The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-12-04
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

hope with some profit to them from sug-
gestions made, have come to the con-
clusion that it is not only just, but due
to our citizens, to let them know what
the public schools are doing.
1t is plain to the most casual observer,
who visits them, that they are steadily
improving in better and more thorough
work as time comes and goes IN Its
never ending flight.
A majority Of the teachers are ener-
getically at work striving to do all they
can to improve the school they are
teaching: trying, to the best OF their
abilities to make their school one OF the
model schools Of the parish.
Such school as we ought to have !;
one that will be safe for any teacher to
trv to initiate; one that will reflect
credit upon the teacher who presldes,
governs and controls, and the pupils
who attend the same.
These are the kind of teachers the
parish of Rapides needs, and it is to be
hoped the time has come and will re-
main when no others will be given em-
pIoyment in the public schools OF RAJ
pides parish.
The best teachers that can be procur-
ed are now in charge OF our schools,
and it is very gratifying to know how
rapidly they have improved them in
usefulness, in more advanced and better
methods OF imparting instruction, in
school discipline, in elevating them to a
high standard Ill the estimation OF the
best citizens, and the determined efforts
they are making to continually improve
Oh all their past school work.
Education is only part of the many
requirements that are necessary for a
teacher to have in order to perform the
varied duties that devolve upon them i'll
their school rooms. They ought to be
possessed Of much general information,
a kind OF living encyclopedia OF useful
knowledge.
Schools are established for the pur-
pose of benetitting the cllildren-the
rising generation-to assist them in the
important work OF preparing themselves
for LIES future multifarious duties. To
lit them to fill any responsible position
that may devolve upon them, as they
travel along LIES unknown paths, with
honor to themselves and our parish as
her citizens.
Teachers are paid to do their work,
and it is right for them to realize, Gas
they do) that they must do steady, thor
ough, earnest work, or be i'll danger OF
being dismissed for neglect OF duty.
Schools do not belong to school direc-
tors, parish superintendent, patrons or
teachers, but they do belong to the
children who attend them; therefore
each and every one who has anything to
do with the schools should diligently
strive to promote their interests, ever
realizing that they are laboring for
those who are powerless to protect
themselves from injustice done them by
others. School officers, patrons and
teachers, should all act in harmony
should all have the same object in view
ever striving with continued, nnwearied
effort to improve themselves in all theil
school work.
With a general desire everywhere in
our parish for longer schools, and in
some places more of them; with teach
ers who are competent, who are Jealous
ly determined to do all they can fol-
those trusted to their care; with brigh,
pupils anxious and eager to learn; with
school officers trying to use the school
fund so as to do the most good they can
with the money they have in charge
what is to prevent the public schools
from soon becoming the pride of oul
parish and an ornament to our State?
There is no good reason why they
shall not soon be the equal OF the best
schools in any part OF our country.
Let the work of progression that has
been so we'll begun, continue, and i'll .
few years our parish will stand in the
| foremost ranks of educational. advance
| ment.
Many OF our teachers have been edu
Gated in private schools, colleges o,
seminaries, and while all are competent
so far as education goes, some OF then
know very little OF the daily routine
which is necessary to be done in order t.
successfully expedite school work, from
| the elementary b c's, up to algebra, a:
has to be done in some OF our schools.
1t may benefit some OF the teachers tt
mention a few of the things which
have been observed in the schools visit
ed, leaving them to draw their own con
illusions from them. In two of thu
schools visited saw, in writing, the or
der OF exercises for the day posted in :
conspicuous place, and strictly followed
from commencement to end.
In one of them as follows: 8 80 a. m
to 8 a. m, singing, reading in Bible
Lords prayer in concert, roll call; 9 tC
9:l0, &c class; 8: 10 to 8 20, first arith
metic; 500 to 9:I0, second arithmetic
$40 to 10, third arithmetic, ETC., &C
counting for all the time until p. IN.
The primary class has four recitation!
every day; generally six, and always
the last number when the time can bt
gained by the teacher striving diligentl,
to do it without doing injustice to thos,
who are more advanced in the school.
| The description of the first school vii
do nicely for the other, though they are
forty miles apart.
No changing places without permiss
ion, no whispering or noise with thu
lips in studying allowed: no gain.
around, or idleness permitted in eithe
Of them, and both are in charge o
young teachers who have the ability t,
manage, govern and control their pupil.
by the visible force of their quiet, firm
dignitied characters.
These teachers are pleased with thei
pupils; pupils like their teachers, ant
patrons are satisfied with tie thorough
earnest work, the teachers are doing
from sense OF the moral obligation
that rests upon them as long as the,
hold the honorable position of teacher
In one school | found the teacher sit
ting on the back OF the bench, with hi!
feet on the seat, his hat on, having
cane in his hand resembling blow gun
Tried to discover why he wore his hat il
school time and was rewarded with ;
most complete failure. All surmise.
ended in conjecture. 1t was sometim,