The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1917-04-21
GRAND JURY PROCEEDINGS
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the child in the Town or CITY.

the child in the Town or City.
We find in this connection, that
there are several elective courses of
study offered in the High Schools;
such as Music, Singing, Drawing,
Stenography and Latin, which are
not compulsory. and if discontinued
would enable the school authorities
] to reduce the teaching force Of such
Of the High Schools, thereby cutting
down the expenses about $15OO.OO
year.
We find the schools run in rather
/ hap-hazar IN tn""r Every schO o
for itself. We would suggest more
unity of action in regard to the en-
tire school system Of the Parish. The
Parish should be looked upon as
/ The unit for schools and ScFoo
welfare Of the schools of the entire
i Parish and not Just to their individ-
ual Ward or Community. Mere con-
certed action should be obtained, for
instance-all coal, oils, disinfectant
and general school supplies should be
purchased as near as possible in bulk
by the Superintendent CT Education.
This we think viii effect some saw
ing.
In some Of the Grammer Schools
we find teachers at the head of these
schools receiving salary out Of
proportion to teachers performing
like duties in other schools. We sug
gest that teachers could be en-
ployed as heads of these schools at
much less salary and a saving be
effected of about $4,000 per an
mum.
In the Graded Schools there is a
wide difference in the average at
tendance per teacher. If the average
were increased in all schools to
about the average in the school hav-
ing the largest average attendance
per teacher, then about six teachers
could be dispensed with in the vari
Gus graded schools of the Parish, and
about S27OO.OO per annum saved
without impairing the efficiency of
the schools.
We find the Superintendent of
Public Education has no Office allot-
ted to him in the Court House. We
recommend the custodian be author
lied to assign him a room for his
use, so that he is more accessible to
the general public, when not out on
actual school work in the Parish. We
think he ough. to devote his entire
time Of twelve months in the year to
the actual supervision Of the schools
during his entire tenure of office.
This work properly done will no
doubt assist the public 70 solve the
school problem.
/ We find school districts organized
for the purpose of erecting school
buildings, and then turning the
buildings over to the Parish School
Board without providing for their
maintenance. in the call for the
election to issue bonds. We, there
fore, earnestly recommend that the
Parish School Board insist that the
maintenance proviso be written in
the call for such election, in each
and every new school district form
ed, so there can be no question
raised as to the expenditure of these
funds voted by the tax payers Of
these respective districts.
We find the frequent change of
text books, expensive stationary, etc.
prescribed by the State Board Of
Education, has become so burden
some upon the general public that
we fear it will make compulsory
education in our Parish almost i'm
possible, and earnestly recommend
that our respective school authorl-
ties, and officials assist in some way
to correct this evil.
To summarize, we find expendi-
lures exceed revenues. We have
pointed out some minor things such
as purchase of coal, supplies, oil,
etc, in large quantities by the
Superintendent as possible reduc-
ton in that expense account. Also
II pointing out in the elective
courses possible reduction in the
teaching corps, and perhaps in one
or two instances get teacher at q
lower salary to do the same work
with the same result as now accom-
plished. This, however, would not
effect the main result a great deal,
because to keep the schools open the
entire nine months, the expenditures
would still exceed the revenues by
several thousand dollars, and we
recommend that an entire revision
of the system be undertaken by the
school authorities with q view of adj
justing this very important matter
to the best interest Of the children
of the Parish.
We further recommend that the
School Superintendent present re-
Enumeration shall cover all necessary
expenses in connection with his
office, including clerical work, etc.
Oraisa9e Districts.
We desire to make the following
report and suggestions in connection
with the Drainage Districts Of this
Parish.
Avoea Drainass District
We have made . careful inquiry in
to the affairs Of this District and
have found the accounts Of the Dis
trict being correctly kept, and in
satisfactory manner. We believe that
their system Of drainage is Of such q
character that it should satisfy the
Tax Payers in this District.
We find, however, that the Avoca
Drainage District has donated to the
Parish Of St. Mary, the whole or all
Of their interest in bridge spanning