The Opelousas courier., 1897-07-17

OPELOUSAS, July ), 1897.

= beau, l.. 4. Sandoz, DIR. f.. Thompso
/ W. 5. Roykin, Yves Andrepont, j.
j, Neyland and W. S. Frazee.
: Minutes of last meeting We're rea
! and approved.
.. Delegations heard and petitions rea
Report of Trustees of st. Landry Hig
School read and ordered printed:
Opelousas, La, June %, 1897.
To the President and Members of Scho,
Board of st. Landry parish:
observation-disclosures to Rule 10 {
your honorable body, adopted in lS9
the undersigned trustees of the Opelor
sas schools Respectfully submit the fo
, lowing report:
We have on several occasions visite
the High School and Inspected its int
FLOR management as well as its SUI
roundlngS; and while on our first visi
we observed much that is worthy o
commendation We also noticed a lack o
tidiness and cleanliness about the prem
ises which was shocking. The matte
being called to the attention of tn
principal, he at once required the jan
ltOr to put things to rights and ha
since, we believe, enforced stricter reg
ulations in that regard. ON this occa
sion as well as on subsequent visits we
also observed deplorable laxity Of dis
school, to which we referred in a repor
made to the President of this BoarC
several months ago We have since
been assured that the discipline has
been improved We sincerely trust that
such is the case.
Prof. Harris, the principal, has been
jealous and persistent in his efforts to
advance the interests and increase the
efnclency OF the school, and has endeav-
| Ored to correct its defects and remedy
its shortcomings. Much depends upon
the principal: and, as he must exercise
a close supervision over the entire
school, his position is one of great res
possibility.
In reference to the matter of disci-
pune, the imperative necessity of which
should be forcibly impressed upon all
the teachers in the employ of the board,
we beg to call attention to your Rule 81
and earnestly urge its enforcement, 1t
says:
"32. All teachers are required to
maintain strict order and discipline in
| their schools. Any neglect of this re-
| quirement will be considered good cause
for dismissal. In maintaining order,
| teachers are hereby authorized to en-
| ploy any proper means which NAV be
necessary to secure compliance with
their commands by the pupils, and in
the use of which they VIII receive the
full countenance and support of the
visiting Trustees and of this Board"
The trainers of your rules Justly re-
d A.
mount importance, for Rule q also re-
qulres that teachers "shall practice such
discipline within school hours as would
be exercised by kind and iudicious
parent in his family" and while we be-
lleve that proper discipline should be
enforced in all cases and at all hazards.
We think that the closing requirement
OF that rule. providing that the teachers
shall avoid corporeal punishment in
all cases where it is possible to preserve
good order by milder measures" is a
very wise one. A like suggestion was
incorporated in our report made to the
President some months ago and above
referred to.
This very important matter Of disci-
pine was made the subject of an ableI
and exhaustive report to your honorab Bile
body in May, 1894, by our worthy pre-
decessors, MessrS. J. Bloch, c. J. Thomp-
son, r. NJ. Littell, E. n. CulIom and G
l.. Dupre, i'll the course of which the
following undeniable propositions We're
laid down:
"We hold that good order, strict disci- |
pllne and respectful department on the
part of pupils are absolutely sacrament |
al to desirable and successful schools. |
1t We're useless to build school |
houses and employ teachers if unruly |
and disrespectful pupils may bid def
ance to order, to discipline" &c. We
can add nothing to this.
We also visited the colored school. |
Prof. McGaffey, principal, and while
favorably impressed with the inside |
management of same, the methods of
teaching, &C., there was an untidy and
unkempt appearance about the sur
roundings that should not be tolerated.
This Institution, however, has no ian
Itor. 1t IS taught in a church building.
rent for which has heretofore been paid
by the teachers, who raised the neces
sary funds as best they could. We sug-
gest that this institution be accorded
more liberal treatment
We suggest that every teacher in the
schools under our supervision be fur
nlshed with copy of the rules and reg
ulations of your honorable BODY and be
requested to closely observe
their requirements. We are informed
that there are copies enough in the
hands of the Parish Superintendent to
furnish every teacher in the parish
with one.
Respectfully submitted,
L. A. SANDOZ, t
CD. ANDRUS,
GEO. PULFORD, ,
Trustees Opelousas Schools. {
On motion of w. s. FraZee, petition to
change present location of Prairie Basse
school, was referred to the supervisor of ;
,rd district.
The Board having, upon motion of DR..
E. Thompson, resolved in SO far as prac-
,icable, to locate schools and appoint I
eachers for the coming session, schools =
we're located and teachers appointed as I
olloWS: c
FIRST DISTRICT. s
On motion of L. A. Sandoz, T. H. Har- I
Il