The Natchitoches enterprise., 1899-01-26
THURSDAY, JANUARY a6, 1899.


To the School B 0ard Of the Parish o
NatchIioches
Gentlemen ~ bee to submit the fol.
lowing annual report for the year end
Ing Dec. 3lEt, 1898:
The work Of the year has been salts
factory 10 the main. Tue fact that five
less white schools are reported this year
over last year, is owing to the system
adopted OF consolidating the school
district wherever possible. The work IN
this connection has been hard, the OPP
position to II being violent; everv neigh
borhood cherishes the desire to have Its
public school without regard to the
general school interest of the district !;
however, wherever erected, II has work
ed well, ard beniflclalIy, and trust that
the system will be continued, until the
entire parish "a pFopArly dIstricted.
The statistics will show a general
average term Of only AZ months, as
against 812 last year, but this is easily
accounted for IN the fact that moot of
the schools ir the hill section Of the par.
hh had 10 be Discontinued because of
sickness IN those sections during the
summer months; but nv taking twenty
az aehOOle scattered throughout the
parish, some Ia very ward, and we will
nnd the average term has been IN ex-
cess Of what VI was q year. The fig
Ifes VIII ais3 nov faisfn1 III III roar
enrollInent and average attendance IN
both the white and coIored schools, this
am unable to account for It's de-
plorahle. Indeed, to know that out
Of l1.2l3 children IN the parish. only
4.RO3 are enrolled. IN the public schools;
true this does mot show all the children
who are attending school In the parish,
for there ARE q number of private schools
and converts, the statistics of which |
aIn unable TO give, but am satisfied that
even with u fail enrolment 10 these
schools one half of the children Of the
parish never see ID inside Of u school
hOnse
This II but one Of the many evidences
Of the lack of interest IN education, so
prevalent In the rural sections Of this
parish; vet dnd q great improvement
IN this llne within the past six mouths. |
which attribute to the franchise pro-
vision OF the new constitution, which
makes al educational Qualification as a
right 10 vote. Much Of the appalhY and ,
lack OF interest - due, however. to the |
public school teachers, the highest aim |
with most OF them seem to be to draw |
thel: salary; yet with them rests tue |
power 10 work revolution In this line, |
the truth OF this IL found 10 the work |
accomplished In the CamDte and Mari |
celli schools of ward four, ana the gram
ma school Of this city, through the
energy and Efforts Of the teachers Of 1
these schools, o. sentiment has been ar
routed, that make them the best schools /
IN the parish, the patrons Of the two
ward four schools freely responded 10
teachers appeal tor means to improve the
school houses, and 10 this city through
the Efforts OF the teachers she city gov.
eminent, the FIRST time IN the history OF
the school, Appropriated 500 to assist
In the improvements. and the citizens
contributed $50. The sane interest
awakened il these neighbOrh0Ods conld
~ arFOueed In every school district In
tins parish through little effort Of the
teachers.
lam happy to report that the oppo-
Risi0n 90 long existing against s.Norsrall
yea0heIss" u fast passing away, aud the
grade. . a oar Normal are actually
being asked Cor IN every ward 81 the
pAFiEh. and out % eeRenfv-t 70. fenchere
empioved the past ye6r, tbarty Eve alavei
been No ma graduates, TWENTY-FIVE Of 4
whom were females and thirteen males. ,
! heartily second The suggestion, az
ne late 9Fand jury, THAT You should
10 something to Improve your school
buildings and make them more COM
ortabie and convenient TO the pupils
md teacuers." While the report reieraI
y the CITY grammar school, q applies
lqnally to most OF tue buildings OF the
laRlsh. In reference to The Grammar
oho0l, beg 10 report that the ammo.
Drialion Of $3.50 BY vou at yonr July
Meeting, foE the Improvement OF thie
ashO0l. together with the 800 from the .
'lty and $50 from the citizens, has prov. :
INTO be lnsuIieiant Three hundred :
lollafs o. the aul0ant has been dsburs- ;.
d Ia the purchase of 40 new desks and :
onle Improvements 10 the building, :,
The S1lerematnsng \ not sufficient to 4
lake the improvements vet necessary, 4.
nd trust that ynu caA. make another q
during the. year, thar i,
nese improvements may be MADE be- Il
ere the opening ss the FALL term Of 4
Ia the dlabuFsesnens AZ thh fund lhl
ave had The able assistance and rood N
Judgment Of Nv. j. A. Dueourna0. Dr..
} whom u largely due the aid aeasanea
'oan the city. be has shown. a., lneereaa.l N
J education thar 70 c0mmendahle ana Il
OFthY OF example.
In connection with the reference In q
" Grand Jury report 10 the Rnanesnl Of
OF ward Sour, and manare.- -
Icni os the funds nf ward slx. which Z.
light eaiieu Wraag impressions 10 50 =
.Fnnea Of the true nianasfon IN these -
ards. I bex ~ make lnus aknlanatfon & / III
Il matters While u i d fast lhas ward I