The Opelousas courier., 1908-02-15
Glance For
St. Landry
SUPT. THOMPSON MAKES
PLEA Fer ST. LANDRY
UIges Immediate and Concerted
Action by the Citizens to Secure
tn = New Normal School


tnh New Normal School
The following is an excerpt from COM
munication written by Superintendent
Thompson, published in the Picayune,
from it's Baton Rouge correspondent. It
is strong exposition of the reasons why
we should make an effort to secure the
location of the proposed Normal College.
should exert ourselves and put forth our
best efolds to land the institution in this
parish, should the Legislature determine
to create another Normal School, The
question is live one, and directly appeal;--,..
to the civic and patriotic pride of every
man. woman and child in the parish. 1t
beaneves all of us who love our parish,
who love our children, and who would
like to enter upon that stage of Intellectual
development and culture characteristic of
the present age, to heed the. advice Of
Superintendent Thompson and lend him
our hearty and active cooperation in his
efforts to secure the location of this great
institution in St. Lanffry parish. So let
us all be active and vigilant, and put y
forts our best efforts to install in our
midst q thing that will be joy forever
and which will rebound to the lasting
benefit of our children and our children's
children.
A merry fight is developing for the pro-
posed Normal School-before the State
has decided to eshablish another normal
school. Jackson, East Feliciana parish,
W .nts the Normal.at the old Centenary
College property; President Stephens, of :
the Southwestern Industrial Institute, of
Lafayette, wants the additional Normal
at his school, and St. Landry comes for
ward with claim for the suggested school
The claims of ST. Landry to the Normal
School are set forth by C. ]. Thompson,
parish superintendent of education for
ST. Landry, in the following communlca-
ton.
.".First-Because we need such an insti-
tuition.
Second-Because we are near the
geographical center of the State, and be-,
cause we are in close railroad communica-
ton with all parts of the State.
"Third- State should dis
tribute the location of its public instltu.
tions as to derive the greatest amount OF
good from the reflex influence which they
exert over the people who come within
the radius of that influence.
Fourth-Because it will stimulate acti-
vity along educational lines among peo-
ple who are now in the forty-four-per-
cent list Of illiteracy, with large propor-
ton of them speaking language differ
ent from that in which the school books
are printed. These people, who have
lived in a state of isolation for a very long
time, are susceptible of high degree OF
culture They have lately become inn
bued with the spirit, and are willing to
make personal sacrifices for the educa-
tional and moral adancement Of their
children. Why not help them, and assist
them in obtaining an opportunity to ele-
vate themselves to higher planes OF hfe
and learning? The only way to do this iS
| to present different and loftier ideals to
| them for emulation and attainment.
| These ideals are best and most eficientt-
introduced through the medium OF the
skilled and ex~erienced school teacher. I
do not mean tRepeacher who knows hl6
or her business In all it's details, and who
is strongly versed not only in pedagogical
science, but in which may be termed the
psychology of adolescence. A teacher OF
this character must be trained as well AZ
taught, and we can only look for them as
products of the schools where this special
training is to be had. It: is true that wa
already have State Normal College at
Natchitoches, but that Normal School is
only able to supply thirty per cent OF the
demand made on it for teachers. AS Q
result of this shortage, we are compelled
| to 90 beyond the confines of our State to
supply the deficiency, and today we haEA
hundreds of teachers from other States ID
/ tho schools of this State, great number
OF whom are now receiving lucrative ems
ployment in the schools of this parish.
Most of them are good teachers, and are
rendering satisfactory service, but why
should this condition continue to exist?
If our youth had the opportunity, they
could do as well as the young men and
women of other States, and they would
the girls especially, take employment as
] teachers and help us to solve somewhat
/ the mixed problem. What shall we do
with our girls?
"The way to get the location of this great
! institution in our midst is to 60 after lt
with all our might, and make it an ln-
ducement to the State to favor us be-
cause we deserve to be favored.
81 will conclude by imploring this peo-
ple to arouse themselves and recognize
the necessity for prompt and continuous
effort from now until the time that It be-
comes necessary for the allotment Of this
valuable acquigtion to be made New
Orleans Picayune.
4 Judge James Hargis, the noted Ken
lucky fuedist, who has figured in numer.
Gus assassinations, was shot and killed
! by his SON Beach, in store near jackson.
in that state. The shooters must ba
, hard up to kill somebody when they must
,, turn upon their own crowd. .-Frankhn
Watchman.