The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1907-05-04
School Boards Should Define Policies.
Communicated
CoLoMB P. O., La. April Is 1901.

CoLeMB P. o., LA, April Is 1909.
EDITOR CHIEF:
It appears rather strange that the
great political parties should frame
platforms to define their policies, upon
which they go before the people, and
that this custom should not prevail
with our local governing bodies.
Surely, it is of more Importance TO US
what our police iuries and school
boards do, or intend to do, than what
is forecasted at Washington or Baton
Rouge. To put this idea into practical
form, have framed the following in
complete school platform, in the hope
that the defining of policies may come
on down a little nearer TO the people:
"The public schools exist for the
best good of the pupils only"
l. There shall be no executive ses-
sion of this board. We think that any
business of the people that has to be
kept away from them. had better be
left undone.
2. It is advisable that the meetings
OF this board take place monthly, on
the same day as those of the police
jury, and the members are urged to
serve gratuitously.
3. All work done for the public
school system Of this parish shall be
let to the lowest bidder, after proper
advertising of same, and no more
shall be paid than is customary in the
neighboring parishes. This applies to
the erection of buildings purchase OF
supplies, publishing OF proceedings,
printing, etc.
4. The position OF superintendent
is open to any capable man who pos
sesses the best qualifications for the
place, and we pledge him our support
just as long as he is faithful to his
duties as superintendent of public
education in this parish and recog-
nizes the fact that 1.-THE public schools
exist for the best good of the pupils
only
5. The positions on our teaching
force are open to all applicants from
this or any other state, and We declare
it to be our purpose to employ no
teachers except those best qualified
for the positions, and to retain and
promote them in accordance with the
general rules of the public school
system.
6. We think it advisable to provide
small fun for supplying INDECENT
children with their school books
Z. We believe in the coneentr alton
| of schools, and the establishment OF
lines of transportation for the chill
| dren.
s. Two property holders In each
ward shall be appointed to act in con-
junction with the member from that
ward in caring for the school buildings
and grounds.
8. We recommend that the next
legislature enact law requiring the
state board of education to be made
UP of public educators, and that the
state board of examiners shall pass
upon the qualifications of snperintend-
ents as well as of teachers, and issue
certificates accordingly.
tendent of public schools in this par
ish to report the name of any member
of this board, or OF any outsider, who
may try to influence the appointment
of any person to position on the
teaching or supervising force of our
public schools, so that said name can
appear in the publication of our regu-
lar proceedings. The people OF
Chicago did not know who controlled
their public schools until the superin-
tendent had this law put into force,
and they then discovered the real
source of appointmentsl
ETC., etc. Yours truly,
B. A. COLOMB.