St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-04-06
THE PRESENT SCHOOL SYS-
TEN OF ST. TAMMANY.
XEUK VE OX. A<AN N nv
MORE IMPORTANT POINTS
FOR TAXPAYERS
TO DIGEST.
Reform Badly Needed. Not in The
Sweet BY and-By, But
At Once.
PART II.

Editor St Tammany FARMER:
Complaints about taxpayers being
deprived of the benefit of the public
fund have been numerous Of late. In
the majority of cases these complaints
are based upon good and just grounds.
For the benefit Of taxpayers, I will
endeavor to explain upon what princi-
pies schools are conducted in every
other parish but St. Tammany.
The letter and spirit Of the law IL
that every child of school age should
he entitled to its pro rata Of the school
fund; consequently the number and
names of children attending each To-
Gated school are recorded in . book
kept for that purpose by the Superin-
tendent. This list is revised yearly
say in April-after tenants, or families,
moving from one school district to
another, are settled.
Every apportionment from Baton
Rouge is then divided among all the
children of the parish, each child re-
ceiving 80 much per capita.
In this manner each school has it,
own separate fund, plus the proceeds
from sales of school sections that
these schools (and not the whole ward
Is done now are Justly entitled to.
This fund Is the sacred property Of that
school, the patrons thereof using 1t or
permitting it to accrue and accumulate
by subsequent apportionment. When
this fund is exhausted they know it Is
useless to clamor for Q school.
The way our school fund is distrib-
uted now, it is mere guess work, mere
rotation. it is like children's play: Jim
6rst, Tom next, etc. No attention
whatever is paid to the number Of pu-
pills, the school having twenty pupils
often getting more school terms, and
school fund, than larger schools. Fur
thermore, it sometimes happens that
not only few children, but WARDS
even justly entitled, are not only de-
prived Of their school fund share, to
crafty the whims Of . certain majority,
not entitled, but that they (these few
children,I pay for the tuition Of that
majority. (Some one please put the
question?) am not only prepared to
explain, but will lead you, guide you,
and draw you nice little diagram, so
that you will not miss your way-you
might get lost in these piny woods.
Each school is supervised by three
trustees, who select their teacher, for
ward their petition to the Superintend-
ent, visit the school, hear complaints Of
patrons, adjust them if practicable,
sign teachers monthly reports, and il
necessary prefer charges against them.
A school nearly In every instance is
granted to the patrons, provided the
teacher has . certificate of efficiency,
and there is money enough to their
credit to cover the contract. (Query,
where are our trusteesO
There are several advantages in
schools having their own school fund.
l. The patrons of each school, by ap-
plying to the Superintendent, know ex-
actly how much money they have to
their credit.
2. They can open their school at any
time they see At, whenever their work
is not pushing, etc.
5. 1t often is the case that il . ward
is not represented At the meeting, ow-
ing to the unavoidable absence of its
director, that efforts are made not to
grant schools to petitioners.
1. 1t is the only just, fair and equita-
BILE way to give each child its proper
share. There will be an end to the hue
and cry Of discriminating between one
school and another.
s. II patrons have large fund, and
their teacher has given satisfaction, say
for the term of his usual contract, three
months, they can re-employ him by
having his contract renewed.
| 6. 1t deprives one mantle director
of being an autocrat in his ward, and
transfers that power where it properly
belongs, to the trustees and patrons.
Under the present system, patrons
have no voice until the School Board
meets, or until ''their turn comes" aud
often it is the case that they get schools
1t season of the year when they can
ill afford to spare their children from
the fields.
It seems to me that hear some one
remark: Supposing your plan is adopt
ed, and the money apportioned in such
q manner, how much will each school
receive? They will get their Just dues,
every bit as much as they do now; and
furthermore, every patron will be easy
ON the score that the fund to which his