The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1909-04-06

(AOnLluucu IIOAAl iOA PoSSy'
cards will be better able to appralse
he worth of the louisiana School
.oard Association, and, therefore, VIII
be more willing to identify themselves
with it's work of furthering the educa-
tional interests of our grand
wealth.
This association was founded on the
goth Of August 1906, and consequently
is now in the third year of it's exist
ence, and still very young you see. IL
enjoyed a large membership among
the Parish Boards Of Education, n
had already become a compact work
ing body when the first election OF
school directors by popular vote IN
Louisiana took place last November
and wrought a general change in the
personnel of the School Boards of the
state. So extensive a change was
bound to affect the original member
ship and make it necessary for the as
sociation to rehabilitate its roll OF
members from the ranks of those new
ly indicted into Office. This exper-
fence viii be repeated every four years
as matters now stand, and it serves to
direct public attention to a weak and
undesirable feature in our present
school laws, a defect that this asso-
citation endeavored to have renedied
by the last General Assembly.
Supported by an influential member
ship the association directed its ef-
forts toward securing some beneficial
legislation for the schools during the
last regular session of the Legislature.
Whilst these efforts were not wholly
successful, it is gratifying to be able
to record some definite gains in that
direction, the principal one OF which
is the law requiring certain qualifica-
tons, recognized to be necessary, for
important office of superintendent OF
Education. A high standard OF effl-
cheney in this Office is our best guar
antee for effective work in the class
room by the better type of teachers.
The quality of the training received
by the child has a direct and vital
bearing on it's whole future life. The
statement that "a child is born an en-
bryo angela possible devil" contains
containsa deep warning for those
a deep warning for those charged
with the rearing and training of chill
dren.
Another measure of great value ad
vocated by the association was ar
amendment providing for the election
and retirement of members Of SchoO
Boards in successive groups, instead O
in a body, to guard against any seriou!
interruption in the continuity of schoo
work. 1t is to be regretted that thi'
recommendation did not receive tn
approval of the General Assembly, be
cause as the law o stands the ad
ministration of schools will be impair
ed more or less seriously at each re
curing election. We nave convincing
proof of the harmful operation of tn
present law in this respect, in a larg
number Of parishes where the school
were badly crippled over contention
for which there could be no room i
school boards where not over ont
third of the members could be change
at any n time. In my last annu
address l pointed out this danger an
predicted the very kind of trouble
that have since taken place.
The advantages of a plan that woul
render impossible the settling of pc
sonal grievances and political dis
greements at the expense of innocer
and helpless little children, shoul
strongly commend itself to a
thoughtful friends Of education. TIL
association should persevere its e
forts to achieve this end: and its e
forts in this direction will undoubte
" be ably seconded by that ally
every worthy movement for the pu
lie gUod-the Press.
! earnestly hope that at this meetir