The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1911-08-24

WILL DEFEND MARKS BILL.

WILL DEFEND MARKS BILL.
Ex-senator John Marks, the re
puted author of the school law bill
has announced that in few day
he will make speech in explana
ton and defense Of the bill. Tha
announcement is indeed Refreshing
to a long-suffering and long-waitinj
people. The law is written upon til,
statute books so plainly that on,
may read as he runs. But we do no
oil read alike nor run alike, henc,
the public will wait Senator Marks
analysis of the bill with much anx-
y.-Guardian-Journal.
Ex-senator John Marks may de-
fend to the end of time the bill fol
which he is the sponsor, but fol-
which he is amenable to the most
severe criticism and excoriation OF
the people.
The public schools of Louisiana
are in politics today through the
provisions of the Marks bill. At the
time the bill was passed, it was as
sumed to be, as presented, a meas
ure that would popularize the pub
lie school system, but in its opera
ton it has eireumscribed the au-
thCrity of the people to minimum,
and has practically created an oil
garchy of few who dominate the
school system of the State.
This is one of the measures which
James B. AsWell, Superintendent of
Education, favored, but which he
has declared he will have repealed
II elected governor, since it has be-
come odious to all citizens who IA
vor the management of the public
schools on the broadest plane of
democracy.
In its issue of July %, 1911, in a
review Of the Marks bill, "Sextus," u
a citizen of Shreveport, well IN
formed and thoroughly conversant
with the operation of the Marks bill,
demonstrated its operation in thel
words quoted:
This is the measure that put the
public schools in politics. This is the
measure which was passed during
the time that the peoples condi-
date for governor was at the head
of the educational affairs of the
State. This is the measure which
James B. Aswell, Superintendent OF
Education. favored and forced on
the little children and parents in
this Stale.
Under the Marks bill the parish
school board, Except with the con-
sent and approval of the parish SUI
periniendent, can not fix the NUM-
Der OF schools in their parish, can
mol employ a single teacher, can not
fix the number and location of al
single school, nor change the loca-
ion OF an existing school, nor deter
mine the number of teachers I'M any
school.
JHueF the Marks bill, fathered |
and passed at the behest Of this SOL
called candidate of the people, the
parish hoard can not sell an old
school and use its proceeds to buyl
new one, except by two-thirdsI !
sote, and then subject to the vetol
II the parish superintendent. IL
What was left for the parish {
boards to do? Nothing but to meetI 6
md draw their salaries and approve
he dictates Of the parish superin-l
endents, who had received or werel
xpected to receive their instruc-
ions from the State superintendent \
I Baton Rouge" Iii
This is direct arrangement from |,
gentleman who Is well qualified to- a
maintain his position successfullvl
IS a censure which should not be
vaded; It is challenge to ex-Sen- !
tor Marks and to others who may :
willing and ready to jump intoI
% breach in defense of a bill thatI
eserves the unqualified condemna-l B
on OF every citizens OF Louisiana II
no would relieve the public SCHOOL, 7
Vstem control from the domination Is
politico-educational oligarehy. y