(Transcribed by Leora White, June 2007)

By Irman D. Bayne

Transcribed from the original
Under the supervision of Donald J. Millet
John McNeese Junior College, Lake Charles, La.
October 1947

THE HISTORY OF EDUCATION IN CALCASIEU PARISH
A THESIS
SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE FACULTY
OF THE
LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
AND
AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR
THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS
IN
TEACHERS COLLEGE
BY
IRMAN D. BAYNE
B.A., LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY, 1926
1933

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The writer wishes to make grateful acknowledgement of assistance to Dean C. A. Ives in the preparation of this manuscript.

Also, he wishes to acknowledge thanks to Superintendent H. A. Norton for the use of Proceedings of the Calcasieu Parish School Board, and School Board Records, to W. H. Gabbert for the use of Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Proceedings, and to Mrs. L. L. Squires for the use of Old Papers and Manuscripts, to the Honorable Sam. H. Jones for the use of Law Books, to the State Department of Education of Louisiana for the use of Educational Reports from Calcasieu, and to all others who have in anyway contributed to the preparation of this paper.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

LIST OF TABLES

CHAPTERS

I. Early Educational Development of Imperial Calcasieu Prior to the Institution of the Ward System, 1898

II. Development of the Ward System of Public Schools Prior to the Division of the Parish in 1912

III. Public Education in Calcasieu Parish from 1913 to 1933

IV. Summary

BIBLIOGRAPHY

AUTOBIOGRAPHY

LIST OF TABLES

TABLES

I. Population of Calcasieu Parish from 1860 to 1930

II. Statistical Report on Free Schools of Calcasieu Parish, 1854

III. Financial Statement, 1854

IV. Statistical Data and Financial Statement, 1858

V. Statistical Report, 1884 and 1885

VI. Calcasieu Parish Treasurer’s Report, 1884 and 1885

VII. Statistical Report, Superintendent of Schools, 1888

VIII. Central and High School, Lake Charles

IX. Average Salary of Teachers

X. Statement of Polls Charged and Collected, 1891-96

XI. Public School Statistics, 1880, 1890, and 1899

XII. Enrollment and Average Attendance, Calcasieu Parish Schools from 1913 to 1933

XIII. Enrollment, Average Attendance, and Graduates of Calcasieu Parish High Schools, 1913 to 1933

XIV. Data on Type and Cost of School Buildings of Calcasieu Parish

XV. Consolidation of Calcasieu Parish Schools, 1914-33

XVI. School Transfer Salary Schedule, 1931

XVII. Transportation of Pupils, Calcasieu Parish, 1930-31

XVIII. Salary Schedule of Principals and Assistant Principals

XIX. Teachers’ Salary Schedule, 1927-28

XX. Teacher Rating Blank

ABSTRACT

THE HISTORY OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN CALCASIEU PARISH

The earliest records pertaining to the public schools of Calcasieu Parish are found in the Annual Reports of the State Superintendent of Public Education to the General Assembly of Louisiana for 1854. There were 784 pupils enrolled in the public schools of Calcasieu, and the amount paid teachers was $4,164, all of which came from the State. In 1912 the number of pupils attending the public schools of Calcasieu had increased t 6,625 and a total expenditure of money for public school purposes of $167,879.93. At this time there were seven state-approved high schools in the parish, and 150 elementary schools.

The City School system of Lake Charles was separated from the parish system April 4, 1907.

Since the organization of the present Calcasieu Parish School System in 1913, the enrollment of the  public schools has grown from 3,000 to 5,250, the numbers of high schools from four to eight, and the amount of money expended, from $171,000 to over $300,000 per session.

Calcasieu Parish, through building up its corps of teachers, efficient administration, erecting modern school plants, and careful and adequate supervision, has developed one of the best public school systems in the State of Louisiana.

CHAPTER I

Early Educational Development of Imperial Calcasieu Prior to the Institution of the Ward System, 1898
Physical and social conditions, area and type of people, and early educational reports

In the early years of the nineteenth century the territory comprising most of what is now known as the Seventh Congressional District, including Old Imperial Calcasieu was known as St. Landry Parish, and the parish seat was Opelousas. This territory extended from Opelousas and Lafayette west to the Sabine River, and from Rapides and Vernon Parishes south to the Gulf of Mexico, that part of the state known as Southwest Louisiana.

In 1840 Old Imperial Calcasieu was carved out of St. Landry. The part severed included the present parishes of Allen, Beauregard, Cameron, Calcasieu, and Jefferson Davis. There were four towns that were candidates for the parish seat: Marion, Lake Charles, Bagdad, and Shell Bank, the present town of West Lake. Marion won, and the courthouse was erected there. Marion, which afterwards became known as Old Town, was situated five miles up the Calcasieu River from Lake Charles. The courthouse remained at Marion a few years and then was moved to Lake Charles, where it is at present.

In 1870 Cameron Parish was created from that part of Calcasieu bordering on the Gulf of Mexico. Imperial Calcasieu was then composed of the territory now occupied by the parishes of Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, and Jefferson Davis. This period included the years 1879 to 1913.

In 1912, by act of the Legislature of Louisiana, Imperial Calcasieu was divided into the present parishes of Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, and Jefferson Davis. The actual division took place in 1913.

The Fifteenth Census Report of the United States gives the area of Imperial Calcasieu in 1890 as 3,650 square miles, and the present parish of Calcasieu, 1930, as 1,086 square miles.

TABLE I
Population of Calcasieu Parish from 1860 to 1930
as Given in the Eighth to Fifteenth Census Report of the U.A.

