Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-10-30
Opposes School Segregation.

Editor Of the Shreveport Times:
We desire to endorse the action Of the
Farmers Union concerning the Hous'
bill No. 46S by Mr.. Johnson, chairman Of
the committee on public education, sub
stitute for house bill No. 275. have
noted with pleasure he absolute denounr
ing Of this amendm mt, Act. No. 81. by
the farmers in their meeting held at New
iberia last August. most heartily agree
that that this amendment should be voted
down by the qualifi d electors OF the state.
Only q short while ago the honorable
Legislature OF the state OF Louisiana su6-
mitted to the people an amendment tn the
constitution requiring the collection of
three-mill tax in every parish for support
of puolic education, and this amendment
was ratified by the good citizens of the
state, and is now in force and beyond any
question of doubt, rightly 80.
/ honestly and conscientiously believe
that this law should be executed through
ont every section Of the state, and that
no change should b. made to fit the local
government of any town or city, and that
if this works hardship on any city i,
must evidently be true that its govern
ment is founded upon wrong principles.
and do not deem it wise or Just to mod.
ify state law in order to fit the local
needs of any corporation to the detriment
OF the whole. 1t is the duty OF the state
to 30 construct, systematize and guide
state system in sucl, efficienfmanner that
every child's education shall Ike guided in
the proper direction, and do not believe
that such function should be left alone to
any city in this state.
This amendment means political ex-
ploitation of the public schools, destruct
ion of the public school system, and
food of constitutional exemptions for var
ious cities.
To the voter who stops to consider the
possibilities of the amendment, it is evil
dent that it will bring politics into the
schools. As now constituted. the entire
school system is in the hands of the sup
erintendent of public education and his
advisers, to whom each parish organiza-
ton is responsible. The entire system lie
bound to gether by ties of union, COM
mon responsibility; and common super
vision. Every unit Of the system lie brought
into touch with the other by this common
supervision, through the institutes and
summer schools, and through the same
general supervision, the hest in each lie
preserved.
Not only is this true, but the temptation
for political exploitation is not strong.
The head of the school system is respon-
sible to all the people in the state; he can
not come into personal touch with any
large proportion Of the people, and, there
fore, is not tempted to give to any one
side in community any advantage over
the other.
The parish superintendent are respon-
sible to the State authorities; their acts
are renewable by the State authorities; :
for this reason they are checked from
tendency to show favoritism.
View the question, now, from the stand
point of segregation of the cities. Prob
ably it has not occurred to many people
a. to who il the practical head of the
school in segregated city system. AZ
matter of fact, the mayor is the head Of
all municipality owned and controlled in
situations. He is seldom a practical
educator; he is frequently without any
notion of teaching methods or ideas;
he lie nearly always practical poll
tician, turning to his own use tire con-
troll of every institution. Logically it
may be expected that he win make
the first qualification of teacher, loyalty
to the party machine. Practically exactly
] such state OF affairs has come about I'M
der the independent school system, and
and we have seen competent teachers dis
missed from Office for not voting with the
machine.
Under the plan suggested by the amend
ment, when carried out, as it will be in q
few years. the public school system will
be impaired and ultimately destroyed.
The exisrenc OF two systems supposed to
operate with the came end in view will
result in wasteful competition. This COM
potion will he at the expense Of the schools
as to efficiency.
The country school cannot survive such
dieunion, for go coon az cities zee what
they will gain by segregation, they will
demand an amendment to fit their case.
While large part of wealth is concern
trated in the cities, and the cities would
temporarily be the gamer by segregation,
still the wealth Of the cities comes from
and is dependent on the country. For
that reison, the school problem Of the
country is also the problem Of the cities,
and the two should work together and
share each others burdens.
We hear much OF the back to the farm
movement. You destroyed your country
and you will zee an increased tide Of pop
ulation from the country to the cities.
The most effective way to enhance our
prosperity is to better conditions in the
country. The amendment is exactly and