The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1907-06-20

do not subscribe to that theory. We are
willing to trust the people fully. They will
make some mistakes doubtless. but they
will be able to correct the mistakes, and,
upon the whole, secure better results than
could be secured in any other way or under
any other system Of government.
It is strange to us that teachers share
this distrust of the people so largely. AS
a class, teachers seem to us to be more
distrustful of the people than are the MEM
bers of almost any other calling OF profess
sion. They ought to cultivate confidence
in the wisdom of the masses. Lincoln said
that everybody knew more than anybody,
and he was right.
We do not think the proposed change
will be made. 1t would only serve to COM
plicate and confuse. The people are trusted
to elect the Legislature all at once, and
can be safely trusted to elect their school
boards in the same way; and, Legisla-
ture chosen by the people, in day Of
awakening as to the rights of the people,
will hardly discredit the people by making
any such change in the manner Of consti-
tuting and electing the parish school
boards. There is no occasion to distrust
the people. Claiborne Guardian-.JournM.
We are friend to the teachers. AS a
whole, they are noble set of men and
women, and we will go as far as any one in
honoring them and promoting their sue
cess, when they stick to their calling.
While their actions frequently show that
they are pinning their faith to officialism,
and distrusting and discreditingth epeople--
the true source of power and revenue-we
do not believe a majority of the teachers
intend this distrust. Nevertheless, it is
plainly shown. Most of us know how
"cut and dried" resolutions are railroaded
through meetings by scheming politicians
and crafty office-seekers. The wrong in
the teachers is their want of thought. I'm
Intentionally they are sometimes made the
cat's-paw of few designing men who
hunger for large salaries as officials and
Presidents of State favored colleges-men
who care more for office, big salaries and
display, than they do for the real progress
of education. The teachers, majority of
them not being acquainted with the wiles
of the professional politician, as cited in the
above article from the Guardian Journal,
are being used" by political promoters at
many alleged educational gatherings
meetings that are fast degenerating into
political associations. Every occupation
and calling has its demagogues, and our
school SYSTEM long exempt from the
of this class of undesirable
is showing the effects Of mixing
political with educational matters.
If the teachers want the confidence, en-
enlargement and help of the people of
Louisiana, who are their friends, and who
alone gice them employment, they must
cease to cry out against their real benefac-
tors, or they will find out when too late,
that they have pinned their faith to men
of straw. All increase of salaries; all ex-
tension Of terms; all Improvements and
betterments of buildings, and all advance
ment generally in educational matters will
come from the people-from their hearty
efforts and ever-ready tax money. The
foundation, the strength, the usefulness
and the glory of the schools of Louisiana
is in the sturdy yeomanry of the State, and
not in its officials. No stream can rise
higher than its source, nor is any house
stronger than its foundation. Honor to
whom honor is due. To the good citizen
ship of Louisiana is due all the honor and
praise for the States prosperity and great
ness in all lines.
Our advice to the teachers is to keep out
Of bad company; let political heelers and
office seekers severely alone, and don't be
. stepping-stone for. any man. But if
hey will go into the political field, to study
political matters carefully, and they will
ind that the plain people are still the power
in this country, and they won't be dis
trusted, discredited or ignored by anybody.
Let the Democratic voters of Louisiana
demand of the men whom they elect to the
next Legislature Democratic School Law,
pure and simple, without frills, red tape or
official strings of any kind. It is not
enough that the people will hereafter be
allowed to elect their School Directors. /
They should be permitted, under wise and