From the above table it will be seen that in 1910 the population of Calcasieu Parish was 62,767, while in 1920 it was only 32,807, the reason for this decrease being the division of the parish in 1913. The per cent of decrease caused by the division was 47.7, while the per cent of increase of Calcasieu Parish from 1920 to 1930 was 27.9. (1)

Many of the early settlers of Old Calcasieu Parish were of Anglo-Saxon blood. Some of the oldest families, dating back to the 1820’s before Calcasieu was organized, were the Johnsons, Iles, Smiths, and Thompsons.

Tradition says that the first permanent Anglo-Saxon Settlement west of the Calcasieu River was made in the vicinity of Sugartown, and was likely made about 1825. The next settlement was made in what is known as the Big Woods settlement, by the Smarts, Perkins, Cowards, and others
about 1832. (2)

Many of the early settlers came to Calcasieu from South Carolina. Other Old Calcasieu settlements of note were Hickory Flat, near the present town of Oberlin, Mermentau, Lake Charles, Vincent Settlement, and Barnes Creek.

The French element of Calcasieu, which occupied the southern portions of the parish near the Gulf, were [was] mainly descendants of the Acadians, who gradually emigrated west from the Teche country. Some of the prominent French families that early came to the southern Calcasieu prairies were the LeBleus, Heberts, Derouens, and Broussards.

The early settlements were widely distributed over the immense area of 3,650 square miles of territory. The roads, which were not more than trails, were few, causing transportation and communication to be difficult. "The first road of any importance in Old Calcasieu was laid out and cut by the soldiers during the Civil War in 1863. This road extended from Niblett's Bluff on the Sabine River, west of Vinton, to Alexandria, Rapides parish. For many years this was the only road in the parish worthy of the name." (3)

Early Annual Reports of the State Superintendent to the General Assembly of Louisiana

The earliest annual report to the General Assembly of Louisiana made by the state superintendent of public education in which there was a report on public schools from Calcasieu was in January 1855. J. N. Carrigan was then state superintendent. (4)

The following statistical data taken from the Annual Report of Superintendent Carrigan to the General Assembly of Louisiana were given by Ansel (Anselm) Sallier, Treasurer of Calcasieu Parish, in his annual report to the state superintendent for 1854.

TABLE II
Statistical Report on Free Schools of Calcasieu Parish for 1854

"The treasurer of this parish did not give his bond as depository of the school funds until March, 1854, and the amounts paid out to each district extend through a period of two years of accumulating debts.

There are no private schools in the parish." (5)

TABLE III
Financial Statement
1854

Ansel (Anselm) Sallier, Treas.
Calcasieu Parish.

In the annual report of the state superintendent of education to the General Assembly of Louisiana for 1858, (6) State Superintendent W. J. Hamilton gave the following report from the parish treasurer, James Hodges, on the condition of public schools of Calcasieu Parish:

The general character and condition of the schools are as good as good as could be expected, being almost entirely supported by the Public School Fund, and so far as I have been able to ascertain the teachers are very well qualified to teach such branches in the English and French languages as the people here mostly desire. I am unable to report the number of private schools in the parish. There have been two in District Number 2, and the price of tuition has been six dollars per quarter in one, and nine dollars in the other. "My report dates back to the first of the present year when I was elected parish treasurer, and most of the drafts of teachers that I have paid, were for services rendered prior to that time. I have not been able to obtain such information regarding the public schools as I would desire, and the Directors of every district having failed to make any report to me; I have to report to the best of my information. All of which is most respectfully submitted by your most obedient servant,

(Signed) James Hodges,
Parish Treasurer,
Parish Calcasieu.

In the report of Treasurer James Hodges to Superintendent W. J. Hamilton, we also find other data regarding the public schools of Calcasieu: (7)

TABLE IV
Statistical Data and Financial Statement, 1858
Calcasieu Parish

Parish treasurer, James Hodges, reported that money paid by private subscription amounted to about $66.00 per quarter. The local directors, whose duty it was to report the number of children attending school and also the number of educable not attending, were not prompt in making reports. This report was made in 1858, before the Civil War, when there were practically no roads in the parish. It was not an easy matter to go to the parish seat from most of the districts, some of the schools being as far away as 125 miles. The mails were not very dependable in those days either. However, the fact that teachers received their pay in all districts except District 10 leads us to believe that schools were in operation.

Of the six districts reporting the length of time school was taught during the year, the average number of months was five and two-thirds for the six districts. This was probably greater than the average for the parish would have been, including all thirteen districts.

Upon examination of the report of the State Superintendent to the General Assembly of Louisiana for the year 1864, it will be found that no report was made from Calcasieu on the public schools of the parish. The cause probably was due to the unsettled conditions during the Civil War.

The next report of the State Superintendent of Public Education to the General Assembly of Louisiana in which appeared reports from Calcasieu was in January 1871.(8) Thomas W. Conway was state superintendent, and J. W. Bryan was treasurer for the parish of Calcasieu. The treasurer’s report to the state superintendent on conditions of the public schools for Calcasieu Parish, 1871, contained the following financial statement:

The statistical report to the state superintendent was very incomplete. The treasurer either did not have the data or for some cause did not send it. The grade school, number children, male and female, number teacher, male and female, grade of certificate held, monthly salary, and number private schools not given in the report. Only the number of children between six and twenty-one years of age was given for nine districts of the parish.

The increase in the number of school-age children in the twelve years preceding 1870, although it included the entire five-year period of the Civil War, shows a gain in the number of educables for Calcasieu Parish of over 100 per cent, notwithstanding the fact that in 1870 Cameron Parish was created from parts of Calcasieu bordering on the Gulf of Mexico.

