New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1911-05-27
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THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Editor Enterprise


signed by the superintendent
the public schools and the town
member of the school board There
are no figures and statistical in
formation in it. Most of the IN
struction to be conveyed or illum-
nation to be absorbed is vague
and indefinite and food for the
imagination.
There is also a vein of modest
salf-adulation, Of assumed self
sacrifice in the description of some
special service rendered for mod
crate compensation to the com
munitv. In fact the public school
machinery, accordingly, is run
about as noiselessly. as pleasingly,
as possible. Everybody active
connected with any part Of the
machinery seem to be highly pleas
ed with its product and seem. also
TO absorb lot Of improvlSed or
rather impromptu homemade com
plimcnts.
Our schools. as everybody IS
aware. certainly rank with the
best. the most highly developed IN
stitutions in the STATE, atd our
pupils, whenever they participate
in high school contests OF intellect
and acrobatics they carry off the
main trophies.
These gratifying consequences
belong primarily to the high at
tributes of wisdom and learning
displayed by the management. No
doubt the all pervading solicltude
of the self-appointed guardian
angels of the destinies of our
school preserves is also largely
responsible for that progress and
all around betterment.
New Iberia will shortly see or
discover an undeveloped genius
that will receive the opportunity to
climb the ladder of fame and
glory and prosperity under the en-
coura cement and protection ofthe
much praised school methods.
But. throughout the length of
the labored explanations OF the
carefully prepared statement, a
sort of prelude to promised fol
lowing school notes, wall for
money, a complaint for non-sup-
port or negative interest is de-
tected in every line. To lack of
funds, to the blighting effects Of
ever present poverty, are ascrlbed
many Of the laches and shOrt-com-
ings and distress of the present
prevailing public school system.
A famine of teachers, an alb
sence of good or better teachers
a crop of dissatisfied, poorly paid
teachers, are some of the ills and
diseases marking the local educa-
tional trail. All the wrecks and
unsuccesses piled on the road. as
rocks and thorns, are reminders
of the lack of finances and the
whitening effects Of the evidence
Of unfulfilled promises.
What the people of New Iberia
want are not statements and com
paints and suggestions and criti-
cisms.
The City and the people demand
an absolutely change of system, a
genuine form of home-rule in
school affairs. They respectfully
pray for a complete segregation of
City from Parish schools and in
this merely follow in the foot
step and inherit the aspirations of
the most enterprising and progress
sive municipalities in the State of
Louisiana. New Iberia expects
greater school facilities, more
efficient and experienced faculty,
a wiser business management OF its
affairs and larger and more di-
rect control of it's local school IN
It wants to control and
invest it's school resources in its
own way, according to it's higher
sense Of the fitness of
things, not accorded to us under
the Anticipated laws and rules. We
want genuine town schools. temp
les Of learning and training OF
youths and not time wasting places
Or houses Of detention for recreant
children and unlOved despised,
neglected tots. In this age OF
utility where even waste must pay
tribute to the demands of society
we want more useful child, al
better citizen, after he has passed
his years of training and approch-
IS his years Of maturity, than the
'xactions and the exigencies of the
present situation warrant. We
want the schools kept sacredly,
onscienciously scrupulously sep
rated from the little, polluting
politics of the ward leader, and
lope to make the public school
plainly and purely an institution
# civic pride and social necessity.
f you gentlemen. advocating fl
'ancial support to condemned
nd faulty system, will help us
chieve this victory, you will see
he resources of this community
eing offered freely, at the dis
osal of those who will undertake
he work of reformation and the
OBJ of making the innovation a
owing success.
Not until then need you waste
ny time or ink for the enlistment
popular support. We are some
hat tired of the tyrant, and sus- ,
4