The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-04-01
Country Schools.

cen years old, as made by the assess
ors and returned to the Auditor of
Public Accounts, as required by law,
is given as 369, ,226, of whom 66,254
are in New Orleans and 3o2,972 in
the country parishes. The enumera-
ton for 1889 was 336, ,l36, of whom
6s,972 were in the city and 267 l64
in the country. That year is the last
officially reported from the Depart
ment of Public Education, and the
facts from the report OF the superinten-
dent to the General Assembly of 1890,
will show the condition OF onr country
schools and the progress of education
as last officially reported.
| Outside of New Orleans there were
11l,457 pupils enrolled in 1,4Sl white
and TIT colored schools. The white
pupils numbered 6s,l7S, colored
1920. OF the children of school age,
as enumerated, there were l55, 707 who
did attend public schools. The num-
Der in private schools, as far as repor-
ted, was 9,23S, leaving 146,469 who
did not attend any school, public OF
private, of whom AZ, ,201 were white and
| 104 ,265 colored.
In 16 parishes the white schools were
taught from two to three months, in S
parishes from three to four months, in
l3 parishes from four to i've months, III
parishes from five to six months, and
in the rest oversix months. In 26 par
ishes the colored schools were taught
less than four months. The average
length throughout the State was FIVE
and half months for white schools
and about four aud three -fourths for
colored schools.
The average pay of white male teach
ers ranged from 1925 to $40 per month,
except 4 or 5 who were paid s75 or
$50, the average of the whole State
being s34 90. The pay of white fe-
males ranged from sl7 to A, the aver
age being s3l.2o. The salaries of
colored teachers averaged S2S.37 for
males and S2767 for females. This
was little more than half the salaries
paid in New Orleans for twice the
average term of country schools.
Low salaries for short terms will not
command services of the higher order,
but the qualifications of very many of
the country teachers are not to be
measured by the pay received.
On an assessment Of ninety seven
millions the country parishes paid into
the current school fund SOL, ,7Os while
New Orleans, on an assessment of one
hundred and twenty-nine millions,
paid Sl24,S63. This fund, collected
in proportion to property, is distributed
in proportion to children of school age
Hence, out of the S165, 1855 distributed
in 1889, the country parishes received
S132,?94, or five times as much as the
city, because they had FIVE times as
many children.
The proceeds of the poll tax were
S93, ,407, and only half what they
| would have been if all voters had paid.
In forty-three parishes local school
tax was collected and the proceeds
amounted to S9G, G,l76. Corporation tax
es were S2,1s3.
Rent Of school lands and sale of
trees produced S4,35s. Interest on
sixteen sections was paid to the amount
of s4l,s52.
Donations from the Peabody fund,
ect,, were $l6,972.
Receipts from ex-treasurers, 81 ,536.
Making total receipts s3s9,oss.
The pay of 2,24O teachers was
1912, ,S44, about $Sl4O each. The 43o
teachers of New Orleans received
S2l0,970, or about S49O each. For
rents and repairs there were paid ST..
619, and for building school houses
$4,730 in nine parishes.
| The total disbursements were $500
PA fer the country, and $335,372 for
Orleans, making s7o4,5s6 for the
State. The average per capita ex-
pended for ,457 pupils was $3.50
in the country, and fos 2l,136 pupils
in New Orleans it was Si5.S2. Yet
the schools of New Orleans, taught
nine months by able, competent, zeal
GUS teachers, fairly paid, were no m more
than I, good common school system
demands.
These facts from official documents