William G. Brown, State Superintendent of Public Education, in his Annual Report to the General Assembly of Louisiana for the year 1876, (9) gives an interesting report from the treasurer of Calcasieu Parish, A. H. Moss, on the public schools of Calcasieu.

* This likely means total number months taught. 

It will be seen that in some settlements the attendance of pupils is very small, although children come from a distance of miles around, while in others the attendance is remarkably good, although many of the pupils attending bring their dinner pails.

Some idea can be formed of the magnitude of this parish, when schools are located as far as 125 miles from the courthouse, and of the labor of the Board, when the only means of reaching these remote portions of the parish are private conveyances. However, the people feel generally interested in the education of their children. About 35% of the educable population attended the public and private schools.

SCHOOLS - Ward 1. Miss Mary E. Roe has a good school at Cheneaux Settlement. W. B. Knight has school located at a Pine Grove, 52 attendance considered very large. He is one of the most competent instructors in the state.

Ward 2. Mr. Louis Doulanger taught at Oak Bayou and Lacassine, not with commendable success.

Ward 3. Mrs. Lise Landry and Mrs. T. E. Dade conduct the flourishing schools of Lake Charles. Both teachers and schools are necessarily popular.

Ward 4. The Sugar Town Academy, A. Bennoist, principal, and Calib Simmons, assistant, has turned out some good scholars, and in addition to these in the ordinary branches, have some advanced pupils in Latin and Greek.

Ward 5. Pine Grove School, W. M. Dunn, principal, Quick Sand Academy, C. A. Ruscoe, principal, are highly spoken of by the patrons of these institutions; may they be permanent.

Ward 6. Thos. Ward and S. W. Pierce have satisfied the School Board and the resident community, that they know how to conduct a school, vide their attendance.

Ward 7. Indian Bayou School, John Kelly, principal, and Coles Creek School, James E. Bilbo, principal, are fully up to the standard of popularity and efficiency. Rev. James A. Beard is principal of the Chapel School. The following taken from the column of remarks of one of his monthly reports is all sufficient to convince one that he is doing yoeman [yeoman] service in the glorious cause of education: "I solemnly invoke the Supreme Architect of the universe, to speed the time, when parents will be compelled to school their children" H. E. Syles is a good teacher, so the residents of Dry Creek will testify. His school has 42 pupils.

It is impossible to secure all competent teachers in this parish owing to the poor accommodations, and the lack of necessary comforts for teachers, who may be strangers to the community.

The following narrative accompanying the report of the treasurer will be found interesting:

The parish of Calcasieu covers a large area of country, it is sparsely settled, has very good roads and many streams in consequence of which, some places are not easily accessible. The wards are large settlements, far apart, making it exceedingly difficult for the School Board to locate schools, so as to give general satisfaction.

The parish, so far, has done nothing towards raising a school fund, and we have depended entirely upon the State Apportionments, which have not been sufficient to keep up the schools any length of time. One, two, and three months sometimes, would be all the term any one locality would get during the whole year. If the citizens in the wards would agree to establish one good school in each ward, and make it a permanent school, more benefit would be derived than has been heretofore.

The people at large seem to be more or less interested in education, but they have not yet reached the point of being willing to pay for it. The majority of the children in this parish are being raised up in ignorance, and the people need to be aroused on this vital subject. A few lectures by competent persons upon this subject might do good.

A great deficiency in the school system for the last two years has been the incompetency of some few of the teachers employed. This gives the secretary of the School Board much extra labor. In fact, it is difficult to make a correct report under these circumstances.

The secretary has expressed a desire by letter to withdraw from the Board. I sincerely desire that he may be prevailed upon to reconsider his contemplated retirement from the educational work. His frequent, interesting, well and correctly prepared reports of the conditions of school affairs prompt me in behalf of the educational interests of Louisiana, to urge him to abide a while longer in the cause. (10)

The Annual Report of Robert M. Lusher, State Superintendent of Education to the General Assembly of Louisiana for 1877 (11) contains the report of S. D. Read, Secretary of the School Board for Calcasieu Parish. The report gives the organization of the School Board as of July 16, 1877: J. W. Bryan, President, S. D. Read, Secretary, other members, Wm. G. Gill, David S. Andrus, Charles C. Chaney, Levi Elander, James Cole, Brown Wilburn, and Thomas Lyons.

The statistical report given by Secretary Read to Superintendent Lusher must have been incomplete, comparing it with the report of Treasurer A. H. Moss in 1875. The report as given follows:

Statistical Report rendered up to November 16, 1877

Public Schools

Teachers employed

Wm. Jackson, Miss Virginia A. Cole, Louis Doulanger, Mrs. M. E. Rowe, Wm. M. Dunn; three males and two females.

Remarks

Grade of schools and attendance cannot be reported for want of data. The supply of school houses is ample, and the buildings are generally comfortable. There is no apparatus.

The branches taught and textbooks used are: Webster’s Speller, Alphabet and Primer, McGuffey’s Readers, Penmanship, Arithmetic, Geography, Grammar and History, authors not given.

Regretting inability to render a more acceptable report, this is respectfully submitted,

(Signed) S. B[D]. Read,
Secretary

The following financial statement was given by Wm. L. Hutchins, Treasurer of Calcasieu Parish for the years 1876-1877.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT (12)

Wm. L. Hutchins, Treasurer.

In the year 1880, Robert M. Lusher, State Superintendent, in his Biennial Report to the General Assembly of Louisiana, stated that the secretary of the School Board for Calcasieu Parish was T. F. Bell, and that no report was made to the State Superintendent that year on the conditions of the public schools.

