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

SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL YEAR.
Work of Past Session Reviewed by
Parish superintendent-Teacfning
Corps Efficient and Excellent Re-
suits Accompiished-More Rev.
enue Needed

suits Acconlpiisned--More Rev
enue Needed.
The following interesting report
summarizing the work of the past
session in the public schools of AS
cension parish, was read by Supt. J.
L. Rusca at a specia, meeting of the
school board last Monday:
Donaldsonville, La, June II. 1912.
To the Honorable President and Mem.
bers of the School Board of the
Parish of Ascension.
Gentlemen have the honor to
submit for your consideration this my
annual report Of the progress and
condition of the schools of the. par
ish of Ascension
Date of Opening.
All white schools of the parish
opened Sept. II, except Oak Grove
and McElroy, WhichSopened Oct. 2,
due to delay in completing new build
ings at these places.
All colored schools opened Jan. 8.
Length Of Session.
On account of decreased school
revenues, all primary and intermedi-
ate grades in the white schools and
similar grades in the high schools
ran seven and one-haIf months, ex-
cept in CornerYieW, Sorrento, Elise
Memorial, DutchtoWn and Donaldson
vile, which continued eight months;
the salaries for the two last weeks
being supplied by patrons and friends
Of these schools.
The colored schools ran four
months, as usual, except during that
year when we tried the experiment
Of operating them with a colored SUI
pervisor to teach industrial subjects,
and in which case anum Der of the
schools had to be discontinued in
order to have sufficient funds to op-
crate several schools during a. period
of six months, as required by the di-
rector of the Jean fund.
Teaching Corps.
That this parish has had an ef-
ficient corps of teachers with one
or two exceptions IS attested by the
fact that a greater number Of the.
teachers employed were college or.
graduates, greater num-
ber held Normal diplomas and first.
grade certificates, and there were few
er complaints from patrons. is
gratiify wing to note. that, mike former
years Teea61fas
show, but one teacher holding a
certificate was employed
IN the parish this year, and this
teacher is first-class in primary
work and rendered satisfactory SER
vice. She is a teacher Of mature
years and of long and valuable ex-
perienee.
Since many Of our native teachers
hold Normal School diplomas and
sirst-grade certificates, and since
many have prepared themselves for
teaching by attending higher insti-
5utions of learning and summer
schools, it is but right and proper
hat in the selection Of teachers for
eur schools, all other qualifications
being equal, as many as possible of
aur home teachers be given the pref
Fence. I am glad to report that /
Wave recommended for employment
more home talent than has been GUS
somary in the past, and that we have
had as a consequence fewer fail
ares and better results than when al
most all our teaching force was i'm
ported. In this way, we have been
enabled to secure a higher grade of
For. cro co Jo1,i hat
he board has been able to pay. We
have had greater harmony in the
Ghools and less cause for regrets.
knowing our teachers and our posi-
ions we have been able to make
more Intelligent, assignments and
aave consequently had fewer mis-
fits. We have in this way encouraged
higher education in the parish and
we find today a larger enrolment in
he higher grades CT the schools OF
he parish than ever before. We
ind our four high schools sending
out this year thirty graduates, young
men and women well trained and fit
ed to become valuable citizens
Every teacher engaged during the.
ear rHdS D0Gus SHSdSeU Win d kuDWl-
edge, as far as it was possible to oh
ain, Of the position TO be filled and
Il the special preparation and quail
ications of the applicant for the pos
lion. We have had no teacher. in any
or grade trying to do
york for which she was not qualified. !.
md so we have guarded IN every
way against failure to obtain satisfac-
ory results.
For the good Of ous schools and for
neir protection, and the protection
If the good name OF our teaching
.orps, the. character Of every teacher
naployed during the year was thor
tughly investigated before any final
ontracts were entered into and
very precaution has been taken, and
pnenever or whatever in the past
Wo years failure has resulted, il
as been unforeseen and unavoid-
bic.
Teachers institute.
While impossible roads during the
reafer part Of tbs session limited
he number of institutes held, we