Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-04-05
LETTER FROM STATE suPF. HARRIS.

Anc oeat0 SuPotin"nilcit Of Eflncftion
has issued the following circular leste.
STATE OF LOUISIANA,
Department Of Educotson
Baton Rouge, March 20, 1919
Parish Superintendent, Members ~ ..
ish School Boards, and High gchoa
Principals:
Gentlemen--I am enclosing COW y, ~.
concentrations which shall make "a ~
General Assembly at its next me,si.,
May, 1912. I wish to call your esoe,',l
attention to the following recommend.
tons:
ID Providing for small state trn,a
lining committee to take charge Of an ~.
aminations Of teachers applying for -.
tificates. Arguments in favor Of such /.
committee; (a) The expense viii be ns
greater than it is under the present sts.
tenn (b) Teachers certificates would &
valid in all parishes; (c) The same com.
mittee would pass upon all papers, hence
all certificates OF the same grade would
represent about the same ability; "a,
There would be no opportunity to show
Partially; (e) The parish school autho,.
tiles would be relieved Of considerable
work and trouble.
CD Providing the following appropri.
aions out Of the general revenues: Eich
Shoots $4,000; Agricultural schools
SOC, 900; Approved Country School.
$50, 900. (a) The growth Of the hirh
and agricultural schools during recent
years proves that the stimulus Of spec.
ial appropriation is beneficial It Is Elm
more important to encourage country
schools which meet certain required
standards. (b) Heretofore the high and
agricultural school appropriations have
been taken out Of the current school
funds. All Of the current school funds
are needed for the elementary schools.-
these special appropriations should Be
taken from the general revenues q the
State.
(3) Providing for an expert to inrosti-
gate the matter Of the public lands. This
matter is in hopeless tsngIe. lit wore
untangled, / believe the schools would
profit by thousands upon Thousands q
dollars.
(4) Providing for a State Medical In.
spector to be part of the STATE Depart
ment Of Education. (a) He would an
nounce certain simple but important rec.
ulations governing sanitation and good
health for all Of the schools. % He
would inaugurate system Of medicCs in.
spection in the various parishes as rapid.
ly as possible. (c) He would see that al
school houses were properly lighted and
ventilated. I'D lie would encourage prop.
err physical exercise in the schools. (e) He
would do all in his power to promcso
good health among school children. 20
The outlay OF money for such depart
ment would be small.
(5) Abolishing the boards 81 all the
State educational institutions and requir-
ing the State Board Of Education to ad-
minister the affairs Of these Institutions
(a) A board so constantly in touch with
educational matters as the State Board
would be in this case would become
skilled in handling questions Of Eduea-
ton. ID The board would be touch with
the work Of all the State institutions and
would be able to confine each to its prop
er sphere.
90 Moving Southern University IRON
the City Of New Orleans and locating Il
in country parish. (a) Southern Uni
versity is maintained by the State Of
Louisiana and the National Governments.
II is expected to teach agriculture and
other trades. An agricultural school
should not be located in a large city.
(b) Il Southern University were in ihe
country and organized to teach aericul-
| lure and ether trades, it you'd train
many teachers for proper service in the
negro public schools Of the State. lc) Ihe
funds which would be realized iron the
sale OF the plafn in New Orleans and The
farm in Jefferson parish would be ample
TO establish new plant in the country.
ca Requiring the State Board Of Edls
cation to al vacancies that occur IN par
ish school boards.
90 An appropriation large enough
to enable the Reform School at Monroe
to establish shops and employ levern'
competent teachers for all boys sent %
that institution.
(9) Providing for the establishment Of
school for deaf, dumb and blind col
ored children.
| Please read these suggestions carefully
and if you think they are meritorions'
bring them to the attention OF your rep
resentatives and senators.
Yours very truly,
I. H. HARRIS,
SUPERINTENDENT of Public Education.