In State Superintendents Lusher’s Biennial Report for 1882-1883 the same condition as above prevailed, no report from Calcasieu. The secretary of the School Board from Calcasieu for 1883 was given as John H. Poe. In the Biennial Report to the General Assembly of Louisiana for 1883 (13) we find the enumeration of youths and the schedule of apportionments for Calcasieu, 1883, as follows:

Work of Superintendent John McNeese in Calcasieu
General Statement

At this point in the educational history of Calcasieu Parish, about the year 1883 or 1884, it seems fitting to give a general statement of the work of Superintendent John McNeese in Calcasieu.

John McNeese made Calcasieu prominent among the parishes of the state before he had been superintendent more than a few years, and had won for himself a state-wide reputation as a builder and organizer. His work in this connection also carried his name beyond the confines of the state.

Superintendent McNeese served the schools of Calcasieu for thirty-seven years. Twenty-nine years were spent practically as superintendent, without a break, beginning in 1884. His first election as superintendent under that title was in 1888, but for four years preceding, he virtually headed the schools, being a member of the board that then presided, himself being practically head of the board, through his superior understanding of school matters.

The schools of Calcasieu and what now constitute the parishes of Allen, Beauregard, and Jefferson Davis owe their position in the state to the sacrifice and efforts of Mr. McNeese.

Superintendent McNeese came to Calcasieu Parish in 1873 from North Carolina. [Most accounts have McNeese coming to Louisiana from Maryland by way of Texas.]  He spent nearly ten years teaching in the various schools over the parish. Many of these schools, were but log or slab shacks, the barest necessities for school purposes. As he taught, Mr. McNeese developed ideas and put them into practice. Where ever he went, he left a better school, or more often he left a school where there had been none before.

In 1884 the first semblance of a school system was founded in Calcasieu, very crude but a decided improvement over anything else in Southwest Louisiana. Mr. McNeese was a member of the Board that headed the system and aided materially in the direction of its energies.

In 1888 the Calcasieu system was changed, a superintendent being placed in direct control of the work. This proved a great advance, and allowed Mr. McNeese to put into effect some of his ideas that he had acquired through leadership and experience as a teacher, which finally resulted in a very efficient school system in Calcasieu Parish.

Some of the educators that Superintendent McNeese brought to the Calcasieu section to inspire and work for the betterment of education were Mr. Martin G. Brumbaugh of Pennsylvania, later State Superintendent of Pennsylvania, and Governor of Pennsylvania, also Dr. Seaman Knapp later noted throughout the country for his efforts to inaugurate agricultural education on the secondary school level.

Superintendent McNeese became secretary of the Calcasieu Parish School Board in 1883. The state at that time probably had no coherent school system outside of New Orleans. Those who wanted education had to pay for it themselves, and the attendance in the private schools of the state were comparable with that of the public schools, and for a very good reason.

In 1883, in Calcasieu there were four or five public schools, a territory which covered 3,650 miles. One public school was located at Bayou D’Inde, which was one of the few, if not the most outstanding of the parish. Another was held in the Methodist Church in Lake Charles, and still another was at Sugartown.

John McNeese was a pioneer in every direction. Some of the first phases of school endeavor in which he pioneered were the procuring of suitable school buildings, raising the standards of teachers and securing decent pay for them, obtaining revenue to establish new schools, and finally in awakening the communities to the importance of education itself.

As the population and wealth increased, Superintendent McNeese’s task grew easier. The state contributed more liberally to the cause of education, police juries began making donations, which became more liberal, also local donations were made frequently and in a material way aided the Board. Then came the era of the special tax, which proved to be the salvation of the country schools. It is said that Superintendent McNeese was the originator of the idea of special tax, and it is known that Calcasieu was the first parish to begin voting special taxes.

Quoting from a resolution of the Lake Charles City School Board at the death of Superintendent McNeese, "He needs no monument of brass or marble to perpetuate his memory, for every schoolhouse within the original bounds of Imperial Calcasieu is an enduring memorial to the work of his hands." (14)

The Biennial Report of the State Superintendent, Warren Easton, to the General Assembly of Louisiana for the years 1884-1885, (15) contains the fullest report of the conditions of the public schools of Calcasieu yet given.

TABLE V
Statistical Report of the Superintendent of Calcasieu Parish
to the State Superintendent of Public Education
1884-1885

*Most likely a typographical error, and should be $20.00, $25.00.

TABLE VI
Calcasieu Parish Treasurer's Report (16)
1884-1885

The statistical report for the year 1884-85 was made by John H. Poe, Secretary of Calcasieu Parish School Board, and the treasurer’s report was made by William L. Hutchins, Treasurer of Calcasieu Parish, both made the State Superintendent Warren Easton.

The Biennial Reports of the State Superintendent to the General Assembly of Louisiana gave John H. Poe as Superintendent of Calcasieu Parish for the years 1885 and 1887; however, Mr. Poe, himself, states that he was never elected Superintendent by the School Board, that he was only secretary of the Board.

The first superintendent’s report given by Superintendent John McNeese of Calcasieu to State Superintendent Warren Easton show a decided improvement over previous reports on the conditions of public schools in Calcasieu.

The report, Table VII, was taken from State Superintendent Warren Easton’s Biennial Report to the General Assembly of Louisiana for the year 1888-89. (17)

TABLE VII
Statistical Report of Superintendent for Year 1888
Parish of Calcasieu

*Probably an error, should be $25.00

Record of School Board Proceedings, Calcasieu Parish, 1887

The first minutes of Calcasieu Parish School Board, of which records are on file in the present school office, Lake Charles, Louisiana, show that he Board met on November 11, 1887. Board members: J. W. Bryan, President, John H. Poe, Thomas Kleinpeter, J.P. Geary, A. Rigmaiden, E. A. Perkins, J. J. Lyles, and John McNeese, Secretary and Superintendent. (18)

The question of auditing the books of the Parish Treasurer was taken up, and a committee composed of John H. Poe, Chairman, Thomas Kleinpeter, and J. P. Geary was appointed to audit the books, and report at a special meeting of the Board, November 16. 1887.

