The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1907-09-27
New Orleans States.

has almost become synonymous with
enterprise. development, education
and enlightment. Louisiana pine,
oak, and cypress are among the dom
inant factors in the lumber markets OF
the United States: Louisiana salt,
sulphur and petroleum are equally |
important in the mineral markets:
Louisiana rice, sugar and cotton have
maintained an advanced position IN
this most remarkable era OF material
prosperity, and Louisiana schools,
colleges and universities have prog
ressed in degree commensurate with
the marvellous march of our country's
material prosperity.
What has Louisiana done educa-.
tionally in the past year? This is
what great daily paper wishes to
set before its readers. 1t isn't difficult
to give definite replies to the question
in so far as money collected, teachers
paid, pupils enrolled, etc., are lndl-
cative of the work accomplished. But
all these agencies are merely the
means of developing intellect and
heart and hand: and it is difficult to
estimate what power of thought, feel
ing and action have been developed
in the past year. Training, discip-
| line, self-control of environment
these things. so vital, so real, so de-
sirable, cannot be measured in pounds
or feet or dollars. For the answer in
these terms of mind and heart and
; hand the reader must look upon the
rising generation of men and women
who haye availed themselves OF our
school advantages. What's the diff
ference between the boy educated and
! the boy uneducated? The boy who can
, read and write and the boy who can't!
What does it signify to the commu-
nifty? 1t can't be told in feet or
pounds or dollars. 1t means larger
7 sympathy, a broader view, a higher
life.
The measurable progress is pre-
sented in the following table Prog
" ress in education suggests not only
forward movement, but an upward
movement. The table is arranged a:
: a series of steps whereby the State
has advanced onward and upward
through the year 1906. 1t shows no
only the absolute progress made. bu
. also the increased rate of progress
I over the previous year. Thus. in 100
4 the local tax amounted to 1914, ,0:'9. 81
and at the close of 1906 it was 1851,
1885, showing not only the abso
j. lutte advance during 1906, bu
n showing also that the rat'
lr of progress was more than dou
l. BILE that of 1905. In 1907 the people, b.
E. local effort, are putting sl.OO0,0O
IS into school buildings.
y The school system is like compli
D Gated system of machinery, The ma
u chinerv has engines, boilers, pulleys
'e shafts, wheels, ETC., that are fitted t.
le each other and each to the entire sys
70 tenn: the school sy stem has the pupils
IL the teachers, the finances, the patrons
le school houses, local control, State
N rights, adapted and fitted to eac
and each to the whole system. If "
are honest and earnest the whole &C
N justment must be to the best interest
(. of the child.
It'll Every person acquainted with una
). chinery knows that when the machine
are worked to their full capacit
there is rarely a day that passe
without some breaking of belts O
4 heating of bearings. The machiner
= of the school system is no exceptio
to the rule. To use an expressio
)r that is common among machinists,
a. ''hot box'' is a common thing. .
% teacher Furnishes child. the parer
determined to whip the teacher, tn
- =, community is drawn into trouble, an
III in a surprisingly short time part {
Is the machinery that was running q
r. smoothly as if on ball bearings ha
"a developed shot box" That whic
may be best for the whole State ma
conflict with Individual interests, an
there is another shot box" tt
trouble may be with teacher, pupi
SD patron, school board, superintendent
u State board, State superintendent
n. Governor, individually or collectivel
&c To-the reasonable citizen it is neith'
: surprising nor discouraging to d
velop ..hot box" in great syste
NC like this; but there are few peop
tie Who think that the schools should ri
smoothly and quietly. costing no Oh
anything, bothering no one and i
terfering with no ones bushes
. They condemn the whole system whe
re ever progress in the work conflic
1c with their selfish interests, or when Il
difficulties of the work become lar,