The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-01-12
with some exception, doing good work.

"AeA ooiAiO OAS0peAOA3 AoAAS 6Oou WIS
The want Of fuel for heating purposes
seems to be serious drawback in all
the schools in the parish. have re-
ceived complaints from many schools on
this line. Children cannot study nor
learn when they are shivering with cold.
They should not be required to spend
time that should be devoted to study
breaking sticks and picking up pine
knots to keep the fires going.
Much of my time has been spent in
procuring valuable data in regard to
public education in the parish for the
Office of the State Superintendent. l
have, through the aid of the. local trus-
tees, secured minute description of
every school building in the parish-its
grounds, equipments, etc.-a report Of
which l am able to place before your
honorable body.
I have made one trip over the parish
and addressed the people at various
places on the subjuct of education, at
my own expense.
l have received from the Department
of Education, at Baton Rouge, a number
of copies of a pamphlet outlining the
work of the Parish Teachers Associa-
ton Meetings., together with course Of
reading. These meetings must be held,
under the law, in February, March,
April and May; and the programs are
intended in the main as preparatory
course for the work of the summer
schools, to be held during the coming
summer. Greater benefits are expected
from close observance Of these ASS
ociation Meetings by the Superintendent
than from his annual visits to the
schools. l am informed that the ques-
tons to be selected for the June, 1905,
examinations will be strictly in line with
the work done in the Association Meet
ings.
virtue Of a resolution passed by the
Superintendent Conference, held in
Natchitoches on the 18th, 18th and 18th
of December last, call the attention OF
the board to the fact that all the parish
school boards in the State are requested
to make as liberal appropriations as
possible to help defray the expense OF
the Summer Normals to be held this
summer by the State Board of Institute
Managers.
1t was my good fortune to be able to
attend the Superintendents' Conference,
or Convention, and it was gratifying to
learn from the reports brought in from
the various parishes that public educa-
ton in Bossier parish is fully abreast OF
that in any rural district in the State.
A record book for the schools of the
State is now being prepared by State
Superintendent Aswen and our parish
will soon be furnished a sufficient num-
Der for all the schools.
This being the year for the State
Board of Education to select a new
series Of text boobs, I have thought il
best to defer grading the course of study
for the schools. Indeed it will not now
be necessary for this work to be done by
any Parish Superintendent, for the
State Superintendent has promised te
grade the whole course of study for the
public schools of the State as soon al
the State board has selected the new
books.
| Local taxation and consolidation Of
the schools in the rural districts; fewer
schools and better schools where better
grading and classification of pupils car
be had, and best teachers possible, seen
seem to be the all-absorbing topics Of
educators to-day, and this sentiment
prevails even where it may be found
necessary to transport children living al
distance to the central school at public
expense.
/ Respectfully submitted,
4 Jos. E. JOHNSTON,