The special meeting convened, and the chairman of the auditing committee, Mr. Poe, made a report that he books of the Parish Treasurer were examined from December 31, 1885, to November 16, 1887, and found to be in good standing.

Proceedings of the Third Convention of Parish Superintendents
Of Public Education, Tulane Hall, New Orleans, June 2-5, 1891 (19)

"The Parish drew from the state an apportionment for only 4,200 children, but it was entitled to draw for 9,00. [9,000 ??] Expect to inaugurate graded schools in Lake Charles at an expense of about $8,000, and an attendance of 500. John McNeese, Supt."

The first tax money donated to the public schools from the Police Jury in Calcasieu Parish was in the year 1887, and the amount was $3,000. The amount donated for the years 1888, 1889, and 1890, from the same source, was also $3,000. The Police Jury appropriated for the year 1891 was raised to $7,000, as will be seen in the annual report of Superintendent John McNeese to the State Superintendent of Public Education for the year 1891.

In the Biennial Report of Superintendent Warren Easton to the General Assembly of Louisiana for the year 1891, (20) the following report was given by Superintendent John McNeese before the Fifth Convention of Parish Superintendents, June 1891, on the conditions of the public schools of Calcasieu.

"This year had been for Calcasieu Parish a fruitful one, educationally. The Police Jury raised their donation from $3,000 to $7,000. The last census gave us 7,258 educable children; and the majority of schools throughout the parish have been supplementing the public funds quite liberally.

School Buildings - Lake Charles has completed a nine months term in her building completed last year, the building as furnished costing $6,000. Jennings has a fine building, only second to that of Lake Charles. Welsh is preparing to build a schoolhouse, which no doubt will reflect credit upon the town for years to come.

Teachers - My new list of teachers is composed of 40, being examined since October 1, 1890, to comply with the enactment of 1888 in regard to physiology and hygiene.

The compensation for services of teachers is regulated by grade of certificate; primary being $30.00, intermediate $40.00, grammar $50.00 in all cases where local directors do not make terms with teachers for less, in which case length is increased in proportion.

Patronage - Throughout, the parish is becoming more earnest in the cause of education.

System of Managing Schools - Each school district on an average one to each township is controlled by three men appointed by the board, or elected by the people, called local directors.

They endorse petition of teachers to parish superintendent before contract is made, visit schools, inspect teachers’ registers, and sign report at end of each month. Previous to 1888 each school had no organization. The nearest independent of the teacher were sub-directors for each ward, appointed without regard to geographical distribution. In some large wards they were not acquainted, having never met for the purpose of organization.

Working of Superintendent’s Office - An office is furnished in which all documents pertaining to school matters are filed. The superintendent, acting as secretary, keeps for the information of the public, and of the Board, all books possible to give any desired information, among which are a very thorough set of minutes, a set of books to check once each month against receipts and disbursements of treasurer of school, a book giving amount of 16^th section interest to the credit of each township, beside all others more peculiar to the office itself.

Extent of Superintendent’s Work - By terms made with the Police Jury the superintendent is not to teach or follow any business other than to attend to the schools throughout the parish. About twenty days of each month is spent in the field, and ten in the office. The Police Jury found it necessary that in expending $7,000 to provide that it should be expended to the best possible advantage, and in a manner to effect such and end.

The year ending May 31, 1891, does not show up so well on account of bad weather, and small-pox excitement prevented many school from occupying the term.

Statistical Statement of Schools in Parish of Calcasieu During Year Ending May 31, 1891

Nearly all the state in the union, as well as the territories have recognized in their school laws the value of county supervision. The only question is how to make it more effective. And to conclude I will say that the labors of this convention during each of the annual sessions cannot be complete, short of earnest efforts to bring about amendments to our Constitution, giving us the most important factor in evolving for Louisiana a system of Education second to none other in the union.

John McNeese
Parish Supt., Public Schools,
Parish of Calcasieu."

*This suggestion appeared seven years before the State Constitutional Committee provided this policy in 1898.

Calcasieu Parish School Board Proceedings 1888-1892

The new board of school directors organized in 1888 was composed of A. Thompson, President, John McNeese, Secretary and Superintendent, W. H. Harris, C. D. Welsh, J. W. Bryan, John H. Poe, Thomas Kleinpeter, and Austin Nicols. (21)

John McNeese was appointed the first Superintendent of Calcasieu Parish, by the School Board, on September 8, 1888.

One of the first main items of business taken up by the above Board was the purchasing of the city block upon which Central School in Lake Charles now stands. The city block was bought from J. B. Watkins for $800.

A building committee, to supervise the construction of a school building, was appointed, consisting of James P. Geary, J. W. Bryan, and Superintendent John McNeese, representing the Board, and S. C. Shattuck, representing the Town Council.

The school building, which became known as Central High School of Lake Charles, was to be a frame structure, two stories high, forty feet wide and eighty feet long. William Curley was given the contract to build the structure, not furnishing the material, for the sum of $3,350. The contract for furnishing the lumber was given to Bradley-Ramsey Co. for $1,126.

Report of the Building Committee

The Central High School Building was completed the 23^rd day of October, 1889.

The following is a statement of all amounts disbursed from beginning of enterprise until completed:

Stationery and per Diem School Board Members (22)

In the years 1889 and 1890 the stationery and stamps for Superintendent McNeese’s office cost from $3.00 to $5.00 per quarter.

