The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1917-04-28
SCHOOL BOARD PROCEEDINGS.
Increase of Teachers Salaries Au-
thorized for Next Session.

The board of schooi directols VI
the parish of Ascension met TINS day
in special session, with President W..
3. Stuart in the chair and the follow
inp members present., Geo. Ber-
geron, second ward; E. N. Pugh, th1ro
ward; DR.. w. P. Miles, fifth ward; W.
p. Stuart, sixth ward; John W. Han
| ma, seventh ward. Absent-hehry
Dugas, first ward; Emile LeBoeuI'
fourth ward; H. E. Webb elghth
ward ,.
The minutes of the meeting OF Jan.
nary "a were read, and on motion OF
Mr.. Pugh, duly seconded by Mr.. Ber-
geron. were unanimously adopted.
The Superintendent presented the
| following report:
To the Honorable President and Mem
bers of the School Board:
| Dear Sirs-I beg to present the fol-
lowing report:
Since our last meeting held Janu-
ary "a, 1917, | have busted myself
with the inspection of schools. l re-
gret to report that owing to an ex-
IRENE bad winter which caused our
country roads to be impossible, ana
owing to an epidemic of small pox
and measles in the New River sec
tion. the attendance was reduced IN
many schools to half and IN lew 70
less than half. This is being follow
ed now by further decrease owing
to the planting season. This Is to be
deplored and brings forclbly to our
attention our duty to fall in line with
| other parishes and enforce the COM
pulsory attendance law for next SEES
sion. Neglecting this means a great
loss to the children and a great loss
to the parish in money.
Our four high schools have had a
very successful session. The work IN
each is being carried out by strong
faculties. Besides the regular class
work in these schools the activities OF
the teachers have been directed IN
school work apart from the course OF
study. Along such lines the Donald
sonville High School deserves spe-
cial mention for system OF savings
banks, a military company, and the
installation of a paper baler. The
latter is worked by the boys in the
thrift club and besides enabling them
to add to their savings, it is source
of revenue for the school. Old maya
zines, papers and discarded books
from everywhere are bought and bal
ed by the pupils. The bales are then
shipped to New Orleans by the prin-
cipal.
Among the activities of the Dutch
town High School deserving special
mention is the deep well which has
been sunk This was greatly needed
and will add greatly to the health of
the school community.
Oak Grove High School is showing
up we'll along agricultural lines. The
clubs show an increased membership
and more interest is being manifested.
The Gonzales High School, owing
to the congested conditions, has only
| been able to follow the state course
of study. I regret to say that re-
cent inspection of the school by In
spector Chas. Trudeau was very I'M
favorable to the school as whole.
Poor scholarship from the fourth
grade up, including the eleventh
grade, exists In the school. / do not
consider that this condition is re-
| Election on the present faculty, but
rather on previous conditions which
have existed in the school, The fu-
ture of the school will depend on adj
ditional accommodations and a well
paid faculty. am pleased to report
| that there exists now in the commun-
ity a strong sentiment toward i'm
1 the II A Lny,I 1rr, II
shortly be voted, with the ward as a
district, for new building.
| Generally speaking our rural
schools are doing good work. Owing
| to the nine-month session they have
been able to ground the pupils thor
oughly in the essential subjects. Be-
sides they have been able to do con-
| siderable work left undone in the past
as result of the short sessions
1t is necessary that we should look
at this time to the situation which
will confront us next session.
I consider that we have made a
long progressive step this session in
providing for all schools session Of
nine months. This is the least any
child should enjoy, and am pleased
to say have heard no regret ex-
pressed by any one over the action of
the police jury, who have made this
possible by voting an additional three
quarter mill parish wide tax. How
ever, it must be borne in mind that
this three-quarter mill enables US only
to extend the session, and with the
greatest economy at that, but has not
permitted us to add to our force of
teachers or to pay our teachers such
salaries as will induce those that are
doing efficient work to remain with
us, or to offer rernunerative salaries
to those who would be willing to
come to the parish. Our force next
session will have to be increased. We
shall need, in order that we may ac-
complish results, the following: Two
teachers in the Donaldsoaville High
School at $55 each, or 5000 for the
session; one additional teacher at st.
Amant school, at $55, or $495 for the
session; principal at Black Bayou
and one at Singletary, each at $50. or
5000 for the session; one domestic
science teacher at Galvez, at $55, or
S495 for the session; one teacher at
Dutchtown High School, at $50, or
$3.50 for the session. The above ad
dltlonal teachers are absolutely nee
nor have | given in the above, any