and we have too few
good, plain, honest, solid eoun-
try public schools.
But, coming down to pafticu-
lars, the people of Lake Charles
deserve every success, and it be-
hooves no friend of education to
stand and say naught-4even
though the speaking may offend
when he sees the success dpubt-
full.
What Lake Charles and other
towns stand in need of to-day is
not a university but a good grad
ed school, continuing nine
months of the year, FREE to ev-
cry boy and girl within its limits.
Ten thousand dollars expended
with this end in view would give
a satisfactory result infinitely
greater than twenty-five thous-
and devoted to a so-called uni
versity. In the present condi-
ton ofLouisiana educational af-
fairs we can pro4it much by the
experience of our sister state of
Arkansas. A score of tow ns in
that state no larger than Lake
Charles have erected by prigate
subscription, handsome school
buildings ranging in price from
five to ten thousand dollars,
donated them to the town and
have never been without aIpub-
lie school since. The citizens of
Lonoke subscribed ten thousand
dollars a few years ago, put up
school building and with the
remainder augmented the pub
lie school fund SO that a ten
public school was in
operation every year for four
at the end of which six
dollars were subscribed
to continued it. When the school
was erected the town contained
six hundred inhabitants, but
neighboring farmers began to
move their families in to enioy
the advantages. Emigrants
for more distant points
off and went no further
when they found provision made
for the free education of their
children. Property values went
up. The place became a center
Of culture and refinement, and
t is now one Of the principal eli
lies of the state, while the moral
effects Of its success are felt to-
lay by a score of other towns
hat have gone and done like
wise. 1t is by beginning at the
bottom and working up that sol
d success is insured. The aver
sge intelligence of a community
raised, not by educating a
'ew in the higher branches, but
1y educating the masses. The
of the Lake Charles
the editor of which, .judg-
ng from his thoughtful lutheran
yes, is q strong, earnest advo-
,ate OF popular education, re-
reals the fact that there are
snough private schools there al
Let the citizens erect q
I've thousand dollar building,
me that the whole town may
AL " our school house, put in
i've hundred dollars worth of,
best approved furniture and
apparatus and two-thirds Of the
'uition they are now expanding
would, concentrated into one
'chool, thenceforth educate ALL
- 3-hY u G&S483MJt j TE#S4 xNsM# ESS#& u :