New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1903-01-10
AND OBSERVER-CONSOLIDATED.
3 l.5O per Annl,m
EDUCATIONAL.

OUTLOOK III lDeFla TarlSu GO-udy
and what we should do for tn
future.
We now have a six room bric
building built in 1895, and thre
old wooden structures containing
eight rooms, all occupied. One o
these buildings, the Julia Stree
School Building is in such a dilap
idated condition that it cannot pos
sibly last three years more withou
requiring more repairs than th
building is worth, and it seems t.
me that now is the proper time tt
consider the erection Of new higl
school building built on the mos
modern plans while at the same
time our present high school build
Ing could be turned over to th'
lower grades. In addition to tn,
usual class rooms, our new higf
school building should contain
rooms adapted to the following
uses: manual and physical train
ing, physical and chemical labora
tories, sewing, cooking, typewrit
ing, stenography, and bath rooms
In addition to the present school,
curriculum the high school should
carry strong commercial course
and a course in manual training,
giving the pupil or his parents a
chance to choose what his education
shall be.
After this high school building
is finished then wagons should be
used to carry the country school
children to the town schools and
give these children the benefit of
the improved conditions in our
town schools, and at the sams time
the study Of French should be in
troduced and the pupil be given
the choice of Latin or French. As
so many elements of the people Of
this parish are Of French descent it
is only fitting and proper that due
respect should be paid to their
wishes that their children may not
entirely forget their mother tongue.
There are three central points in
Iberia Parish at which nearly all
of the schools of the parish could
be concentrated by the use of these
wagons: Loreauville, Jeanerette,
aud New Iberia. While the build
ing at Loreauville is probably large
enough to meet any such increase
in attendance, the buildings at
Jeanerette and New iberia would
need to have their capacity in
creased before such plans could be
put in operation. All who are &C.
quainted with our country schools
are we'll aware that they are not all
that could be desired, and either
something should be done for their
improvement or the pupils Of rural
districts should be transported to
the town schools. This plan has
been in successful operation in
many places and experience has
shown the following to be some of
the benefits to be derived there
from:
l. The health Of the children is
better, the children being less ex.
posed to stormy weather, and
avoiding sitting in damp clothing.
2. Attendance is from so to $50
per cent greater, more regular, and
Of longer continuance, and there is
neither tardiness nor truancy.
8. Fewer teachers are required,
so better teachers may be secured
and better wages paid.
4. Pupils work in graded schools,
and both teachers and pupils are
under systematic and closer super
vision.
5. Pupils are in better school
houses, whore there is better heat
ing, lighting, and ventilation, and
more appliances Of all kinds.
6. Better opportunity is afforded
for special work in music, draw
ing, etc.
Z. Cost in nearly all cases is re-
duced. Under this is included cost
and maintenance Of school build
ings, apparatus, and furniture.
8. School year is often much
longer.
9. Pupils are benefited by wid.
ened circle Of scquaintances and
the culture resulting therefrom.
10. The whole community is
drawn together.
IL. Public conveyances used for
children in the daytime may be
used to transport their parents to
public gatherings in the evenings,
to lecture courses, etc.
IL. Transportation makes possi-
BILE the distribution of mailthrough-
out the whole parish daily.
13. Finally, by transportation,
the farm again as Of old becomes
the ideal place in which to bring up
children, enabling them to secure
the advantages OF centers Of popu-
lation and spend their evenings
and holiday time in the country in
contact with nature and plenty of
work, instead Of idly loafing about
town.
Mr.. T. s. Thorneburg, County
Superintendent Of White County,
Indiana, writes that they are trans
porting twenty EIGHT schools at an
average cost Of $1.27 each per day
and the cost Of transportation
would certainly not be more than
that amount here while now we are
paying our country teachers $500
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