Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1917-06-16
General Report of
School Inspection

/ Since the first Inspection and report
on the rural schools the parish has made
some progress and would have accom-
olisbcd a great deal more had the rev.
euue4 been even reasonably adequate.
/ Additional rooms have been added TO
! two schools. Furniture has been sup
rlicd to several schools at an expendi-
/ ture of 81 800 Seven teachers have
! been added 10 the force. Two small
schools have been abandoned, the en-
roilment and attendance has increased
approximately five huadred, making a
( total enrolment Of FIVE thousand white
children Considering the large enroll
ment and the comparatively small
maintenance fund il is very much to
( the credit Of the parish authorities that
the educational standards of recent
years have been maintained and to
some extent improved.
The parish board and the citizens are
generally favorable 70 the compulsory
attendance law General information
has been given regarding its provisions
So far but little has been done toward
enforcement as the facilities Of nearly
all the schools are taxed to capacity by
the present enrolment. It Is TIE policy
= the board 70 give more definite at
IGNITION 10 the requirements Of the law
acxt session in Ell schools where ample
recommendations exist. While the nee
osaity OF providing buildings, teachers
and orhcr facilities is urgent it must
he impressed on the people and author
tiles as these needs are secured il 10
equally important that the children be
gotten to enroll and attend regularly.
The people should be made aware of
the fact that of the more than seven
thousand educables in the parish lit
tie less than seventy per cent approx
imately five thousandJ are enrolled, and
Of this number about seventy per cent
are in daily attendance Thus when
measured by actual attendance in the
school room the parish is only schooling
half the white children Of school age.
While we want to give full credit for
what has been done in the past and is
now being accomplished we think IL
important TO point out the fact that
very large part of the children are re-
ceiving but little at the hands of the
public schools. The compulsory attend
ance law can be effectively used to
remedy this condition as additional fac
ilities are provided.
We find tlaaE the parish EMPLOYS
one hundred twenty-five teachers,
thirty in the two high schools and the
remainder in the rural schools.
Twenty-four are graduates of colleges
ard normal schools, fofty-five hold
first grade certificates by examination,
the remainder, fifty-one, hold second
and third grade certificates. Many Of
the teachers are very competent and
are doing splendid service in the schools.
We must say that the system cannot
be expected to measure up TO present
day standards with such a large pro-
portion Of teachers holding low grade
certificates. Without going further
into details it is essential to the educa-
tional needs Of the children that
much larger percentage of profession
ally trained college and normal teachers
be employed. Competent teachers are
absolutely necessary TO good schools
We know that the superintendent and
board agree fully with these state.
ments. Unless the people provide the
additional funds they will be unable
10 improve the situation.
Another situation should be brought
people of Vermilion. Only one hundred
and twenty-five teachers are employed
to care for over five thousand child
rem, an average of over forty per
teacher. It 10 true that some teachers
dave only twenty-five or thirty pupils,
n reasonable number, but many have
more than sixty, two we visited have
over one hundred each. Do the parents
eXpect teachers to do efficient work
with such large numbersi Where such
conditions exist patrons and taxpayers
must Shoulder the responsibility for
poor results. 1t is impossible for teach
ers to render efficient service IL such
classrOoms. The average number Of
pupils per teacher for the entire state
IS thirtT-four, a number that is no
doubt too high, but assuming il to be
reasonable number of children for O
teacher to have, on the same basis
V6:milion should employ twenty-five
more teachers. 4 comparison with the
number Of teachers employed in Desoto
parish, recently visited by the writer,
viii lend emphasis to the question. A
teacher is employed for every twenty.
eight pupils enrolled; should Yermilion
DO as well it would employ one hundred
3ld eighty-fve teachers, sixty three
cloro than at present. The children Ok
Ferinilion are entitled 70 just as mach
N the way cf educational facilities ard
advantages as are those of any other
parish. There Is ample wealth in the
parish to provide sll that is needed.
Patrons and taxpayers can provide the
school authorities with ample funds il
they make the proper effort.
During the past few years the school
system has experienced marked growth.
A number of coed houses have been
erected, two high schools established.
e large amount of furniture and appara.
ms has been purchased, the enrolment
hiss increased rapidly, larger number
teachers is employed, all requiring
the expenditure Of considerable money
The maintenance fund has never been
iequate for the size OF the system and
5as increased but little in the past sew
9.al years while the needs have been
growing rapidly. This situation hsa
fTautinHaI a..