St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-10-05
Commissioner Dawson's Report.

N. R. Dawson, the commissioner of edu-
cation has filed with the secretary of the
interior his annual report for the year
ended June 80, 1889, in the course of which
he says that from an analysis of the stats
tics of public schools for the decade of
1851 to 1886 81, it appears that the
growth of the system, considering the
whole country, outstripped during that
period the growth of population, the excess
of the increase of enrolment over the in
crease in population 6 to IA years of age,
being 1.6 per cent.
This gain. the commissioner says, is due
entirely to the progress of the public
schools in the two Southern sections. and
more especially in the South central divi-
sion. Here the increase of enrolment
shows an excess over the increase of popu-
lation probably never before paralleled in
country SO long settled.
The sentiment in favor of free schools
supported by pBblic funds, he says, is
becoming eaah, year more universally
prevalent.
The public school systems of the South
err States have been undergoing an unpre-
cedented development under the laws
adapted in each case to local circumstances,
and are now practically established on q
appropriated an equal share of the school
fund, unles in the State Of Delaware, and
their schools are kept open as long, and
under as well paid teachers as those of the
white children.
The funds for these schools are furnished
mainly by the white inhabitants, and after
making due allowance for all the sums that
have been furnished for the education of
the negroes, through private sources of
benevolence and through taxes raised
among themselves, it may still be said
that the children of these once held in
servituds in the South are being educated
by the sons of their former masters.
In discussing the conditions affecting
public education in our country he con-
tinues:
''The necessity that the Southern States
are under is maintaining the two separate
systems. 1t is apparent that these States
are at present able to maintain only one
system in an efficient manner. The statis-
tics show that about 81 per cent of the white
population of school age in the Southern
states is enrolled, while of the colored
population only about SIS per cent. In the
district of Columbia alone does the colored
enrolment, considered in relation to the
colored population of school age exceed
the enrolment of the white population of
school age. Compulsory education, the
commissioner says, forms no feature of the
Southern school systems.
t'The arbitrary proceedings" he adds
(Which compulsory attendance law sug-
gests, it's inquisitorial methods, the inter
ference of the State in parental control of
children, the effect upon parents of sending
their children to school under compulsion,
in the impairment of that self-respect
which lies at the doors of character and
good citizenship, would seem to render
compulsory attendance law an. instrument
tally to be resorted to only to suppress
great and crying evil"
In the course of his remarks upon the
public schools in principal cities, the com.
missioner says
Gin no department of city schools, and
this for the reason perhaps that in them
there was the greatest room for improve
ment. The number of cities in which the
inexperienced teachers are habituaHy as
signed to the instruction of the youngest
children is rapidly diminishing indeed, in
many places the primary pupils are now
taught by the most efficient teachers. This
fact, coupled with the increased popularity
of kindergarten methods, has resulted in a
wonderful advance in the quality of pri-
mary instruction"
The commissioner says that though
thousands of dollars have been invested in
apparatus to be used in the development
of the mind, no provision. worthy of seri-
GUS consideration, has as yet been made for
strengthening the body, upon whose sound
condition effectige mental effort greatly
depends