St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1909-04-17
OpelOusas school District.
opeIousas. April 18th, 1909.

Editor ST, Landry DIaTIoH OH
April 9Th the School Board rescinded
It's resolution Of March lin and
passed another resolution, modifying
tbe former resolution. The modifca
ton consisted in the description OF
the boundaries and a little increase
III the area Of the proposed district.
The reason. for these changes was be-
cause of an error in the description
of the boundaries in the original
resolution, in consequence of which
half the territory, which it was In
tended to include in the district was
being left out. In order to remedy
this defect it became necessary to
rescind the original resolution and
pass another. In the last resolution
The lines were extended a little on
the East and South in response to re-
quests from some of the rural pa
irons Of our school. They alleging
as a reason that a shorter line might
possibly leave them out Of the dis
trict. AS the limits r now con-
stituted, / think we will have ade-
ouate territory to embrace the most
of those who patronize the 0pelousas
Schools, and at the same time to
raise from the tax, which it is pre-
posed to impose on the property Of
the district, an amount sufficient to
make the contemplated improve
ments.
III the recent past a great deal has
been said and written about a school
building and other improvements in
the CITY but no definite plan seems
to have been evolved for the submits
sion of these questions to the people,
and as a consequence, they are about
AS far from d solution as ever. Many
have openly said that they would not
vote q tax for a general improve
ment proposition, but that if the
school tax proposition were separa-
ted from che other questions they
would heartily support it. Knowing
the necessity for a more ample and
commodious school building. modern
Id every respect, and knowing the
desire Of the good people Of 0pelou-
sas and those who live circumiacent
to the city to provide adequate edu-
cational advantages and opportuni-
ties for their children, it occurred to
the writer that if a school district
were created, which would include
those who are now and who always
have been the benefciaries Of the
citY's schools, there could be and
would be no reasonable objection
urged against such a proposition.
Actuated by this line of thought,
the writer made application to the
School Board to create the district.
The Board has acted, and the district
has been created. The quesaion is
up before the people for final deter
mination. Before anyone concludes
to oppose this measure he should
consider carefully the step which he
is about to take, and think what an
influence the failure of this measure
will exert over educational conditions
i'd this city and parish.
The city Of 0pelousas, which has
assumed the name Of Greater 0pelou-
sas, and which has announced itself
al such TO the world, through the
advertisement of its opportunities
and resources, cannot afford to turn
down a proposition Of this kind. It
means too much to its future welfare
and the station which it must occupy,
and which it should occupy BY the
side of the other progressive cities
and towns of the state. Propositions
of a similar character have been sub
mitted to the people of other cities
and towns in the various portions of
the state, and not in single instance
have they met with defeat. Notable
among the places which have voted
Ill favor Of the levy of a tax Of this
Kind are the cities of Alexandra,
Monroe, Franklin, Lafayette, Crowley,
Jennings, Lake Charles, New iberia,
Abbeville, WINFIELD, Arcadia, Cheney
vile, Marksville, Morgan City and
scores Of others.
The erection, ID this city, Of a mod
ern, e~ommodious and attractive school
building will not only give a great
stimulus to the cause of education,
but it will be a credit to the city and
1 monument to the people who build
it. So now, let US all put ouH Shout
der to the wheel, work with a vim,
and see which one can exert the
greatest influence in the accomplish
ment of this much needed and lauda-
able enterprise.
Yours truly,
G. J. THOMPSON.