The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1913-01-18
Field Report Of Parish Superintendent.

To the Board Of Scho0t directors ~ tHe
Parish Of Grant:
Gentlemen:-As the. law directs.
make this my field report for the quart
er. ending December 81, 1912.
During the past quarter all of the
white schools of the parish, forty, have
been in session, with the exception OF
Willow Grove, which school you had
planned to open about the first Monday
in January, 1913.
This has required teaching force OF
eighty teachers, q men and % women,
about all of whom seem to be trying to
do what they can for the best educa-
tional interest of their respective COM
munities.
In these schools we have had enrolled
1436 boys, and 14l5 girls, making to-
tai enrolment of 1851 children in all of
the schools of the parish during the
past quarter, which shows that about
500 children, if the enumeration is cor
rect, were not enrolled in the schools
during the quarter, which proves that
something will have to be done to stim-
ulate the people to send their children
to school.
In some communities it seem that all
Of the children of school age are in
school, yet We find in others they are
not.
With the exception of few commu-
mites the attendance has been fairly
good, which lack Of attendance in a
large measure has been due to farm
work and some sickness.
Three colored schools, two unexpired
terms in ward one and one in ward FIVE:
have been in session with teaching
force of three teachers, with about the
usual interest as heretofore.
We have held four district meetings
for teachers, and one joint meeting, all
of which were very well attended As
general thing good interest was shown
by all teachers who attended.
About all of the teachers have sup
piled themselves with the professional
reading course as prescribed by the
State Department, which proves they
are trying to improve themselves pro-
fessionally.
The school house that you authorized
to be built at your last meeting at or
near where the former house stood near
Phillips station, has been completed
and paid for with the exception of some
of the material, and the Eureka school
building was nearing completion at the
last report and will be ready for occu-
pancy as soon as it is painted.
Repairs and equiping have been in
progress during the quarter, and the
chemical laboratory for the high school
department at Georgetown has been
added, and, as far as we know, all of
the requirments are being met at that
place to have that school placed on the
approved high school list at the close
of this session.
We have more high school people at
tending the schools of the parish than
ever before, as far as we have any re-
cord, which facts shows that there is
an increased interest manifested in ed
ucation by the older boys and girls than
has been in the past, and in my mind is
an index to what we may expect in the
near future.
With one exception. / have visited all
of the white schools of the parish once,
and some of them twice during the
quarter, and found most of them in
fairly good working order.
As best can tell there is but little
contention or strife in any section OF
the parish, which augurs well for the
cause of education throughout the
parish.
AS new school board, we wish to
congratulate you in coming into Office
at time when the educationa al affairs
of the parish Gre in such excellent con-
dition.
For the past three years we have been
able to make a report to the Depart
ment OF Education of an avera ge school
term OF 8 months of all of the white
schools OF the, parish without having to
go in debt or to borrow a penny with
which to operate the schools or to
build, repair or equip school buildings,
out, to the contrary, always having q
cash balance of several thousand in the
banks ORA wing interest on daily bal.
ances- In other words, we have had q
kind OF accumulative school fund, which
IN large measure has been due to the
careful and economical management OF
the school finances.