The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1904-05-28
TO IMPROVE OUR PUBLIC EDUCA-
TIONAL FACILITIES.

Governor Blanchard's admins
tration will undoubtedly be con-
spicuous for one boon above all
others-that of largely increased
public educational facilities. His
recent manly and admirable mes
sage has carried conviction to
every important point. Already
we note a rapid awakening along
the lines indicated in many par
ishes or districts of the State.
The subject is attracting the atten-
of many of the leading citizens of
this city and parish and we hear
of vast educational developments
already being preached and which
we hope will soon materialize into
something tangible. With the
Governors attitude to encourage,
there is no doubt that any move
ment looking to a betterment OF
present conditions will receive the
aid and sympathy of the State
lawmakers. While compared to
the totally unfit and inadequate
public school system of Radical
DAVIS, the means afforded the youth
of acquiring a public education
has been excellent in the past de-
cade, they admit of a great deal
to be desired, as yet, and
particularly is this so in the strict
rural districts. Much of the illit-
eracy existing there can be as
cribed to the woeful conditions
the State labored under during the
carpet-bag regime following the
civil war. With the rapid strides
now making, the next ten or twen-
ty years will see the State of
Louisiana ranking favorably with
her sister States, instead of being
to-day one of the most illiterate
States of the Union.
Wien the means will be readily
accessible in all the rural Sec
tons of the State, it will then be
opportune and no doubt the great
and oft discussed question of
compulsory education will be
taken up and adopted by the Gen.
eral Assembly. 1t behooves US of
the Parish of St. Mary not to lag
behind in the march of improved
public education now being wit
messed in other sections. The ex-
cellent suggestion is made that a
school District be formed COM
prising the town Of Franklin and
vicinity, and that subsequently an
election be held t, ascertain the
sense OF the people on a five mill
tax for period of twenty years
With the proceeds of this tax we
would not have to be chaery or
parsimonious. Immediately up
on it's adoption We could begin
the erection of a finer and more
elegant and commodious school
building. we could be more liber-
al with the teachers, and could
largely increase the curriculum
of the schools up to the same
point of excellence as the Nc
Donogh public schools of the city
of New Orleans, in which SO many
youths have been educated into
brilliant men and women.
The school building we now
have is entirely inadequate and
the time has come when it should
be replaced by better building
that will afford accommodation for
the constantly increasing number
of it's pupils. Even in its most
lavish application, no money has
ever been wasted in the cause of
education for the great masses of
the people who are focibly depriv-
ed Of it by reasons of poverty and
circumstances, and the BANNER
would readily sanction and further
to the utmost of its ability any
movement, as above briefly out
lined, aiming at largely increased,
improved and permanent public
school facilities. Let some of our
good citizens head the movement
at once and vigorously and speedy
Snccess will surely attend it.