KENTUCKY.

The report of the superintendent for the year ending December 31, 1869, gives a full account of the struggle in that State to obtain a reform in the school laws, and its failure, through prejudice and ignorance in the legislature, notwithstanding a previous decision of the people, by a majority of 20,000 votes, in favor of such reform.

After a thorough canvass of the State by the superintendent, after a systematic and thorough discussion of the question of increasing the tax for schools, and notwithstanding the morbid, sensitive condition of the public miud consequent upon the late civil war, the measure was sustained by nearly every county in the State. The last provision of the bill thus ratified authorized the superintendent to "prepare a bill for a revised or remodeled code of laws for the better organization and management of the common school system of Kentucky by the next meeting of the general assembly," &c. Upon this authority, and aided by the experience and counsels of the ablest educators in the State, the superintendent prepared a bill comprising the needed reforms, a copy of which was placed on the desk of each member. He also, in a special report to that body, offered certain suggestions in regard to the perfecting of the school system, with specific changes needed.

1. The character and qualifications of county commissioners, "the right arm of power to the system," should be more strictly guarded, and an adequate compensation provided them, so that the position may command first-class men.

2. Provisions to rear up a corps of professional trained teachers from the young men and women of the State, seven or eight thousand of whom would exert a valuable influence.

3. Promotion of educational literature; a journal which should be nearly self-supporting, district libraries, &c.

4. There should be free graded schools in every district of 150 children. 5. Uniformity of text-books.

6. District organizations consolidated.

The bill submitted by the superintendent was similar in essential features to modern systems of other States, with a few provisions made necessary by peculiar circumstances of the State. The people desired its passage, and had, by a large vote, agreed to the necessary taxation. It appears that members, though generally disposed in favor of the school law, were entirely ignorant upon the subject, as they freely admitted, "not one of whom had problably read the school law of another State, and probably not five who had even carefully read the school law of Kentucky."

Opposition to the bill arose in the committee; it was soon evident that its dominant spirits were hostile to liberal or reform measures, and the legislature, being informed, had no course left but to follow the lead of the committee, who prepared a substitute for the bill, carefully leaving out all the liberal and reform measures, which was reported near the end of adjournment and passed. A protest against it, setting forth its many and serious defects, did not avail, though a strong effort was made in the senate, the committee of that body being, with one exception, in full sympathy with the spirit of educational reform. But the senate had become infected with the opposition, and the bill of the house committee was passed.

The legislature thus stands forth in antagonism toward the department of education, or, in other words, toward the people, who gave the superintendent a majority of 25,000. The question therefore remains for the people to decide which policy they will finally indorse.

The inefficiency of the old law has been a general cause of complaint heretofore, and with the meagerness of the school fund, brought the system into disrepute. The common sentiment expressed was, "Give us better law and more money, or abolish the school system altogether." The present bill, substantially re-enacting the old law, will continue the reproach and finally paralyze the system.

It fails to locate the commissioner officially, to provide for presentation of records, reports, disbursements of money, &c.; such arrangements as no competent man would tolerate in regard to his private business.

No satisfactory plau has yet been established by the legislature for the education of the colored population, who have always manifested an eager and earnest desire for the education of their children. They have asked for a law to tax themselves for the purpose, but without success.

The law which merely provides that colored schools may be taught is generally ignored, and money collected of colored people for school purposes applied to the support of paupers. In consequence of this misappropriation the colored people avoid the tax by every possible subterfuge, and it now amounts to but little.

List of school officers in Kentucky.

Hon. Z. F. SMITH, superintendent public instruction, Frankfort.

Laurel...

List of school officers in Kentucky-Continued.

County.

LOUISIANA.

66

The report of superintendent, dated January 30, 1869, the first made under the new school law. A board of education was promptly organized upon the passage of the law, and all other steps taken to put the law in operation as far as practicable. Many portions of it are impracticable, and will need to be changed entirely." Suitable persons cannot be found willing to assume the duties of school directors; people are unwilling to tax themselves for schools, and the State fund is insufficient to support them for more than one month in the year. The law should be amended so as to, first, supply adequate funds, and then its machinery simplified and its action made more direct. That particular feature of the law which provides for compulsory mixed schools renders the whole system obnoxious. The law should be amended so as to allow liberty of choice.

Lands donated by Congress for school purposes have been unwisely managed. Their "condition at present is such as to reflect discredit on our State. Portions of them have been sold, and the purchase money remains unpaid;" others rented, and rents uncollected; others encroached upon; others stripped of timber; "and thus, through the neglect of some and the rapacity of others, the rich endowment of our youth in danger of being utterly squandered."

During the years 1867 and 1868 a large portion of the State school fund was lost, being in State notes, which were destroyed according to law.

Its parish treasurers fail to report to the superintendent, as by law required. It is impossible to know whether the school moneys have been applied to the work of education or not. The present law contains no power to compel them to perform their duty.

Normal schools are greatly needed. Trained teachers are indispensable to the efficiency of schools, and at present the State must look abroad principally for such teachers. The normal school in New Orleans, which was by act of legislature "constituted and designated a State normal school," is confessedly unequal to the purpose. It is without a building of its own, compelled to hold its sessions at a late hour of the day, when the building belonging to another school can be secured, and depending for instruction on teachers whose energies have been already taxed to the full by their duties in the city schools.

Valuable aid has been rendered by the Freedmen's Bureau; 115 buildings furnished, and $14,610 84 expended for rents, repairs, &c.; and such schools established by the aid and encouragement of the bureau are now, in whole or in part, sustained by them

selves.

Under the bureau there are now in operation 216 schools, with 259 teachers and 12,309 pupils.

The public schools of New Orleans still remain in the hands of the old city board, in consequence of a lack of definiteness in the terms of the law transferring their control to the State board. The old board refuse to comply with the law, and appeal to the courts has proved fruitless. The law must be amended before they can be brought under the State system.

The Louisiana State Seminary is now recovering from the disaster by fire which occurred in October. It now occupies the north wing of the building belonging to the Deaf and Dumb and Blind Asylum in Baton Rouge. Loss by the fire estimated at $20,000. Library, apparatus, and school furniture were saved. Use of the asylum is granted only until the meeting of the legislature, so that some action will be necessary to provide for its continued existence. It has now on its rolls 150 cadets. The total number during 1869 was 196, of whom 113 were beneficiaries of the State.

The Peabody fund has aided 20 towns and cities in the State, amounting in the aggregate to the sum of $20,000, besides $4,000 to six normal schools and departments, as follows: