The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1920-09-23
OPPOSE SCHOOL AMENDMENTS

We rarely in these days OF hlgh IL
nance read a newspaper or magazine
without finding either a contribution
or an editorial on the subject OF Pub
lie Education The consensus or 0plll-
ion seems to be there is fundamental
defect either in the present systems
or in the administration OF such sys
TENS as we have. The latter clause
being the channel through which the
GOOD or evil results Of any system
brought in intimate relations with the
body polite and demands careful ana
intelligent consideration before the INC
of November, as at that time two
amendments to the State Constitution
are to be submitted Both thes
amendments, were asked for by the eX
ecutive and administrative depart
ments of Public institutions on the
grounds that there is shortage in
revenues in the matter of teachers
! salaries.
! Not being familiar with conditions
in other parishes, but presuming they
are somewhat similar to those in Bien
vile, | question the ACCESSIBILITY OF
ratifying either Act No. 81, or Act No..
So as a measure of remedying the ad-
mitted deficits.
| Both amendments propose only an
increase in revenue. No. 81, proposes
an additional tax of IL mills to be
levied by the Police Jurins o. each
Parish, and turned into tn, Parish
Treasury. No. So, proposes / mill
tax on the whole State assessment
without any restrictions as to how,
when or by whom the revenues from
this source are to be expended.
An affirmative vote on either of
these proposed amendments will be
constructed as an approval of present
conditions and confidence in the present
administration. 1t is admitted by
those who are in charge of school
affairs that many Of the schools are
in charge of inefficient and incOmpe-
tent teachers, and many others are
not supplied with even such make
shifts Shortage of revenue is this
ever recurring cause assigned
1t seems that the system has failed
at the most vital point, the point to
ward which all the organized enesgies
were directed. The ship has been load
ed, and put in charge of gallant crew
, of Boards and Superintendent, assist
ant superintendent, Secretaries, as
sistant Secretaries, Supervisors, assist
ant Supervisors, High School Inspec
tors, assistant High School Inspectors
Rural Inspectors, Institute Conduct
ors, assistant Institute Conductors
but, when she arrives at her destin
alton, to wit, the portals of the schoo
room, there is little of the cargo Il
be delivered. Parturiunt monies
nacetur ridiculus mus:
1t is a significant fact that we never
hear any complaint along the line Of
supervision Or of any of this gallant
crew quitting the job for greener graz
ing grounds.
Within the last twenty-five years
the cost of administration has ad
vanced In a constantly increasing geo
metrical ratio.
The time has come for an adjust
ment. The books should be posted
The balance sheets should be exhibited
ed. The taxpayers should know fol
a certainty whether an equitable por
ton of the school revenues is set apar,
for maintaining corps of competent
teachers in the schools or whether tn.
deficit occurs somewhere along tn,
tortuous route from the taxpayer,
pocket to the school house.
Verify, the eagle on the dollar, wheI
plucked as to plumage feebly flutter
ing into the teachers hands scarcel
whisper, Il Pluribus Unum which be
ing literally intercepted means / an
one OF the many that started, and
/ am lucky to have found the way,
r. M. CORY,
Ringg0ld, La, Sept. End, 1920