Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-31

BY J. CLINTON RANSOM

held annually where educational problems dis
cussed the light of observation and experience as to
local needs.
One of the things attempted by Superintendent AS
well the adoption of constitutional amendment
enabling the Legislature to appropriate million dol
lars, be raised bond issue, to build schoohouses
throughout the State. spirited campaign carried
on in behalf of the proposed amendment; but it was
lost. The result of the campaign however, the
awakening of public sentiment to the need for better
buildings and the parishes were authorized by law to
vote special taxes to raise funds for this purpose.
Instead of million dollars raised by State authority
the parishes the last five years have taxed themselves
than three millions and put the money into new
substantial and attractive schoohouSes and the work
is still going At the present time many of the par
ises have gone step further and annually voting
special for the maintenance of their schools
higher standard than would be possible if they depended
solely State aid and regular local taxation In
this special tax amounts to eighteen mills
the dollar of taxable property
THE next important step the reorganization of
the high schools basis similar to that
plished for the primary grades. Uniform courses of
study and the textbooks adopted everywhere
In working out this important branch of the educa
tonal system the law stipulates that high schools
meeting State requirements to buildings laboratories
libraries length of school terms and qualification of
teachers shall rank approved Schools and their grad
accorded the privilege of entry at the State
Normal School the State University without
nation The high schools inspected by the State
inspector at least each year. Twice each year
form examinations held, with papers prepared
der State authority Once each year contestants from
all high schools assemble the State University, and
participate in athletic and literary contests for prizes
and honorable mention.
Suppementing the parish Schools agricultural schools
are being established in farming communities, where
boys taught practical agriculture and the girls
given instruction in domestic science These schools
must meet State requirements to of study
apparatus and facilities and they receive special State
aid. In the and cities the high schools provide
this industrial education in supplementary classes for
manual and business training.
The industrial schools of the parishes and munich
paties supplemented by institutions of larger
scope, at Ruston and the other at Lafayette to
which all pupils of the State under prescribed regua
tions eligible.
The State Normal School at Natchitoches for the
special training of teachers, and the State Univer
sity at Baton Rouge, complete the system as now
established and just coming into efficient working
order.
Tulane University, at New Orleans, which is pri-
vate establishment, has opened its classes grad
yates from the high schools of Louisiana and doing
excellent service as part of the general educational
system.
Mr.. Aswel is man of pleasing personality. He is
large of stature large of brain and heart, dynamic in
energy and moral purpose, and easily of the most
esteemed citizens of Louisiana. 1t is due chiefly to
his genius for sustained constructive effort that the
Pelican State has at last educational system that
has already sounded the knell of teracy in its limits,
which compares favoraby with the facilities for pub
lie instruction the most progressive States in the
Union.