St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1915-04-10

Balls of the Junior Extension De-
partment of the Louisiana State Uni
versity on their trip through this
parish. The gentlemen had the au-
tomobile moving picture outfit and
during these five days we spoke at
fifteen of our schools advocating
more and better club work among the
school children, as we'll as more at
tention in the matter of schools in
general. Many of you are familiar
with the work of Mr.. Richardson and
what his department is doing, and /
| will only say that l regret that these
gentlemen could not remain with Us
longer.
With your permission, two small
school rallies were held in the parish
| during the past month. One was at
Bush On Friday, March 10, and the
other was at Abita Springs on Thurs
day, March rs. They were well at
tended and believe successful in
every way.
The matter of finances for the gen
eral fund must again today claim
some of your attention. The most
staggering statement can give you
will be that for the year ending De
cember 81, 1913, we received from
all sources for. this fund $33.
and for the year ending December
81, 1914, only $31, 33Ss5, or a diff
ference of $1695.48 less last year
than the year before. When we con-
slider that our pay roll has been in
iVn oh la ri hot
today it is several hundred dollars a
month greater than it was four years
ago we. are convinced that we must
go back to cheap teachers again or
have an increase in the income. For
the present we have only two teach
ers in the schools with third grade
certificates and only six with sec
ond grade certificate. This means a
greater salary for each teacher of
about twenty dollars a month from
what it was few years ago. Many
of our St. Tammany girls who start
ed with second and third grade Ger
tiicates have attended summer
schools and worked by themselves
until they have gained better certifi-
Gates and higher salaries. Now can
to increase their salaries under these
conditions. To refuse to do this
would destroy all encouragement to-
ward self-help and effort toward adj
vancement. For your consideration
l shall present today a list of ways
in which you. may reduce our ex-
penses over some $4,000 This list
will be headed by an offer from me
to contribute personally the salary
Of the first grade teacher in the Gov
ington school for two mnths.
The Annual Convention of the
State Teachers Association will be
held at Baton Rouge on April %,
% and "a. and you are urged to
pass such resolutions as will make
it possible for any of our teachers
who desire to attend.
A serious condition faces us in
School District No. 3. which is as
follows: When we voted the special
tax and bond issue for the Coving-
ton high school we had an assess
ment of $1,35O,7SS.OO and the very
next year it dropped to $1,174, 22O.OO |
a drop of $176,56S.OO. | may be |
justified in asking any reasonable /
man in this ward if they think that
the value of property in the ward |
decreased to this extent in one year
Personally do not believe that this
decrease in assessment is or can be
justified in any way.
also feel that it is the duty of /
the school board to look after the
interests Of the school children that
they will appear before the police
Jury when they meet as a Board OF
Reviewers and make as strong a pro-
test as possible. The taxpayers must
be plainly told that schools cannot
be made to keep pace with the adj
in other things without
money and with the supply of funds
decreasing each year.
BY this drop in assessment in the
bird ward the bond fund for the
yovington school lost the neat sum
II $441.42, and the maintenance
'und lost $264.S5 from what it got
asst year.
The State Department Of Educa-
jon no longer requires that approx
ID high schools should have special
eachers of music and art. The
question Of doing away with this dee
'artment after this present year and
a teacher of commercial
appeals very strongly to me-
feel that conditions are such that
'ur boys and girls would be deriving
! greater practical benefit by having
his change made. May ask you
o consider the matter, and take ac-
ion, now or later, if you think we'll
# the idea.
The high schools of the State are
steadily. Most of them
inter competition at the State Rally
n Baton Rouge each year, and others
My compete by having their gradu-
ties put in the same classes at the
lifferent colleges and universities.
20 make the standard of work done
" these high schools nothing short
# the best they are employing none
tut college or normal graduates with
everal years experience.
Now the question copfronts US:
an our high schools keep the stand
I'D of work done by them up, unless
We adopt some sort of rule or under
landing whereby we require that
lothing but college or normal gradu-
ties with certain number Of years
# experience be employed to teach
n any of our high schools.
Thanking you for your assistanc
q many ways, I beg to remain,
CTR n