The Donaldsonville chief., 1910-11-12
SCHOOL NOTES
Some Of the Excellent Results Being Ae-
eornplished by supt. Rusca and His Ca
pabls Corps Of Teachers Improve
ments to School Build
inss and Grounds.


Besides the great amount of Office work
to be done in connection with the proper
conduct of the school system Of the parish,
the following is some of the ground
covered since the opening of the present
school session:
A two days teachers meeting was held
in jacksonville just prior to the opening
of the schools, the purpose being to have
the teachers meet and become acquainted
in order that all might be more helpful to
one another in an effort to better condi-
tions. This meeting was also intended
for general instruction and for the formu-
lating of general plans and the distribu-
ton of pamphlets pertaining to the work,
such as printed rules and regulations.
school laws, institute manuals. reading
course books, report blanks, registers and
other material Special stress was laid on
the teaching of morals through the medium
of the morning exercises and incidentally
in connection with all of.the work of the
school. Teachers were exhorted to train
for character and high citizenship as well
as for plain scholarship. The Lords
prayer was required to be recited in all of
the schools of the parish the first thing
upon entering in the morning: this, to-
gether with the singing of anthems and
songs that unconsciously or directly lift
the children up in spirit and make them
better, is having a splendid effect and
our schools are endeavoring to develop
not only the mind but the body and heart
as well.
Besides this meeting both branches of
the parish teachers association have met
in turn, one at DutchtoWn and the other
in Donaldsonville Both meetings ex-
tended through a period of five hours and
the programs were well carried out. The
teachers entered into the general discus
sions very enthusiastically and all the
talks showed careful study and prepara-
ton.
Our teachers are displaying commend
able interest in the manner in which they
are endeavoring to build up their profess
sional knowledge and give to the boys and
girls of Ascension the best service OF
which they are capable.
The corn club exhibit was another
great meeting which has been productive
of more good in more ways than the aver
+ age mind can at this time grasp. This is
but one of the phases of an humble be
ginning which is destined to transform
/ the work, in part, of the schools as it ex-
lists today.
If our schools are ever to do the great
/ est good for the individuals and for this
4 country we must in the future educate
more for efficiency than we have been
doing in the past. Our country demands
1. skilled labor and win continue to demand
it more and more, and our common schools
must supply it. Unlike what our gram
mar and high schools are doing today, we
must turn out boys and girls fit to do al
least one thing well; well enough so that
they may step out Of the school into EN-
ployment and earn living. Our colleges
land universities are introducing more
courses every year and reaching out int
broader fields, but this growth there car
never meet the requirements for more
efficient training for the masses. 0ul
problem, the problem of this country IS t
so educate the masses that we may con
tinue to have "hewers Of stone ant
drawers of water as wellas professional
classes.
] We must plan our work in the schools
to meetythe needs Of the ninety-ive pc
;icent Of boys and girls who never reacl
: college. We must offer several courses Il
: the same school, each resting on a broat
: foundation; courses which, when satisfac
torily completed in the high school, vii
:. turn out young men and women lifted t
2 do at least one or two things well enough
! to earn their living thereby.
The patrons in the various school com
: munities of the parish are interested NOR
4 than ever in their schools and all are Civ
IND literally of their time and money t
: advance the cause.
Oak Grove patrons have constructed
I SsO0 barn oafthe agricultural farm i
! connection with their school; they hay
: boueht an additional acre and a half G
,sElax,3 ,1,d NOW have ten acres in the de