The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1893-08-19
Our Neglected School.
st. MartinyiIIe La. AUG a. ,So3

Mr.. Editor
There are some subjects which lie al
together beyond the reach of the human
understanding. The question Of evil is
one of them. We know that it does ex
list. and We also know that the wisdom
Of man has never been able TO devise
any means to abolish it. We are. there
fore. compelled TO leave its origin and
continuance among the problems which
man Is incapable of solving. I shall.
therefore, dismiss that subject and take
up one in which have more interest.
and one which | feel more capable of
discuSsing-One that concerns not enIy
the temporal. but the spiritual welfare
OF the youth of st. MartinviIle. The
subject to which refer is this; Why is
IL that our public school has been per
mitted to remain so long unfurnisl,ed
l Will let each citizen answer the ques-
ton for himself, for do not understand
the reason; 1t is as incomprehensibIe as
the origin of evil. The progressive citi-
zens OF the town. by perseverance and
generosity. raised sufficient funds to
build public school house; but it seems
That that accomplishment was only a
spasmOdic demonstration of zeal in the
cause of public education. One in pass
lug the school promises and noticing the
cows and calves grazing thereon, would
INFER that during the summer months
the teacher was conducting a dairy. in
order To strengthen debilitated salary.
A lew Tin paus are only Needed TO be
displayed to strengthen that impression.
But l ADVISE the passing stranger not 10
enter The gateway To satisfy any curiO-
SHY that the surroundings might SUE
gest, fOr you will never succeed in reach.
ing the door without Il hop, a skip and
Jump. The building is going to prema-
lure decay for the want Of paint. Now
That the paint-brush is abroad in the
town, it is hoped that it will soon be in
troduced TO our public school building.
The water pipe has never been COnnec
Ted To the cIstern; but nature in the
operation OF one of her laws. that of gra
witty, propels enough water into the els
tern to quench the thirst of the pupils.
inside appearances are just as sugges-
i've OF neglect of the school, and of the
lack OF Interest in the welfare aud COM
Tort OF the pupils. The average pupil
has but little desire to attend school:
tbs general repugnance can only be
overcome by the tact Of the teacher and
by making the sehOol-r0Om attractive
and comfortable. lido not exaccerate.
whea state that it is positively painful
for the pupils to sit upon the seats that
are IN one room, even when tho seats |
are not crowded. Judging by the mum,
Der OF persons seen daily around the
new bank-buildins, there seems to be-
much Interest manifested in the cree
lion Of that structure. No doubt most
d the people feel more or less pride in
ne completion of that enterprise. and
VIII hrd pleasure in pointing it out to
strangers; but has st. MartinyiIle so
'reat an enemy within her borders as
would take stranger to see our public
ch0ol building, or to view the primi-
i've and dilapidated furniture in one of
Is rooms? IL their be any one conten-
latlng any such malicious act. | say.
ont: But if you do anything SO uD-
ind. a prayer will be offered that You
lay die uDwept. unhOnored, unkneIled.
ncoflined and unknown"
Until We do something To make orr I
ublic school more attractive and com. {
'rtabIe. take from il the name of "Hjpb
chool. and christen it Free School,:
t us not invite OdiOns cOmpai isons by
name calculated to bring
dicnle upon us, for we all know there I
no more effective weapon of destruc- d
on than derIsive laughter. There il II
iotler thought suggested by the situa-
on of affairs: We do not exppct n
echanic to do good work with infermr "
OILS, and how can we expect a teacher c
do his work satisfactorily with impro- 6
II appliances. IL is true, that our pu
ic school does not confer degrees, but I
1t any the less deserving of encour-
emcnt and aid ON that account? =
ar what that illustrious American sta "
'man and friend Of public education al
fferson, says on this subject: Were
necessary To give up either the primal ..
- on ha m ivarStfu ,u.l 4