The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1915-07-24
YEARS SCHOOL WoRKa
Annual Report Of supt. J. L. Rusca,
Covering Session of 19I4-l5-
Excellent Results Accomplished
Despite Limited Funds.

no NJ Honorable President and
mbers Of the Board of School
Jfrectors, Parish Of Ascension
Gentlemen 1T affords me pleasure
TO submit this, my annual report for
the school year ending July /, 1915.
Date Of Opening.
In accordance with your wishes, all
Of thefwhite schools, with perhaps
two exceptions, opened Monday, Sept.
28. The colored schools opened Mon
day, May 81.
Length of Session.
During this school year the high
schools were operated as usual for a
session Of nine months and all 9TH
er schools for seven months. The
shorter session than usual for the
smaller schools is due to decrease
IN revenues, partly attributable to re-
duced assessments in the parish.
While it is unfortunate that these
small schools could not have an eight
months session; still we must not over
look the fact thatanany of the parish
es are operating their small schools
but seven months and some but SIX
months, | understand.
Commencement Exercises.
The graduating exercises this year
IN the four high schools took place as
follows: Donaldsonville, Friday,
June Ii; Oak Grove, Thursday, June
In; Dutchtown, Friday, June -, and
Gonzales, Saturday, June 19. The ex-
ercises this year equaled IN most re-
spects the exercises of previous years
and in some respects surpassed for
mer efforts. The number of young
people graduated this year totalled
fhirty-three, ten of whom were boys
and twenty-three girls. Realizing the
value of higher education, number
OF these recent graduates are now at
tending some of the summer schools
being conducted in the state. Several
will enter state institutions in the fall
in order to secure a college or univer-
sity training.
1t may be interesting to observe
here that United States government
statistics show 4,682,498 children
without school training; 32,862,951
with only common school training; g.
165,357 with high school training,
and but 1,071.202 with college or
higher training. That an uneducated
child has but one chance in 10000
of attaining distinction in the pro-
eress of the age; that common
school education will increase his
chances nearly four times; that a
high school education will increase the
chances of the common school boy
twenty-thrae times, or eighty-seven
times the chances of the uneducated
I'd boy.
Happily parents and school boys
and girls. themselves are beginning to
realize the many advantages of high
school training and the greater earn
ing capacity Of those who have UNDER
gone this preparation and are each
year in greater numbers taking adj
vantage Of the splendid facilities
which this parish is offering through
the four high schools.
Roughly estimated, the present
earning capacity of boys and girls
who have graduated from Ascension
high schools may be placed at from
$15,000 to 100000 per year, and as
much of this money remains in circu-
lation in this parish, it may readily be
concluded that our high schools are
doing a big work in more ways than
one.
The attendance at all of the exer-
cises was large and in general it is
safe to say in point of numbers and
enthusiasm and interest, was not sur
passed in any previous year. Those
who delivered the formal addresses
on these occasions were: DR.. D. T.
Powers Of the State University for
Donaldsonville, Col. A. T. Prescott of
the University for Oak Grove, Supt.
Hughes of East Baton Rouge for
Dutchtown, and State Supt. Harris
for Gonzales. I feel that we should
be thankful and should feel honored
for the splendid help and cooperation
which so many of the most prominent
educators in the state have given to
our parish during the past few years.
Teaching Corps.
Our teaching corps during the year
just ended has been well up X the
standard Of previous years. Among
the sixty-four white teachers employ
ed by your honorable body few are
classed poor, but the majority are
classed as good and very good, and
many were excellent. On the whole,
have been well pleased with the
character of our teaching force and
am confident that not many parishes
made better showing in this regard.
There were employed this year three
teachers holding State University di-
plomas, six holding college diplomas
from other states, fifteen holding
State Normal School diplomas,
twenty-one holding first grade certif-
Gates by examination, thirteen hold
ing second grade certificates, and six
holding third grade certificates.
The average salary paid white male
teachers was $6950, female teachers
S47.75. Average salary of all white
teachers employed, both male and
sfale, $54.s8.
Sbn Teachers Institutes.
Tkef efteachers' institutes held during
this School year were not up to our
usual standard, | regret to report.
On account of prolonged bad weather
and impossible roads throughout the
greater part Of the school year at a
time when most of the meetings are
held, we found it impossible to get to-
gether. However, two joint meetings
OF all of the parish teachers weee
held IN Donaldsonville. one at the
opening of the school year, the other
during the South Louisiana fair. One
other meeting was held in Donaldson
vile during the winter. Several of the
state school officials were present and
assisted at these meetings.
Athletic and Literary Contests.
Athletic and literary contests were
participated in on several occasions by
our four high schools; first, during