The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1910-05-21
DONALDsONVILLE, La. SATURDAY, MAY q, 1910
A FINE RECORD.
Summary of improvements at the Calbasse
school-over 800 Added to the Value of
the School Property in Less Than
One Year.
louisiana School Review

The following statement OF conditions
at the Calbasse school, Ascension parish,
was sent in by Miss Agnes Morris, and
while it bespeaks the highest commenda
ton for the people of that particular
reighborhood, it is so typical of the work
which is being donesfn many sections as
to speak volumes and warrant its publica-
tion in full:
"On February Is, 1909, the lawn, ap-
proaches, and outbuildings at the Calbasse
school presented a dreary and unsightly
appearance. There was no fence around
the yard. 1t was open to the horses,
cows, pigs, etc, of the neighborhood.
The children could not be kept in the
yard as it had no boundaries. The lawn
was not drained and water stood in front
and around the buildings and on the lawn
after rain. There was no walk leading
to the buildigg. The path was worn down
lower than the ground level and was
| filed with water after rain.
'-fhe cistern was old and practically
useless. 1t was placed so close to the
building as to be unsightly and in the
way, and as to make the room under
which it was placed unhealthful.
THE outbuiIdings were old, very dill
apidated, and very unsightly. They were
placed too far to the front of the grounds.
There were about IS large trees on the
lawn. All but two were old. and had de-
cayed branches, and were in danger OF
being bpwn down in a storm.
The rooms were bare, not having cur
| tains or shades, or pictures, except small /,
cheap ones. There were no libraries, no
book eases, not enough desks in the
primary room, and no equipment for
primary work. The teachers chairs were
unfit for use. There was an insufficient
supply Of such necessities as erasers,
pointers, water buckets and drinking cups.
The following improvements have been
made in the conditions of buildings,
grounds, and equipments at the Calbasse
school:
.'One acre of ground has been enclosed
with a substantial fence of boards and
wire netting. An ornamental gate was
placed at the front approach, and one. al
the back approach. A gate was built at
a corner large enough to admit a wagon
The whole cost 500. of which $42 repre-
sents the value of the labor.
Drains have been dug from the road il
front around the building and back to {
place where the water runs away ever
after the hardest rain. The lawn, we bes
to say, is well drained now as any in the
:. state. The patrons put labor wortl
about So in constructing these drains.
"Atbrick walk well constructed ant
raised so high as to never be under water
was laid. 1t leads from the road to th
building in front At the back OF tn
buildElg the approach was raised aboV
the level of water. The labor in thi
work amounted to about IS.
"A new cistern with solid brio
, foundation was placed thirty feet fror
r the building. 1t was provided with
pipe from the building, a spigot and
ditch for all drippings to run away In
value of this work was $50, of which tn
: labor was worth about SIS.
Two three-roomed outbuildings We1
erected and placed at opposite corners
the back of the yard, and in line with tfl
new fence. These are we'll made, ceile'
. with hooks in the doors and painte'
= Their value is $50. The labor ON these
worth about $12.
'AlI the trees except two healthy liz
oaks were cut downor trimmed very clos
so as to allow young healthy branches
. grow out. In this work and in clearH
limbs of trees, rubbish and weeds fro
:, the grounds S24 in labor was eXpende
r The work of two OK teams for day co
! $40, and 81 in labor was expended
. planting trees and flowers.
:, Two Libraries have been purchased +
the school at a cost to the patrons of S2
:, Two book cases. have been added. Oh
- furnished by the patrons at a cos
labor of 81. A globe has been purchaSt
for S6.25. Erasers, pointers, wat
= buckets, drinking cups, etc, have be-
purchased at cost of about 81
: Twenty-three window shades were pt
~ chased for S1150. Sixteen sash curtai
were purchased for S6.40. Seven sash CT
tains were purchased for $3.50 PlctuI
st of Taylor, Washington, and others, We
r. purchased for 81. Scissors, silk pap
IS, etc, were provided for the primary roc
a at cost of about So. -Four new des
is, home made, were constructed for
ne primary room at a cost of lumber of
in of labor So. Three new teachers cha
es were purchased for $3.75.
ss "a large bell was purchased for Slo,
IT The lumber to construct the frame
IA which If is mounted cost ST. The la1