New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1916-02-26
SCHOOL LAWS TO EG
CHANGED.

The people eff Louisiana are tC
be- congratulated at ha>u@at th,
head oi IFS cduratjouai depart
mcnt rs superintendent Of Educa
tiou, \'r. T. i. iaIri,. Nr. liar
riS is cc9,oirS~ and tIrclcS,
WORKER IN II. ug not o. y to ed
ucatc the rh .dreu of louisiana
but also getting passed Ivy the Lc@
i>laturc bills that directly affect
the welfare Of every child who Is
entitled to y public school cduca
ton. We are IL receipt Ot copy
Of the proposed revision OF som,
Of the school laws and have reason
to believe some of the changes
proposed VIII be Granted BY the
Legislature at It's next session
One Of the amendments proposed
is the aholishncut Of the fifty
cents Incidental Zee that is cXactcd
from the parent Of each child that
attends the schools.
\ state Board If Educat on
Of five members. appointed ut
LARGE ~ the Governor. With over
tapping terms of FIVE years. and
the state Superintendent ofD EI
ucation. The purpose Of the
change is to provide for pcrma
nenrv in the board and TO divorce
it from the political c;Imlnistra-
tion Of the State. The present
State Board Of Education is a
most excellent one. bit just as
soon as its members are becoming
accustomed to their duties a new
administration takes charge and
a new hoard wiz probably be an
pointed. This is not a healthy
state Of affairs and the Organiza :
tion of the board should bc such
that if Will be prevented.
,. The limitation upon the
number Of text books that can be
chanoed at an adoption is re
moved. There are two reasons
for this: (a) the Board should
be in position at all times to ar
prove the best books for the chill
dren even should it be found nee
cssarv to adopt new list. and
(b) publishers viii offer their low.
est prices when there * competi-
tion on all books submitted.
3. One school board member is
provided for each police Jury
ward. instead Of a member for
each police juror. This is to
avoid LARGE. unwieldlv boards.
such as that Of St. Landry.
j. Parish school boards are
authorized to elect executive com
mIttecs Of three and to pay them
for attending committee meet
ings, provided the committees
meet not oftener than once
month. An executive committee
is essential to approve bills. the
appointment Of teachers, and to
attend to numerous other details
requiring attention between
board meetings.
>. A clear statement that su-
pcrlntcndcnts otherwise qualified
shall not be required to be voters
or residents Of the parish.
&. The Importance of practi-
cal industrial and commercial
courses is emphasized, and State
and parish school officials are
urged to foster such courses.
Z. Parish school boards are re-
quired to use the general state
and parish school funds TO pro
vide equal sessions for all schools.
The object Of this section is to
protect the country schools. espe-
clally those in sparsely settled
8. Abolition of the fifty cents
fee. The incidental
Zee gives trouble every session
from two standpoints: (a) many
patrons refuse to pay the fee. and
he dissensions resulting there
rom rebound upon the innocent
heads Of the teachers; (b) many
use the fifty cents
zee as authority to charge tuition
'ees, some as high as five dollars
| session. The purpose Of the fee
s to purchase fuel, floor oil. and |
'thcr supplies. The school boards
should furnish these things Just
is they furnish houses and teach
,rs.
g. The parish school board is !
given authority to appoint local
boards Of from one to three mem
lers, and to prescribe their duties.
.ocal boards should be in sympa-
hy with the parish boards and