The first meeting of the School Board of Calcasieu Parish in which the members were paid for attendance was January 4, 1890. The warrants were as follows:

J W. Bryan, Oct. and Jan. meetings 1889-90, $4.00
A. W. Nicols, Oct. and Jan. meetings 1889-90, $4.00            
James P. Geary, Oct. and Jan meetings 1889-90, $4.00
Oct. and Jan. meetings 1889-90---- 4.00
Oct. and Jan. meetings 1889-90 --- 4.00

Organization of First High School of Calcasieu Parish at Sugartown Academy, 1890

The Calcasieu Parish School Board was in session January 4, 1890, and the following resolution was made: (23)

"Resolved: That because of the advanced character of the Sugartown Male and Female School, and its many advantages as an educational center, that it be instituted a school of high grade, to take effect on or after the 1^st day of August 1889; and that the salary of the principal be increased from $50.00 to $75.00 per month, and that the President be authorized to warrant against $480.00 to the credit of said Sugartown Male and Female Academy for the amount of $25.00 per month as complement of $50.0 already paid."

The resolution was adopted by unanimous vote of the Calcasieu Parish School Board.

Special Meeting

The Parish Board of School Directors met this the 18^th day of January 1890, in special session, pursuant to adjournment. Present, Professor A. Thompson, James P. Geary, J. W. Bryan, John H. Poe, and Superintendent John McNeese, Professor A. Thompson, presiding.

Professor M. E. Shaddock, Principal of Sugartown Academy, being introduced to the Board, presented in behalf of the people of Sugartown and vicinity the following memorial of thanks, and by motion the same was ordered to be spread upon the minutes.

"To The Honorable Superintendent and Board of Education of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.

Gentlemen: "We, Trustees, Patrons, Teachers, and Friends of Sugartown Public School, learning that you have advanced the grade of our school to high school, and being duly sensible of the high compliment paid to the capacity of our teachers, together with their earnest and painstaking efforts to advance the interest of education in our midst: appreciating your kindness and your evident desire to foster and encourage the efforts of those who are seeking at home the advantages of a liberal education for their children, do desire herein to convey to you our heartfelt thanks for the honor conferred upon us.

We furthermore, desire to testify to the careful, efficient and conscientious labors of our Parish Superintendent, Mr. John McNeese, and to name our marked appreciation of his efforts to solidify and advance the cause of Education throughout out Parish.

Finally, we would assure both him and your Honorable Body that we stand ready to respond with earnest endeavor to any efforts you may desire to make to advance and make of permanent benefit the free school system in our midst, thus hoping to bear an earnest part in your endeavors for good to the cause of education throughout the parish.

We appoint our principal, Prof. M. B. Shaddock to bear these our sentiments to your Honorable Body, and to lay before you orally our petition, which we believe, while of advantage to us, especially, will be of direct advantage to the parish generally and serve as a stimulus to other communities to realize and make effective the Free School System.

Respectfully,

Patrons
W. H. McDonald, I. H. Perkins, G. W. Seaman, D. B. Alphin, R. E. Sigler, W. R. Howell, I. W. Lanier, Eld. W. Hamilton, L. Martin, David Lewis, H. A. McDonald, M. Hamit, T.L. Davinport, G. W. Richardson, John W. May, Mayo Moore, Geo. C. Sigler, Jno.Isles, Carraway, S. A. Smith.

Teachers 
M. E. Shaddock, principal, and S. J. Iles, assistant principal.

Special School Tax

The Calcasieu Parish School Board at a special session held May 26, 1890, endorsed the special school tax by adopting the following resolutions:

"Be it resolved: That we ask our Senator and Representative to the General Assembly to use their best efforts to secure an amendment to the State Constitution permitting and authorizing any Parish, Municipality, Township or school district, as bodies corporate to levy and collect a special tax for school purposes." (24)

TABLE VIII
Central and High School - Lake Charles (25)

The above table gives the following data in regard to Central and High School of Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish, for the ten-year period 1890 to 1901. The session, name of principal, salary per month of principal, and salary per month of first and second assistants.

Second High School Established in Calcasieu Parish (26)

The Lake Charles school was established as a high school by resolution of the Calcasieu Parish School Board on October 28, 1890, to take effect from October 1, 1890. The name of the school was to be the Central and High School of Lake Charles.

Extracts from Superintendent McNeese’s Report to the Calcasieu Parish School Board, 1890 (27)

Several district institutes were held during the year. These institutes were instrumental in doing much good, according to Superintendent McNeese. He also recommended that a week’s institute be held in the summer of 1890 by an expert institute director, and require all teachers to attend. Certificates of attendance would be given and consideration be given to same applying for promotion.

One suggestion that Superintendent McNeese made to the Board was that they recognize the efforts of the Parish Teachers’ Association in organizing a training school for teachers for a term of six weeks during the summer. And that the Board recognize certificates issued by this training school, subject to the joint supervision of the Parish Superintendent and Committee on Examination.

Committee on Finance (28)

The practice of examination of bills to be paid by the Calcasieu Parish School Board began June 2, 1892, at a special meeting of the Board. The first finance committee was composed of J. W. Bryant, John H. Poe, C. D. Welsh, A. J. Jones, and John McNeese.

Organization Meeting for Board Members 1892 to 1896 (29)

The new school board met for purposes of organization September 17, 1892. The following were present and duly qualified: Professor S. A. Knapp, J. H. Roberts, J. W. Rhorer, Dr. James Ware, Dr. L. H. Moss, John H. Poe, and John McNeese. John H. Poe was elected president of the Board, and John McNeese secretary and superintendent. The Board resolved to support Superintendent McNeese in his arduous duties as Parish Superintendent the ensuing four years. The committee on selection of teachers was appointed as follows: Dr. L. H. Moss, John H. Poe, and Superintendent McNeese.

