The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-03-01
Increased Appropriations for
Public Schools.

OF dispensing its revenues than puma
ing up a public school system tina
will equal any other State. As it i
now the revenue derived is made
innate and it should be increased. w
acquiesce in every word said by tn
Gazette--that to the maintenance o
the public school system one and
quarter mills out of the six mills i:
not enough, and that it should be in
creased TO two mills, which is no
asking too much. We call the at
tention of our member of the legisla'
ture to this matter, which is receiv'
ing the support of the entire press
of the State. The Gazette says:
At the convention of parish school
superintendents held in New Orleans
last October the following resoln-
ton, offered by Mr.. Kramer Of st.
Mary, was adopted:
''That the educational needs of
this State demand ard its financial
condition justiies an appropriation
annually by the next Legislature of
2 mills of the current 6 mills of tax
alton, for the support of the free
school system of this State. That
each parochial Police Jury should
annually budget for the school re-
venues of its parish at least 2 mills
of the 10-mill rate of taxation al
lowed by the constitution
The convention appointed the fol.
lowing committee on legislation: w.
u. Richardson, Warren Easton, John
Marks, G. W. Newman, L. l.. Hoe,
j. d. Davis, J. B. Lancaster, W. G..
Caruth, Don <. Sorelle, J. V. Cal
houn, John MeNeese ex officio.
1t becomes the duty of this CON-
mittee to bring the matter to the At
tention of the next Legislature, and
if possible, secure the desired legis-
lation.
AS the time fixed for the next ses-
sion of the Legislature is approach
ing, the friends of public education
in the State should take an active in
terest in the appeal to the law-mak-
ers embodied in the resolution of the
superintendent convention. The
Legislature will meet in May and
the advocates of popular education
should begin at once to agitate the
question with view of strengthen
ing the hands of the r. committee
which has been delegated to secure
legislative aid. If the committee re-
ceives the support of a strong, ag-
gressive sentiment in favor of in
creased school appropriations, it will
more easily accomplish its mission.
A demand so just and reasonable,
backed by the united support of the
press and people, will not be ignored
by the Legislature. Superintendent
Alleman of this parish has addressed
a circular-letter to the superintend-
ents of the various parishes with o
view of enlisting their cooperation
in a movement to arouse the people
to the Importance of immediate and
concerted action. Ii the people will
only make their wishes known it is
safe to say that their representatives
in the General Assembly will vote
accordingly when the time comes.
During the last ten years there has
been marked progress in the public
schools of this State, but great deal
remains to be done. More money is
needed to give to the public school
system of the State that degree of
necessary to the continued
Welfare of the people. The appeal
or larger appropriations comes from
very section, and if the educational
interests of the State are to enjoy
hat measure of prosperity common
iurate with the growth of the COM
it is as clear as the noon
lay sun that the schools must receive
larger share of the public funds. |
t is suggested that the State in
rease its contribution by allowing to
be schools two instead of one and
Iuarter mills out of the six-mill tax,
which is certainly not too much
vhen it is considered that the reven-
les derived from this source arctic be /
sed to educate the masses-to give
o every child an opportunity to at
east acquire the rudiments of an
ducation. Under any and all cir
umstances it Is the duty of the
tate to give to the child chance to
tend school--to fit himself for the
uties of citizenship-but much
lore sacred becomes that duty when
failure to provide adequate educa-
onal facilities may stamp the citi-
en- with the badge of inferiority, by
enyipg to him the franchise. The
tate has right to--and it is wise
nat it should-qualify the suffrage,
ut it is its duty to give to every
reborn American al opportunity
D remain free. To fail to provide
pr the citizen the means of securing
n education and then disfranchise
inn because he is unable to read and
rite would be more than violation
the principle of equal rights; it
ould be an infamous act Of despot-
IN. /