The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1916-10-21
RURAL SCHOOLS IN GOOD SHAPE
Continued from page one.)

Continued from page one.J
we would submit to the people and
and the roads will be graveled soon,
school authorities the question OF con-
solidation. One large automobile bus
could transfer the pupils from Belle
Helene and this school over good ROADS
to the nearby high school, Wnefe
much better facilities and organlza-
ton are to be found.
Gaivez.
One year ago when the previous re-
port on Ascension parish was MADE,
the children of this district were
housed in very old, dilapidated, I'M
slightly building. It is with satisfae-
ton. therefore, we now report that
modern. attractive, four-room bulld-
ing is nearing completion. When I'M
ished, equipped with new furniture
which has been ordered, and put IN
good order, the plant will be adequate
to the needs of the district. The peo-
ple and the parish are to be COM
mended for making the necessary M
provements. Two Normal School
graduates and second grade teacher,
all experienced, are employed. The
enrolment has reached 149 IN seven
grades andathe attendance ls-l04. so
far little Has been done with regard
to the compulsory attendance law;
the question will receive attention Ia
ter. however. The course of study IS
being followed carefully. The water
supply should receive attention, as
the well is out of order and the els
tern is empty New toilets will be
erected soon to replace the very poor
ones now in use. AS this school has
grown rapidly and will no doubt con-
tinue to develop, the board and super
,tendent very wisely expect to make
it central school that will serve the
surrounding country for several miles.
hin this connection we would advise
that the johnson school, located two
miles distant, be discontinued and the
pupils of that district be given the OPP
ton of attending either this or the
Oak Grove school, which is also near
by.
Sacramento.
The principal is a graduate of the
Lafayette Industrial Institute, has
had advanced work at summer schools,
and seems to be doing satisfactory
service. The first assistant is a high
school graduate of experience and
holds second grade certificate. The
| primary teacher is a graduate of the
State Normal School, serving her sec
ond session. Seventy-nine pupils
were enrolled with an attendance of
seventy-two. The grades are limited
to eight. The compulsory attendance
law has been announced to the pupils
and discussed with some of the pa
irons. The efforts for the present
session will be along educational and
persuasive lines mainly. A beginning
has been made in the supervision of
the playground and the teaching of
games. While the library has num-
Der of well chosen books, supplement-
airy readers in sets should be supplied
as soon as possible. Tests in reading
and arithmetic resulted approximate
~ as in the other schools; some pupils
read well enough, but most of them
are deficient in arithmetic. The sit
uation was canvassed with the teach
ers. While the physical conditions
will rank as fair, much improvement
can yet be made in the house and
equipment. Some improvement should
be made in the sanitary conditions.
Smoke Bend.
/ The principal Of this two-room
school received his education in the
! public schools and at the summer
| schools. He is experienced, holds a
second grade certificate, and is rem
dering good service here. He is as
sisted by an experienced second grade
teacher who seems quite capable
Seventy-two pupils are enrolled ir
seven grades and the attendance is
sixty-seven. Under the direction OF
the principal the pupils are learning
basketball and other games. Tests
given in reading and arithmetic indi.
Gated that the pupils are subject to
considerable Improvement WAYS ano
means for more effective teaching OF
the fundamental elementary subjects
were recommended to the teachers
While the regulation with regard tc
grade limitation is now observed, we
are of the opinion it would be wise
and proper for the board to REQUIRE
the few pupils in the sixth and sew.
enth grades to attend the Donaldson.
vile High School, which is but tive
miles distant. The pupils could make
some arrangement to attend the larg.
er school where the facilities, organi.
cation and teaching advantages are
so Tar superior to what they now
have. This change would be to the
advantage Of both the larger pupils
who would leave the school and the
smaller ones who remain, for the time
and efforts of the teachers would then
be concentrated on not more than five
grades.
Summary and Recommendations.
TIL preceding report indicates thai
many of the teachers employed hold
first grade certificates or are gradu-
ates of the Normal School, and have
ether qualifications Of experience and
fitness for the positions in which they
are serving. This is something of 8
contrast to the situation that recent.
" prevailed and shows that the SUI
perlntendent has raised the teaching
standards of the rural schools. No
longer are the great majority of the
teachers in the class that hold low
grade certificates. 1t may be expect
ed that Tue general character and eff