The Natchitoches enterprise., 1897-06-24
THURSDAY. JUNE "a. 1897.
AS to the Public Schools.

THE ENTERPRISE desires 10 say tina
the public schools under the manage.
Inent Of the present board and Superin.
tendent, show some gratifying improve
menr. There Is much yet to be done
ard the purpose OF this article Is &c
point out where radical change for
the better might be made.
The practice of appointing teachers
ofthe' several schools of the parish upon
the petition OF residents of tie IocaIi-
ties affected ought 20 be discontinued.
The conduct Of the public schools Is
purely business matter. Sentiment
and politics must not enter into tie af-
fairs Of the school, and this matter of
petition, Is at the root OF the evil. 10
nine cases out Of ten the patrons of the
school know absolutely nothing OF the
capabilities Of tine several aspirants for
Che school, and naturally ask for the
appointment OF favorite, notwIth-
standing that the said favorite may be
the least capable. Naturally. too, the
member from the locality sending the
petition usually complies with the re-
quest ana serious wrong is dune the
pupils and the parish.
The law provides that the president
nfcfffUrr EHI51T constitute committee to
select teachers. But The present board
has, and we think wisely, selected Pro-
tessors HINES end Smith, of the Nor
NAL School, as an examining board and
their verdict ought to be final Their
mission In life Is to educate children
aud they know their business, We say,
therefore. that even where two or more |
applicants pass An examination for, saw |
second grade school, the sup erintend-
ent ought to be required to appoint the
person designated by the Board Of Ex-
amlners, petition to- the contrary not
wltIstanding. They are In a position
10 Know, and as a matter of fact do
know, which OF the successful appli-
canls Will make the most acceptable
feacher, although they pass practicable
700 same examination. There are other
requirements for teacher besides the I
mere ability 10 answer few questions.
Another point we desire to call 10 the :
attention of the School Board is TINT
under the law Normal School graduates {
are required to teach in the public q
schools for period OF at least one yeal. n
Tue board could, 1t seems to us, very r
readily secure the servces Of many of 4
ne graduates each year. until finally !.
every public school in the parish. wouId n
Ie conducted by fully con,petent b,
eacher, and third grade certificates H. nj
done away with. This In itself 4,
would aid In doing away <h the petit II
ION business and 60 long way towards tn
aising the standard of the schools. OF
With the Normal School at our very y
oors and with constantly growing hl
cnool fund there is no reason that The fa
srish OF NatchIloches should not take
ae front rank in the matter of publi. y, ~
'hool education. ~,
Let the incompetent teachers be weed. OF
out. make tho pay Of the teacher lnI
'mmensurate with the work expected w mC
him and the results will be yratifylnrE i
;6e extreme. The patrons Of the ser
nools viii ultimately welcome the Gl'
lange-indeec, there will be a scram- 81.
. Tor the best teachers. Sentiment g.
q politics are very nice things, and do on
edit to the heart, but where the brain the
concerned n becomes a matter OF bus. d. d.
ess,.and we ara entitled to the best we del
. get for our money. mu
We submit these reflections to the ma
hooi Board with the hope that. in s Ier
eir laudable efforts to promote the par
lciency % Oar schools, they may suh
pre- OF some ADVANTAGE said
fore