The Natchitoches enterprise., 1919-09-18
NORMAL SCHOOL REMOVAL

! There can hardly be any serions pur-
pose on the part of the people Of Alex
andria to get possession of the State
Normal School, located at Natchitoches.
1t is true that the Alexandria chamber
of commerce has passed resolutions on
the subject of removal, and there has
been some discussion Of the matter in
the public press. But in the absence
of one good reason for making the
change; with no demand whatever for
so expensive transfer. and with the
constitution of Louisiana standing
squarely in the way of removal, it
would seem foolhardy to attempt it.
First, the state legislature would have
to pass, by u two-Ihirds vote, con-
stitutional amendment authorizing re-
moval; second, the people would have
to give a majority for removal in the
succeeding general election; third, the
courts would have to determine the
legality of the change.
We were convinced that when Alex
andria started the move for transfer
of the State Normal, it was simply
treating itself to some inexpensive
advertising. The chances for Alexan
dra getting the Normal are so remote
that they amount to less than grain
of dust in ;. whirlwind. But it seems
that Match. ;oches regards the move as
an earnest effors to dispossess it, and
is presenting arguments to combat the
reasoning. 81 advocates of the transfer
schema. The case for Natchitoches is
admirably presented in u recent issue
of the Naechitoches Enterprise. In
deed, if Alexandria really meant to 60
after the State Normal (about which
we are still skepticaD, we should think
it would abandon the idea after study
ing the arguments of the opposition.
10 begin with, the Alexandria cham
Der vi commerce stated as one of the
OF its case that Natchi-
toches had called upon the state to pay
for the education of its children, by
failing to provide public schools for
them and having them taught at tine
Normal. This, the chamber Of COM
nerce declared rather grandiloquently,
pledged itself not to do.
With facts supported by the record
he NatchitOchcs Enterprise shows this
charge to be baseless. Natchitoches
lad full complement of public schools
When the Sta.e Normal School was
established there thirty-five years ago.
II the Sc juggling years Of It's early life
he Normal fouau child-attendance a
erious problem. Practical work is
ital to the sYccess of instruction in
Applicants for teachers
ertificates at normal schools must
I'VE both theoretical and practical
aiming. For some time after it was
the Louisians State Nor
q, having mo children, found = its
'actieal work handicapped. Practice
- exS s)esvs1 - 3sall ssaas 80 n
discontinuance of the town
hooi.
School taxes were continued, how
Ter, and the towns allotment Of these
vies were turned over to the State
primal board. In 1911 the Normal felt
e need of model training school but
had not the means to provide one.
he town of Natchitoches agreed to
hid the school, at an expense of $50.
o. providing that for period of 80
'ars public school must be main
ined there. A provision Of the con-
act with the town Of Natchitoches
rs as follows: II
1.-The board of administrators of :
the State Normal School will bind
and obligate itself to conduct and .
operate at all times during the life
Of the contract herein contemplate :
ed a public school in accordance
with the provisions of law and q
custom prevailing in connection 81
with the operation of such school
in louisiana o.
Natchitoches might have fairly con- Il
rued this provision as requiring abb &
lutte maintenance Of the school by W
e Normal. But it did not. On the p;
ntrary, it has paid The salaries OF at
teachers, on an average basis of 81
per month, ever since the model
lining school was established. So ?
It, as the record stands. Natchitoches =
nothing from tho Normal it did not
for. And it has helped materially