The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1903-09-05

popular education. 1t was seriously
hampered, however, by domestic con-
ditions growing out of a status re
sulting from the Civil War. The
Nichols Legislature and our distin-
guished governor did all in their
power, but accomplished little more
than starting the upward movement
or turning the tide. The constitu-
ton of 1879 placed matters on q
stronger and better footing by au-
thorizing the establishment Of u sys-
tenn and providing a State fund for
support, Gov. Nichols and his sue
cessors, Nc Emery, himself again j,
Foster and Heard, were and are ia
nous as educational governors, be-
lieving that the prosperity Of the
State must come from the education
of the mass of the people, and that
the truest safeguard Of the State
must be found in q superior and we'll
supported public schoolsystem. Each
and all work to that end. The pro-
gress was slow but sure. The Consti-
tuition OF 1898 placed our schools on
a very firm footing, gave them a
sound establishment and fullest pro-
lection, and provided revenue and
sources of revenue through constitu-
tional authority, that are largely re-
sponsible for the splendid condition
OF our schools to-day. Though we
have arrived at q very satisfactory
condition the movement is still gain
ing in momentum and virility. Hay-
ing strength through it's own great
vitality it will go on until our good
State has reached the pinnacle among
it's Southern sisters.
1t is a fact that was clearly demon
stratefby Governor Heard recently,
that Louisiana is providing more
money and paying q higher rate Of
taxation for public schools than any
State in the Union. This is being
done not only directly by the State
fund. which win soon reach $500, 600
annually, but by local taxation, which
Is now known to reach, throughout
the country parishes and New Or
leans, to at least $1,000, 900. The
figures recently cited by State Super
intendent Calhoun show, SO far as he
has returns, that there were enrolled
in 1902 in the schools of the State
49,, 1926 pupils. white and black, and
that 81 BAT ,254.O8 were disbursed
for their education.
A statement of receipts showed q
total sum Of 81, STA, 568.13. To
further illustrate progress, we remem-
Der well, that in 1887 the City of New
Orleans received from the State fund
less than $50, 900, whereas in 1908
it will receive not less than SOS, 900.
The total income of the city school
board in 1887 was about 500, 900,
This is u demonstration on progress
and improvement.
POLICY OF THE STATE.
The policy OF the State is paternal
only to the extent that it helps the
locality and encourages the people to
help themselves. 1t is not reasonable
to expect that the State will provide
all of the means for the support of
the public schools; the locality must
respond and cooperate. And it is
those localities that have responded
that have done and are doing 80 well.
The State helps those who help them
selves. Governor Heard recently
very clearly stated the position Of
the State, as follows:
The policy laid down in our State
Constitution, as it il indicated by its
limitation Of the State tax, conteln-
plates that the State shall supple
ment, 30 far as it shall be able to do
SO; the amounts ruised by local taxa
ton for the education of the children
in the various localities. With this
view, the Constitution and the statute
provide methods by which every To-
cality which recognizes the necessity
OF maintaining a creditahle and eff
cient school system within it's bound
aries may vote the tax required for
this purpose. This policy has been
eminently successful in many States.
1t is founded on the American idea Of
local self help and self reliance, and
itsgood effects have l,een fully demon
strated in our State"
In every parish Of the State to-day
there is an organized system ofschools
under intelligent direction of q school
board composed Of leading citizens
and in charge OF a competent superin-
tendent. Every parish system IL TO
cusing to u center and in q large ma
jority Of parishes there are high
schools which prepare students for
Tulane, Newcomb and Baton Rouge.
In some Of these parishes there are
school buildings that excel the hand
soonest in New Orleans and that any
State would be proud Of. Shreveport,
Monroe, Ruston, Baton Rouge,
Natchitoches, New Iberia, Lafayette,
Crowley, Abbeville and Lake Charles
stand out like beacon lights to-day in
this grand movement. Nor is the
"little country school" being neglect
ed. Its capacity is being increased,
its Accommodations modernized, its ia
cilities for work strengthened. From
the primary grade up to the high
school everything is being done to
give each parish a perfect system Of
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