Professor O. S. Dolby and C. H. Bucher were appointed to assist the Superintendent in giving teachers’ examinations.

The scholastic year was to begin Monday, November 1, 1892. A resolution was adopted by the Board that the principalship of the Jennings, Welsh, Westlake, Vinton, and Sugartown Schools should not be eligible to election by the local Board of said districts unless they held grammar-grade certificates.

School Board Meeting of January 7, 1893 (30)

In a School Board meeting of January 7, 1893, the following resolution was adopted: "That we most respectfully tender the Hon. A. D. Lafargue, State Superintendent of Public Education, an invitation to hold the next Annual Convention of Parish Superintendents in this city; and that the Board itself and upon the part of the people will so estimate and appreciate the compliment that everything will be done to insure the success of the Convention, as well as to extend to each superintendent and delegate the foremost courtesies of the place, that the visit of each may be pleasant and kindly remembered."

Extracts from Annual Report of Superintendent John McNeese to Calcasieu Parish School Board for Year 1892 (31)

Statistical Report

Superintendent McNeese began as parish superintendent in 1888 with 40 schools in the parish, and at the conclusion of the four-year term in 1892 there were 120 schools in the parish. Quoting Superintendent McNeese:

The country schools are 100% more expensive to operate than in the towns. The cost to run the schools last year, 1892, reached about $17,000, and the average term was a little over four months. All private schools were discontinued last year, with few exceptions.

Because of the great size of this parish and the different occupations of the people, my work has been continuous. Last summer I had fifty schools in operation, when almost every parish in the state was in vacation.

I have in many ways caused the people in townships having accrued interest in their credit from sale of 16^th section, to take the necessary steps by which they could use the same either to build schoolhouses or pay teachers, $1,000 having been spent during my time as superintendent, before which time not one cent had been spent, and yet the people are too indifferent in this respect.

Considering the great area of this territory in this parish, so much of it thinly settled and in many respects similar to a frontier country, far from railroads, the teaching force, I think, will compare favorably with any parish in this state.

Recommendations

1^st The grading of schools corresponding as nearly as possible with the three grades of teachers.

2^nd The re-districting of the parish, and allow no schoolhouse to be erected until the location is passed upon by this Board, in all cases the parish superintendent reporting the character of said location.

In the Biennial Report of the State Superintendent A. D. Lafargue to the General Assembly of Louisiana for the year 1892-93, (32) we find the following tabulated statistics in regard to the schools of Calcasieu Parish:

TABLE IX
Average Salary of Teachers and Tabulated Statement of Receipts and Expenditures, 1893

Receipts

Disbursements

Extracts from Annual Report of Superintendent John McNeese to State Superintendent A. D. LaFargue for the year 1893 (33)

The Institute during the past year has been kept up as it should in advance, as a means by which a growing system should be kept intact as well as being productive of living growth with increased effort. The work in addition to my own general supervision is under the charge of a first-class educator, Professor J. E. Keeney. Each ward has an organized Institute, work being held monthly. Parish institutes are held monthly in Lake Charles.

Public sentiment in favor of public education will cause the Police Jury to increase donation from $15,000 to $20,000 per year for pubic schools.

There are 147 school districts in the Parish Institute. There are no private schools outside of Lake Charles. In the city of Lake Charles the public school economy has grown in extent so that in four years of the present system the attendance has been enlarged from 250 to 670.

Calcasieu Parish School Board Meeting, May 5, 1893 (34)

At a meeting of the Board on the above date, the salaries of the principal and assistants of Lake Charles School was fixed as follows:

Principal, $90 per month
First assistants, $60 per month
All other teachers, $40 per month

Professor Charles H. Beecher was appointed principal of Lake Charles for the session 1893-94.

Calcasieu Parish School Board Meeting, June 21, 1893 (35)

At the June meeting of the School Board the following Resolution was adopted: "That the Secretary of this Board notify the following gentlemen that they are appointed and most respectfully requested to attend the State Convention of Parish Superintendents to be held in Lake Charles, June 28, 29,and 30, 1893:

Ward One: J. W. Moore, Abner Cole, J. M. Reeves.

Ward Two: L. O. Hill, L. A. Hunter, O. B. Jinkins, G. N. Funk, P. M. Kokanour, C. St. Germain, T. L. McVey, and Sam Marquot.

Ward Three: W. E. Ramsey, L. Kaufman, G. A. Fournet, M. D. Kearney, D. B. Gorham, A. P. Pujo, Thad Mayo, J. W. Bryan, S. O. Shaddock, H. C. Gill, A. M. Mayo, Thos. Klienpeter, H. A. Winfree, Z. L. Everett, Jno. McCormick, H. C. Drew, Dr. E. L. Lyons, W. J. Martin.

Ward Four: Chas. Miller, William Vincent, Dr. D. S. Perkins.

Ward Five: Aladin Vincent, C. P. Hampton, J. W. Francher, Hon. W. M. Perkins, Benjamin Perry.

Ward Six: M. C. Frazar, F. J. Carroll, Isaac Nichols, J. E. McMahon.

Ward Severn: J. J. W. Miller, Dr. M. E. Singleton, Demsey Isles, G. W. Richardson, W. B. Wilburn, Joseph Cole.

Ward Eight: J. N. Prater, J. A. Andrus, Levi Rollins, and William Lambert."

