The Lafayette gazette., 1902-02-22
LNCKEASED .dPPROPRLAZ ZION.S
EOR public SCHOOLS


At the convention of parish
school superintendents held in
New Orleans last October the
following resolution, offered by
Mr.. Kramer of st. Mary, was
adopted:
That the educational needs
of this State demand and it's f.
nancial condition justifies an ap-
preparation annually by the next
Legislature of mills of the cur
rent 6 mills of taxation, for the
support of the free public school
system of this State. That each
parochial Police Jury should
annually budget for the school
revenues of it's parish at least 2
mills of the 1O-mill rate of taxa
ton allowed by the constitution"
The convention appointed the
following committe on legisla-
ton: w. U. Richardson, Warren
Easton, John Marks, G. w.
Newman, L. L. Hoe, J. D. Davis,
J. B. Lancaster, w. G. Caruth,
Don e. Sorelle, J. v. Calhoun,
John McNeese ex-officio.
It becomes the duty of this
committee'to bring the matter to
the attention of the next Legisla-
ture, and, if possible, secure the
desired legislation.
AS the time fixed for the next
session of the Legislature is ap-
preaching, the friends of public
education in the State should
take an active interest in the ap-
peal to the law makers embodied
in the resolution of the superin-
tendents' convention. The Legis-
lature will meet in May and the
advocates of popular education
should begin at oncetO agitate the
question with a view of strength
ening the hands of the committee
which has been delegated to
secure Legislative aid. If the COM
mittee receives the support of
a strong, aggressive public SEN
III 1oSoA VI AAAS1 OebSCN
school appropriations, it will
more easily accomplish it's mis-
sion. A demand SO just and
reasonable, backed by the united
support of the press and people,
will not be ignored by the Legis
lature. superintendent Alleman
of this parish has addressed a
circular-letter to the superinten-
with a view of enlisting their CO.
operation in movement to
arouse the people to the impor-
tance of Immediate and concerted
action. If the people will only
make their wishes known it is
safe to say that their represen-
tatives 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
a great deal remains to be DONE
More money is needed to give to
the public school system of the
State that degree of efficiency
necessary to the continued well
fare of the people. The appeal
for larger appropriations comes
from every section, and if the
educational interests of the State
are to enjoy that measure of
commensurate with
the growth of the commonwealth,
it is as clear as the MONDAY sun
that the schools must receive a J
larger share of the public funds.
1t is suggested that the State in
crease it's contribution by allow
ing to the schools two instead of
one and a quarter mills out of the |
six-mill tax, which is certainly |
not too much when it is consi-
dered that the revenues de-
rived from this source are to be
used to educate the masses-to
give to every child an opportu-
nifty to at least acquire the rudi-
ments of an education. Under
any and all circumstances it is
-ho 111fu 0f tho State tn oivo %n