The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1915-04-10

(For Quarter Ending March 81, 1850
To the School Board of West Feliciana
Parish.
Gentlemen:
In compliance with the law, beg
leave to submit the following as my
report upon the condition of the
schools of this parish for the quarter
ending March 81, 1915.
Financial Statement.
Total receipts, all sources,
during quarter. ...s...... $l2,625.Sl
Total disbursements, all pur-
poses, for quarter. ........ ll,16l.2l
Balance to be accounted for.$ l,464.6O
Credit balance accounted for
as follows:
On deposit, Bank of Baton
Rouge .................. .S A,loI.So
On deposit, Feliciana Bank &
Trust Co., in Liquidation. 1868
On deposit, Bank of Jackson. 2.66
Cash on hand 1888
s 1,464.60
In figuring out the expense for the
remainder of the school year, esti-
mate that at the close of the school
year the School Board will have
deficit of about 100000 This esti-
mate includes the donation from the
town of 100000 and $4,000 for water,
and likewise assumes an appropriation
in excess of the 9-mill tax of 100000
from the Police Jury. / recommend
that the School Board consider ways
and means of increasing our revenue
or diminishing our expenses as we can
not go on indefinitely running behind
to the extent of $4,000 each year 1t
is further advisable to authorize the
proper parties to contract loans to pay
the current expenses of the School
Board as some of our revenues will not
come in until after the schools close.
Attendance Campaign.
During the past quarter we have en-
deavored to improve the average at
tendance in the schools throughout the
parish. To this end certain Certificates
of Award have been offered for those
making certain average in attend.
ance. Considerable interest has been
shown by the students and teachers
and the children have worked hard to
secure the certificates. State Superin-
tendent Harris has shown that many
thousands of dollars are lost each year
by the schools of the State due to the
poor attendance. If we pay teacher
100000 a year to teach a school enroll
ing 40 students and if the average
attendance per cent throughout the
year is only 1870, it can readily be
seen that one-fourth of this amount is
expended uselessly Thus $3.50 would
be lost by that one school in tuition
that is paid for by the Board but is not
utilized by the students. 1t would thus
appear that every means available
should be taken to keep the average
attendance up and thereby prevent the
waste of school funds due to irregular
attendance.
Spelling Campaign.
During the past quarter statewide
campaign has been carried on with the
idea of improving the spelling in the
schools of the state. The interest in
this parish has been intense. Parents
and pupils alike have taken a deep in
terest with the result that the ability
of the children to spell has been won.
derfully increased The grades were
placed in three groups and each group
drilled on 500 words. To the student
acquiring the ability to spell and use
correctly the entire 500 words the
State Department of Education offered
valuable Certificate. In a test con-
Quoted on March rs, the children of
this parish made very -creditable
showing. Out of eight schools report
ing, 1875 students made 1000 and quail
flied for certificates These eight
schools have a total enrolment in the
grades to IL, inclusive, of 2S1. Thus
the perfect papers were written by
about 45%o Of the students on roll.
| visited the Julius Freynan High
School on the day of the test, and adj
vised the Principal that if the children
missed a few words on the first trial,
a second trial should be given and if at
any time during the day a student was
able to write and spell correctly the
entire 500 words at one sitting, said
student would be entitled to a GER
tificate. understand have been Sc
verely criticised for this action and
wish to quote an extract from letter
to me from Supt. Harris which not
only justifies my action but places an
even broader Interpretation to the
matter:
"As to the spelling test, l wish to
say that the object Of this Department
in providing for this spelling test in
all of the public schools of the state
was twofold, first, to stimulate an in
terest among teachers, patrons and
children in the important subject of
spelling, and, second, to give as many
children as possible writing vocabu-
larry of at least 500 useful words. The
exercise was in no sense a contest
among children; the purpose was quite
different. II some of your children
missed few words on the 26th, but
should at later date be in position to
spell all of the 500 words, they should
be given the opportunity to do So II
the task of writing down 500 words in