St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1911-08-19

appropriation ever made for the purpose-$35OyO 900 O0-for the
two years ending June 80, 1912, we found this amount would
be insufficient. There was, therefore, only one thing to be done,
and that was to submit the matter to the people. The Legis-
lature submitted the matter, and you all know that the people
OF LOUISIANA responded with almost an unanimous vote in favor
of providing amply for the old veterans.
This administration made it possible not only to provide
the immediate relief necessary to care for the old soldiers to-
day, but the legislation enacted under this administration guar
antees onequarter of a million dollars annually for pensions
for Confederate Veterans.
/ am quite sure that there are but few, if any, Confederate
Veterans, or their sons or daughters, here today who do not
fully endorse at least this much of my administration.
PUBLIC EDUCATION
The public schools have made healthy, permanent advance
ment in all essential departments during my administration.
Public sentimen throughout the State is in favor of an inteli-
gent citizenship. Mothers and fathers consider the education
OF their children q sacred duty, and they are discharging this
duty by investing more money in school buildings and salaries
Of teachers than ever before in the history of the State, by
frightening the school session and by keeping a larger number
of their children in the schools. -.-. ~
Since / have been Governor, the people OF Louisiana have
been voting nearly a million dollars a year for school buildings
alone, and in addition they have been. supplementing the sala-
r1es of teachers by special taxation about onehalf million dollars
ayear; and the people have added to the permanent school reve-
nues more than a quarter of a million dollars d year by their
approval of the three-mill tax amendment. No people on the
face OF the earth, with the same population and the same as
sessment are doing more for the education of their children than
our people. There is a special school tax election in some portion
OF the State almost every day, and in practically every instance
the people cast their votes for the schools. 1t frequently hap
pens that several districts in a parish hold special tax elections
on the same day and record not a vote against the tax. a4@ b
Great progress has been made in the improvement of the
country school. The State Board Of Education about two
years ago appointed a rural school inspector, who gives his en-
tire time to the work of cooperating with the parish school
officials with the view of improving conditions in the country
schools. Hundreds of small, inefficient country schools have
been eliminated and large central schools, taught by competent
teachers, have been substituted. The salary of the rural school
inspector does not cost the people of the State one cent.
Soon after / became Governor a director of agricultural
education was employed. Through his efforts thousands of coun-
try boys are being taught to farm inteHigently, and agricultural
schools are being established all over the State. The boys in
the corn clubs raised last year nearly three times as much corn
to the acre as the average farmer in Louisiana, and the seventeen
agricultural schools, all established during my administration,
are centers for the dissemination among the people of the best
ideals in agriculture, in addition to their wonderful usefulness
in providing the type of education most needed by country
boys and girls. The Legislature stamped these efforts in the
interest of the country schools with its approval by appropriating
$25,00o.OO a year to be used in assisting country districts to
organize their schools upon an agricultural basis. The State
contributes but little to the salary and expenses of the agri-
cultural directorate most of the funds coming from the Ma
tional Government; and yet, while this branch Of public work is
costing our people but little, the work is well under way to give
our school courses a vocational foundation that will result in
sending from the public schools into the States activities efficient
Workmen.
During this administration probably the best system of insti-
tutes has been organized in this State of any State in the
Union. About 1919 of the teachers come together one day in
every VI OlGSSIOu Stuuy duu ScuSSIU du O0TO
of the teachers of the State attend the summer schools Of nine
weeks and add substantially and permanently to their academic
advancement. The attendance in the summer schools is equiva-
lent every year to the attendance of 1900 teachers in a State
normal school for a session of eight months. This supplement
to our training schools for teachers is giving the State competent
teachers for all of the schools.
A year ago the department of education turned over to the
health train a lecturer on sanitation and school improvement.
She has spoken to tens of thousands of people on these impor-
tant subjects, and her salary and expenses have not cost the
people of the State a cent. -4 -@ v.:a a.
Our high schools, the peoples college, have almost doubled
in numbers, the standard of work has been raised to the equal
of the best high schools in the country, splendid brick buildings
have been erected, and these institutions are graduating annu-
nearly a thousand welEequipped young men and women,
who are taking their places in college or in useful avocations.
The State is aiding its people to maintain their high schools
with a yearly appropriation of ~$5000000. The high school in
spector who stimulates and superyises the work of the high
schools does not cost the people of the State a cent.
The two industrial schools have erected new buildings and
raised their standards by more than a year; the State Normal
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