The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1895-05-18
EDUCATIONAL COLE MN.
Edited by
L. o. BRUMFIELD. L.ockport, Ii
THAT | G SCHOOL.

we want her to have it, but we think
the Police Jury of this parish will be
taking aa unjustitiab;e step, it they
alnp: the resolution offered by Mr..
Gaude ut The last session of that hody.
The following is Il part of MIR. Ga"des
resolution BE it resolved that an
appropriation of $500 he and the
same is hereby made for the purpose
of erecting aud establishing il High
School lit the parisl, of Latnurelle, the
same tn be located in the Town Of
Thibodaux."
We said above that we wanted
rh,bodauN to have a high school,
but we think Il good sraned school
would be ii greater blessing to the town
and the PARIS. If Ne understand the
of establishing high schools
in the parish seats " the different par
%lsiics, they are for the purpose OF CIV
ing a higher education TO those pupils
wno have finished the cnuise ai study
in the elementary schools nf the par
ish. Now, then, how many sucl, pu
pills have we in the parish of Latonr-
che who would attend the high school
If it we've established. We think very
few. As a general thing, those who
have finished the course i'll the els-
nhentary schools ana who desire a
higher e~Ineaiian a1e tire sons and
daughters of wealthy planters or others
who are ab!e 10 pay ior the higher ed
ucat.on of tneif children.
On The other f1and, look at the poor
u ,45..4,. -. - .-,., all ti,, ~, l.,
il the country schools. in fact-and
what is the Police Jury doing for
them. What will be the length of the
school session this year? We don't
know. hnt are Informed that, unless
the Police Jury lends ONE aid, The
session will be very short.
Why dos tie State educate. or at
least pretend to educate its children:
Is it not that they may be intelligent,
enlightened, and law-ahiding citizens
capable of self government Does not
the safety and %perpetnity OF the State
aud the Nation depend upon the intel
ligenee Of its citizenship! We answer
all these questions, as every thinking
person will, in the affirmative. 1t this
be true, then, we think ii the Police
jury has any funds TO expend IN rails
ing the standard of citizenship Ill La
tourche parish, they can accomplish
more by appropriating that money to-
wards extending the school session
throughout the parish where all will
be benefited by it. Build high
schools? Yes. Build high schools
when the needs of the elementary
schools of the parish are not provided
for No. Put il high school III Thi5
odaux? Why, OF course, we would
like to see it there. but not while many
of tie country schools are taught in
miserable cabins with doors off the
hinges, cracks in the floor, window
sash gone, and holes in the roof, with
no blackboards worth the name, nc
maps or charts, ana not seats enough
to seat the pupils. Brother Gaude,
you are a country school teacher and
know the needs of the country schools.
don't you honestly think that the peo-
pies money would do ''the greatest
good to the greatest number if it were
spent to improve the efficiency of the
primar,, and elementary schools of the
parish?
If Thibodanx wants ii high school,
let her provide suitable buildings and
grounds and then, if the parish funds
are not all invested in dredge boats,
give the remainder to pay the princi-
pals salary.
In building a magnificent public
school system as in building a splendid
mansion, we begin with tletounaatlon.
Let us lay Il firm foundation and then
we can build on it a system of schools
which viii be the pride OF the parish.