The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1908-05-30
CRYING Needs Of Our school system.

Crying Needs of Our School System.
The greatest obstacle and objection
| to the carrying out of Gov. Blanch
ard S recommend alton for reduction
of the rate. of state taxation from five
to four mills is to-be found in the con
dition of our public school system
The compensation of teachers is too
low and there is not parish in tht
state but is in urgent need of more
and better schoolhonses. Even the
great city of New Orleans is today 3
comparative pauper in respect of its
educational facilities. 1t would hardly
have school building but for private
charity.
We must be mindful that "There is
a Withholding that tendeth to pow
erty." For a community no withhold
ing can more SO tend than the starV-
ing of its schools. Every child has a
natural right to be educated up to the
time he can "fend for himself" For
a self governing community there is
no duty more imperative than that it's
population shall be educated not only
to read and write and figure, but in
right thinking and acting. This is
vital to the preservation of free insti-
tutions. With the influx of a large
foreign population ignorant alike of
our language and institutions. it is
more than ever vital to Louisiana
that the schools shall not only not be
neglected, but shall be put on the best
possible basis, and that every child
of school age go to school.
The teachers too ought to be better
paid; they should have above all
things living wage; otherwise the
public puts itself on a footing with
those institutions which, by paying
inadequate wages to youths and young
women, in reality sponge on the fami-
lies of these employees for operating
expenses. Teachers ought to receive
salaries that win not only support
them. but enable them to travel in
their vacations to improve them
selves as well as rest.
The school boards ought to be elected
all right, but they ought not to be all
elected at once. Continuity of infor-
nation and policy is essential to the
efficient administration of schools.
Not more than one-third the members
Of a school board ought to be chosen
at one time. The school elections
ought.to be held separately from the
general elections SO as to take them
as far as possible out Of politics.
There is: no other way can prove
equally efficient in accomplishing this
object. 1t will cost something, of
course, but everything worth having
costs something. The expenses of
school elections should be paid by
school boards as a part of their oper-
alton. AT such elections nothing but
school matters should be voted on,
and all such matters-as special
taxes, bonds, ETC., should be then
voted on.
Women ought to be put on school
boards. They are most valuable in
such positions and the community cam
not afford to lose the benefit Of their
in such positions.
II we choose to take the trouble,
there is no reason why Louisiana
should not have as good a school sys-
tenn as any in the world. We should
have no ''illiteracy. !" Shall we be
Supine and drift like barbarians, or
shall we force ourselves to the fore
front in matters of civilization? Let
US give these things the thought their
demands and express our
thoughts SO that beneficial action may
result.
Linde, the jeweler, lin Tobias build
ng, Railroad avenue), is selling out
at cost DreDaratOry tn rem0V1np IN |