Year: 1872


/ was to consult on the educational interests
| of the State, was announced to take place
/ at eleven o'clock, but at that time the only
| signs of the body about consisted in tire
music, which bestan to tune up, and the
members who DISPUTED and discussed the
| topics Of the day ALL over the hall.
The proceedings were opened with prayer
| bv the Rev. Mr. Matthews, who invoked
| the divine blessinsE upon the cause of edu-
cation, which should spread over the face
| of the earth.


The minutes of the previous meeting were
read and approved, on an amendment at
| the suggestion of Governor Hahn.
Mr.. u. s. StOddard. under the head of
| official business, suggested that Mr.. Conway
had received letters from the superinten-
dents of education in other States. Ac-
cordingly, LETTERS we're read from these Off
| GERS in Illinois, Ohio, District OF Columbia.
Among these was letter from Horace
| Greeley, stating that he was growing old,
and could not spare the time. Mr.. n w.
Perce, member of Congress, believed that
liberty depended upon the large diffusion of
knowledge. The existence of caste was
inimical to the spirit of liberty, These let
ters we're received


Mr.. j. H. Burch wished to ask a question,
in order to get at the object Of the conven-
tion and its purpose.


Mr. Faulkner move the Superintendent
address the convention on the object OF con-
voking the body.


Mr.. Conway took the stand and addressed
the convention, and, before proceeding with
the following address, devoted his time to a
description of the object and purpose OF the
convention. After debate upon the school
question, it was deemed wise to send out in
vitations to the different sections OF the
State to bring the school magnates together,
in order that they may become better ac-
quainted, that plans may be devised for the
future management of the schools. that tu-
ture public education may be provided tor
This was the single purpose. 1t had been
suggested the present assembly was called
together with a political object; but our
platform was one far nObler than any politi-
cal creed, and one upon which all could
stand. The superintendent then read the
following address:


THE SCHOOL WORK IN LOUISIANA.


Mr.. President and Members Of the Con-
vertion-Your presence here to-day indi-
Gates new and glorious era in the history
of Louisiana. In these days when conven-
tional gatherings are matters of almost
every day occurrence nothing can be more
indicative of sound public interest, nothing
more hopeful as to peace, progress and hap
piness for the future than the convention OF
the friends of free universal education,


When the clouds in the heavens are dark
and threatening, and when in an instant
the thunder clap and the fash of lightning
startle and overwhelm US, how pleasant it
is to behold little bright spot in yonder
sky, and how glorious, In moment after,
to witness the sun appear in his majesty,
betokening speedy relief and universal
pleasure.


In like manner the friends of education,
meeting together for the purpose OF assist
ing in forwarding the noble work in which
they are engaged, constitute the brightest
source of hope and 10Y to those thousands
on thousands who have hitherto been sub
iects of the dreadful cloud and curse of
ignorance. We are here to-day, not to ac-
count for defeats in the battles we have
fought, bur to rejoice over the victories we
have won; not to recount the narrowing de-
tails of hateful, revengeful, physical COM
bat, but to hear testimony to the steady
advance of the grand army OF educatlen'
and to consult as to the best means OF con-
tinuing our course till every child in Louis
lana can receive the benefits of education
in free school.


just behind us--it seems as if it were
yesterday = behold the educational con-
dition of this great State Less than one
hundred public schools in the entire State,
and this with an educable population of two
hundred and fifty thousand. To-day, after
two years Of earnest work, we have eleven
hundred public schools, with nearly one
hundred thousand pupils This is victory
more glorious than was ever won on fields
of war; this is the groundwork which
must underlie all progress, and all hope of
material advancement in the towns and
parishes of the State. Whatever may have
been the errors and crimes of the party
now in power in this State, the voice of
complaint will never be heard from honest
citizens against the school work which we
have done.


From every parish and town in the COM
mOnwealth we hear of the establishment
and operation of free schools; and what is
most cheering is the general goodwill which
we see manifested toward our school work.
Many who, at first, opposed our system are
now accepting and commencing it. In
some portions of the State where, two years
ago, it was said that no eolOred child would
ever be allowed to attend school. the people
have become quite unanimous in the opinion
that education is a good thing for all, both
black and white, rich and poor. Nor do we
lear any more of the burning OF school
houses, the maltreatment of teachers, nor
the persecution of school directors and SUI
perintendents The period OF hate and
passion has about entirely disappeared, and
TODAY, from within HOO schOOlhouses we
can sing the song of Peace on earth,
good viii to men" This victory is price
less. 1t is worthy Of universal con gratula-
tiou.


Instead of burning, the people are build
ING schOolhouses. Instead of maltreating
the school teacher the people are welcoming
him, and treating him well. 1t is no longer
disgrace to be school director, but q
matter of honor ana Of great public useful
ness.


When we began this work in 1863, about
four years ago, there was no supervision
whatever exercised over the school funds OF
the State, and the proofs are yet abundant
that those funds were generally squan-
dered. Millions of dollars have been thrown
away for want of proper system of super
vision and accountability. The idea seemed
to prevail with previous administrations
that it was more economical to throw away
three or four hundred thousand dollars per
year than, by the expenditure Of ten or if-
teen thousand dollars, secure its faithful APP
plication to the interests OF common educa-
ton. l will venture the assertion that we
have done more for public education in this
State with about six or seven hundred thou
sand dollars than has been done outside the
city of New Orleans the past twenty-five
years with three or four millions.


The reason is that our system is better.
In fact there was no system prior to the
present one. There was only the name of a
system, but the fact was wanting. The
State SuDerintendent's office, as it stood in
1868, under the old regime, would be
worthy of exhibition in a museum of curl
osities There were two books of record
which are still preserved as curious evil
dences of the bOasted superiority of the
former over the present administration.
There was a borrowed chair with the bottom
almost entirely worn away; and as to this,
/ may say that what was left of it was very
soon claimed by the new State Treasurer.
RorroUad desks a sinpIe inkstand and men,