The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1904-09-14
4 GREAT MOVEMENT ON
EDUCATIONAL LINES.
Southwest Louisiana DEVELOPED
Wonderfully and Rapidly.
Prot. Stephens Tells Of Growth Of
Public Schools and Southwest
ern Industrial Institute.

The Daily Picayune.
Southwest Louisiana consists OF
thirteen parishes, among which Lafa.
yette is very near the center, and
among which Lafourch and A~voyelles
are included, these later reaching
farthest east and north. Examining
the statistics for these thirteen
parishes in the report of the Census
Bureau. l find that they are rated as
having the largest percentage in the
State of native white men over the
age OF twenty-one who cannot read
and write. believe that a consider
able part of this percentage should
not be classed as ~''illiterate," for the
reason that there are undoubtedly
very many people in this section who
can read and write French, but not
English. These, very probably, have
been listed by the census takers as
being unable to read and write. And
II this is true, there ought to be a
very large percentage reported as be-
ing unable either to read or write or
speak, for there is certainly a vast
multitude of good people in South
west Louisiana who speak French,
but not English. If it were admissible
o class those who do not read and
write English as ~''illiterates," then
those who do not speak English might
as we'll be classed as ''inarticulates."
However this may be-, and to what
ever extent the reports of the census
may be imperfect, there is no doubt in
the minds of those who have studied /
the educational conditions of the
State that during the past several
decades-or the period in which the
great American common school move
ment should have had its opportunity
to take firm root in Southern SOIL
there was relatively very little prog
ress made in this direction in the
parishes of southwest Louisiana.
1t is for this reaso that events
which have been occurring in these
parishes for the past several years.
and which are continuing to occur
with increasing regularity, should be
hailed as an awakening, a reaching
Out after better things, q movement.
And it, incidentally, this movement
tend to show that it is so much
In earnest that what it is doing is
proving an example worthy of emula-
lion by Others, it is SO much the more ,
deserving of attention and assistance. /.
such a movement is that which is so
rapidly building up the schools of :
southwest Louisiana, voting special :
for their buildings and .
equipments, making larger appro- .
for their support, bringing ,
expert and professional s~upervi- ,
zion to direct them, employing trained 8
eachers to teach in them, paying1.
'etter salaries for these trained :.
'ervices, and promoting higher edu. !;
'ational ideals among the masses of :.
people. This is an actual, SUBJ !
tantial movement, not merely on !.
'aper. but in brick and mortar. in
lolIars and cents, in industries and
activities, in material, intellectual. u
nd moral development among =
'eOple. The evidences are all there L
0 be seen by the visitor, who is al. Q
'ays cordially invited and hospita- u
ly received.
Mr.. George w. Cable is not a popu- o
n idol among the people of this v
ectiOn, and would not have the re- e,
hottest showing in the coming election CT
'r the Circuit Judgeship, for the et
sason that he is thought to have fo
'ade capital of them unkindly in ir
OF his books. But il be should fo
ave occasion to revisit within m
ecade the scenes of some of his pen IA
lctures In New Acadia, no doubt -
'writing of the Acadisn story by NJ
IS hand would do q delayed justice ca
I'd give pleasure and satisfaction to D,
mself, the people of whom he wrote. Mt
10 al readers who rejoice in good tn
port. For in the field of industry. hr
progress, of education, of immiqra- II
IN, in this particular section from IN,
~ on there is no doubt that 1.-THE be
lrket will be strong" Sc
credit for what has been done Ito
eftecting this progressive tendency IN
southwest Louisiana is moi due to an
J one man. nor scarcely 10 any stu