New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1914-02-28
THE SCHOOL TAX.

vi hiiChO fAoPNA 40
comes the public school. With
out it the preservation Of the he
public would have almost been an
impossiblity. In it and through
it are raised the citizen and
formed the American. The fund
amental principles enunciated by
the Constitution of the United
States are there inculcated into
the child and prominently stored
away in his later manhood anu
womanhood.
The public school system OF
the United States is unique and
has no parallel anywhere in the
world. 1t is strictly an Ameri-
can institution, founded upon
American ideas and developed
by the fathers Of the Constitu-
ton. It is thoroughly American
in the sense that it recognizes no
class or distinction and serves the
United States Government and
the Nation in it's capacity to as
simulate the stream OF emml-
grants, however large and over
whelming it may be. 1t is the
crucible where foreign types are
being nodded into American citi.
zenship. 1t represents faithfully
Democratic spirit of the Nation.
1t recognizes no cult and do
deity, save that service that will
protect and perpetuate the ideals
of the Republic. The heart of
the American Nation is with the
American public school system
because it is dedicated not to rul-
.srs or office holders, whether
they be President or members Of
the Cabinet or influential poll
ticians, but to the sanctifcatlon
of the rights Of man and the
liberty of the individual. Our
public schools are a part of the
Nations life; its characteristics
are open not only encouraging,
but developing and promoting
the National hope, whereby the
humblest, plainest, meekest can
climb the ladder Of public service
from the lowest rung to the high
est, the Presidency. It is the
drilling ground Of the children
population Of Americas triumph
ant and successful Democracy.
In contradistinction to the diff
ferent public school systems of
the continental nations, some Of
them build and develop on theor-
ries Of autocracy and monarchy,
where governmental interests Of
powerful classes are paramount
in the education Of the common
man and therefore are negligible
supplementary institutions Of gov
eminent, ours is a separate and
entirely distinct nonlpofitical
and non-sectarian Instrumental
ity whose educational work leads
to- and approves the ultimate
lines and natural cooperation
with our Government. Our ideals
and objects Of respect and rev.
erence are not Emporers and
Kings, Crowns and Sceptres,
privileges and exemptions, but a
grand spirit Of the liberties Of
man.
Our Parish reflects yet a great
deal Of illiteracy and backward
ness, due not to soil and climate
and topography, but to the ira
-ditional indifference and sur
pressed hostility of a large part
of our most influential taxpayers.
This opposition, bred by ignor-
ance, custom handed down
through generations Of illiteracy,
is one Of the strongest and most
convincing reasons presented to
the public for the necessity Of q
school tax sufficiently large to
acquire an equipment that will
eventually conquer and entirely
Eliminate the above conditions.
Because in a different age and
different economic conditions the !
patriachal idea Of happiness and
contentment succeeded and was
maintained with little effort and
exertion there is no reason why
these archaic methods that have
been discarded by most modern
communities should be perpetual
ed. The elysian happiness is
sought Of Z personal illusion and
dream cannot at present be ac-
quired and enjoyed on account
of the fierce rivalry and keener
wits and stronger forces battling
for the economic advantages Of
the day. The child;s equip
ment Of to-day must be a sound
knowledge Of the fundamentals
Of our government and 4 close
familiarity with som. of the