The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1913-07-12


which have not expired owing to the
fact that the teachers first employed
resigned their places and we were IN
able to supply them with teacher
sooner.
The interest generally throughout
the parish has been very good during
the quarter, and practically no conten-
ton and strife exists among the people
interested in the education of their
children.
We have had FIVE colored schools in
session during the quarter, with about
the same interest usually manifested
in the schools.
i During the school year closing June
80, 1913, We have had, everything be-
ing considered, one of the best school
seasons since my official connection
with the schools Of the parish, which
argues well for Grant educationally
speaking, at the same time our success
as whole is not so good that it can
not be made better by the cooperation
of all patrons interested in the educa-
ton OF their children.
We have had an average school term
of eight months for all of the white
schools of the parish during the season
just closed, with teaching force of
eighty-one teachers, costing approx
mately $40, 10000.
The most Objectionable feature to
the annual report which we shall have
10 file within the next few days with
The State Department of Education, is
the fact that possibly over two hundred
children in the parish We're not even ell
rolled IN any of the public schools CT
Grant last year, and it ought to be the
pride of every citizen of the parish to
remove this stigma. if such it might be
called, from our parish and try to gel
all fathers aid mothers interested in
the welfare of their children, the citi-
zenship of tomorrow. to the extent
that they will give them the benefits
OF public school education.
The eleven color.d schools of the par
ish have had an average school term OF
about three months, at cost of about
$14OO. 90.
From the above you, will see that e
pay the teachers alone of the whit,
and colored schools of the parish will
cost more than fifty thousand dolla
annually. saying nothing of repairing,
building and equipping schoolhouses,
besides the regular running or incident
al account that has to be met in some
way.
The present school revenues are
wholly inadequate to meet the curreni
expenses for operating the schools fol
period of eight months, and unles.
something is dpne to get more money
for educational purposes of the parish
We can no longer operate the school,
eight months, but will have to be salts
fed with a five or six months term in
stead.
l should like for you, gentlemen,
with the help of the good citizenship
of Grant parish, to devise ways ano
means by which we could have ample
revenues with which to maintain all OF
the white schools of the parish an av-
erage term of eight months, letting
the burden of taxation rest equally Oh
all citizens alike, and then give to al,
the children of the parish equal educa-
tional advantages, making the salaries |
of all teachers the same, or uniform,
everything being equal, throughout the
parish.
Under the present system it is out OF |
the question for you to give the chill
dren the same advantages, unless the
people in some school districts pay at
least fifteen or twenty mills school tax
while others pay nothing, and all have
the same educational advantages, at
the same time the forty three hundred |
seventy-three (4373) boys and girls of |
educable age are part of the Lord s
creation, Grant parish boys and girls,
and all deserve the fairest treatment
possible at your hands and that of the
entire citizenship of the parish OF |
Grant.
The expenses for maintaining the
schools will never get any less, but t.
the contrary will increase each year,
unless the term is shortened, at the
same time the taxable resources are
growing less all the time, and we are
to-day getting more school revenues
than we shall get in the future under
the present condition of affairs. So,
from the above surmising, you will
MAINLY see IL at wa haua nat raanhad