The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-06-22

ing the rooms, repairing and paint
ing, have gone on at sacramento ana
Lake schools, and too much praise
cannot be bestowed upon the COM
munities named above, as well as
others. for the generous support Civ
en- the board and the superintendent
in their efforts to improve the
schools of the parish.
Courses of Study.
The commercial course OF study, OF
equal credit with the literary course
but Of greater practical value, adopt
ed by your honorable body for the
schools at Dutchtown, Gonzales ana
Donaidsonville, and which mas re-
ceiyed the approval OF the state SUI
perintendent and other state ot1l-
Gals. ard for which action We have
been congratulated by them, has
succeeded during the first year OF its
trial beyond my expectations. Time
will demonstrate the wisdom OF TINS
change, for already we know that
there is all to gain and nothing TO
lose. We know that the graduates OF
the course we offer stand as high as
those of the purely literary course,
that Tie diplomas mean as much'
and that the graduates Will enter, the
freshman classes Of the universities
as well prepared, and better IN many
respects. This course is pursued n
some of the best high schools OF the
state at present, and other schools
are ready to adopt 1t. We need to-
day more of the practical and less OF
| the theoretical and purely cultural
i The equipment installed this year
for this work consists of typewriter
land bookkeeping tables and chairs,
and nine typeWriters. In addition We
i nave arranged in the town scnool q
, bank and banking equipment, ana
J practical banking and accounting IS
taught.
J It is my hope that to the present
8 subjects taught may soon be added
telegraphy, because the equipment
and work in this branch will come
2 within the means of the board ana
5 the results will be practical and Valu-
able to our boys and girls.
Visitation OF NEIfSctSs
Notwithstanding the long. severe
! winter and impossible roads, your
3 SUPERINTENDENT has visited every
2 school in the parish at least once,
,lmost of them twice, and several OF
q them three and four times. He has
/ also visited the larger OF the coloren
:, schools and spoken to the students
I there. On these visits he has noted
: the condition of campus, building ano
!, outhouses, the discipline, prepafatloI
: Of teacher and students for the DAY
8 work, the results being accomplished
). lin class work, and the improvements
IL in building and equipment. He has
questioned the classes at times ane
has occasionally talked to them o.
Is way of encouragement or read some
L. story from which some valuable les
ID son could be drawn and applied U
n the lives Of those present lie mas
Is on these visits, advised with IN
it teachers concerning the good OF tn.
ut school. and has rendered such 40
d L vice and assistance as seemed neees
he sary.
u Wherever your superintendent ha
IN gone he has been well received q
n teachers, ssudgfs and patrons, ail
il fby assocla hssg q IS
d ceiving no Especial faVors from an,
he has been at liberty to do his pes
). work and free to render lmpaTtla
a service I'd all, without fear OF favor
Il Besidesi visiting the schools, he ha
d attended the closing exercises OF Sc.
is Ioral Of the smaller schools as ia
4 as time and circumstance would PEI
ii nit, and. the graduating exercises G
le ali four high schools.
n, He has attended the principals
lie and superintendent conventions hel
in Baton Rouge, and has IN ever
way endeaVored to prepare hlmse
to render to the parish efficient Sc
~ vice.
~ y, Manual Training.
n It was found, after two year
trial, that the manual training cours
in the Donaldsonville school did NJ
mt meet the needs Of the boys and pr
ng yided nothing for the girls durlI
ag- the period Of time In which the DO.
AK were engaged in this work. Inc Z
ire suit was that the girls remained ID
Or during thai time, and recltatie
llf period was lost to both boys al
ION girls which should have been spe
on the regular subjects of the graz
ing in which tll credit was given.
the was found that the boys enjoyed t
red period because it was one Of rest al
Oh relaxation, because il afforded the
nus more liberg Of speech and 'motlc
lip and becaus. they were learning to
the things with their hands, but 1t W
the also found that while some good
Tor suits were obtained and the Wo
'me was profitble 4 in q small way,
ool, account of insufficient space a
ten equipment, On account Of the gre
me- expense attached to providing II
out grades of nmber to be destroyed
lght the work, On account OF the Il
eta available teachers fol- this work a
I'M the consequently high salaries
the manded by these teachers, on
'ooi, count Of h9 fact that the coul
the could not beSearried far enough
de- no If anr nraaicaIt value and on