The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1908-07-10

special taxes for the schools. We re-
greet however, that it is necessary for
us to request that the School Board
give more attention to school discip-
line. as it was u painful duty to re-
port a true bill on one affidavit and on
the sworn testimony of many witness
ses in one instance of a teacher having
brutally whipped a pupil.
Respectfully submitted.
(signed) 0. B. HOPKINS,
Foreman.
Filed June 5, 1908,
(signed) F. X. HOPKINS,
Deputy Clerk.
A true and correct extract.
Attest:
F. X. HOPKINS,
Deputy Clerk OF Court.
After due consideration of the above
communication and criticism of the
public school system by the Grand
Jury, the following was adopted with
reference thereto:
Whilst this Board as a public body
always welcomes criticism of con-
ditiOns demanding correction in the
interest of the schools. and also in
viteS and appreciates suggestions and
recommendations which may tend to
improve the school work, this Board
greatly deplOres the making or the
publication of any statement not justi-
fed by facts and detrimental to the
welfare of the schools.
TIL" so called brutal whipping of a
pupil, to which specific reference is
made in the report of the Grand Jury,
is a charge that has since been proven
in court to be nOt we'll founded, and
the teacher exOnerated. Furthermore,
a solitary case of corporal punish
ment, even If proven to ha We been ex-
cessive, does not warrant the charge
or conclusion that there exists a gen.
eral Or " a considerable lack of
discipline in our public schools. If
this were true the public school system
in Lafayette parish could not be in
the excellent condition. referred to
in this same report of the Grand Jury.
The School Board does not ques-,
ton the good intention of the Grand
Jury in this matter, and believes the
statement was made upon misleading
or insufficient information, and with
out duly weighing the serious and
sweeping nature of the charge or in
timation, and the consequent harmful
impression produced upon the minds
of the uniformed.
The Building Committee reported
having inspected and accepted the
school building at CarencrO, and the
Board ordered that final settlement be
made for same.
The Board authorized the President,
Superintendent and DR.. G. A. Martin
to purchase a supply of coal for the
schools.
The Superintendent was instructed
to urge upon the City Council the ne
cessity of over-hauling and r%e-arrang-
ing the heating plant in the primary
school building so as to render it safe
and efficient: also the Importance of
re-hanging the entr ance doors so
as to open outward, and the great
need for the installation of sanitary
closets at the same school.
The following resolution was
adopted:
Resolved, That this Board, greatly
approaching the inestimable contribu-
ton to the cause of public education
in Louisiana by B. C.. Caldwell, Presi-
dent of the State Normal School dur
ing a long tenure of devoted service,
would sincerely deplore the loss of his
service as an educator and citizen:
Resolved further, That we enter this
as an earnest appeal to all citizens
who believe in justice and the cause of
public education to bend every energy
in a united effort to effect the reten-
ton of President B. G.. Caldwell in his
present nosition. Adjournment fol-
lowed.
~. P. Moss.
President.
w. j. AVERY,
Secretary.