Meeting of Calcasieu Parish School Board May 30, 1894 (36)

Professor J. E. Keeney was elected principal of the Central and High School, city of Lake Charles, at a salary of $1,000 per session. First assistants were to receive $75.00 per month, professors in mathematics were to receive $70 per month, professors in penmanship and drawing were to receive $70. Eight undergraduate teachers were to receive $45.00 per month. Principal of Goosport School was to receive $50.00 per month, and the principal of South Lake Charles School was to receive $45.00 per month.

Meeting of School Board, August 21 and 24, 1894 (37)

Professor J. H. Keeney and Superintendent John McNeese prepared the first Course of Study for the Public Schools of Calcasieu Parish, which was received and adopted by the Calcasieu Parish School Board, August 21, 1894.

At a call meeting of the Board on August 24^th, the town of Welsh applied for a cooperatively-supported private and public school, Welsh to furnish $650 and the School Board $250 each session toward operation of the same. The committee appointed by the Board to investigate the proposition was composed of L. H. Moss, O. S. Dolby, and Superintendent John McNeese. The committee gave the following report: The School Board to agree (1) to appoint L. E. Robinson, L. O. Hill, and George E. Bookoven as a local board of directors for the Welsh School. (2) That the teachers in the Welsh School shall be selected from among recommendations made by the said Board of local directors. (3) That as long as any public funds are being expanded in defraying any part of the expenses of the Welsh School, said school shall be under the same control by this board as all other public schools in the parish."

In 1895 the Superintendent’s Annual Report ceased to be incorporated in the Minutes of the School Board Meetings, and was thereafter published in pamphlet form. It is regrettable that practically all these reports were burned when the Calcasieu Parish Court House burned in 1910.

Organization Meeting Calcasieu Parish School Board
September 7, 1896 (38)

Members present were Dr. L. H. Moss, Dr. James Ware, D. D. Andrus, D. B. Gorham, E. J. Fairchild, John H. Poe, W. W. Farque, and John McNeese.

John H. Poe was again unanimously elected president of the Board, for the next four years. John McNeese was again unanimously elected secretary of the Board and Parish Superintendent.

At a Board meeting April 7, 1897, a resolution was adopted: "That on and after this date each public school district of this parish shall have one director instead of three as heretofore; and in every case of the district not having more than one school in sub-district, the sub-director shall be considered as one of a committee of three, the other two members to be the President and Superintendent of the School Board, to carry out for and in behalf of the Board, all laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to the public schools of this parish."

There were to be two periods for the operation of the schools of Calcasieu, one to begin not later than the first Monday in July and the other not later than the first Monday in November.

A resolution was also adopted that the schools of Jennings, Welsh, Lake Arthur, Oberlin, West Lake, Vinton, Merryville, Sugartown, and Hickory Branch should be taught by teachers holding first-grade certificates, the directors of these schools were to be informed of such requirements, and that no teacher should be allowed to teach in Central and High School of Lake Charles School District, unless he or she be a Normal graduate or competent to hold a first or grammar grade certificate.

Professor J. E. Keeney was elected principal of Central and High School of Lake Charles at a salary of $130 per month, for the session 1896-97. For the session 1897-98, Professor Grant Shaffer was elected principal, and his salary was cut to $100 per month. All salaries in the parish were cut. Professor Shaffer’s salary was increased to $125 per month at the beginning of the fifth month.

The Center graded school of Jennings was to have a faculty of four teachers, the principal to receive $60.00 per month, first assistant $40.00, intermediate $35.00, and primary $40.00.

The reason that salaries were cut for the session 1897-98 was because of the slowness of collecting tax money in 1897. The Police Jury could not pay their appropriation, thereby causing the School Board to be short of funds.

TABLE X
Condensed Statement of the Polls Charged to the Collection
and the Credits Given Him With the Amount Polls Still Not Collected

Debtor to School Board

Credited by School Board

TABLE XI
Public School Statistics Parish of Calcasieu
Contrasting Three Periods in the Educational Progress Within 20 Years (39)

CHAPTER II

Development of the Ward System of Public Schools Prior to the Division of the Parish in 1912
Special School Law of Louisiana, 1898

The public school system of Calcasieu enjoyed a healthy growth during the first ten years John McNeese was superintendent of schools, from 1888 to 1898. Even though the Police Jury appropriation was increased from $3,000 per year to $20,000, and the State appropriation for the support of public schools materially increased during this period, Superintendent McNeese felt that something should be done that would allow the citizens of progressive communities who wished to equip themselves with better educational facilities, such as adequate and modern school buildings and better qualified teachers, to do so. With this in mind, Superintendent McNeese made a trip to Baton Rouge and conferred with Murphy J. Foster, who was Governor of Louisiana at that time. This was in the year 1898.

In Article 232 of the Constitution of Louisiana, 1898, (1) the provision was made for levying special taxes in school districts and municipal corporations for erection of school buildings, maintenance of schools, etc. Article 232 is as follows:

The state tax on property for all purposes whatever, including the expense of government, schools, levees and interest, shall not exceed in any one year, six mills on the dollar of its assessed valuation, and, except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, no parish, municipal or public board tax for all purposes whatsoever, shall exceed in any one year ten mills on the dollar valuation; provided that for giving additional support to public schools, and for the purpose of erecting and constructing public buildings, public schoolhouses, etc., the title to which shall be in the public, and parish, municipal corporation, ward or school district may levy a special tax in excess of said limitation, whenever the rate of such increase and the number of years it is to be levied, and the purposes for which the tax is intended, shall have been submitted to a vote of the property tax payers of such parish, municipality, ward or school district entitled to vote under the election laws of the state, and a majority of the same in number and in value voting at such election shall have voted therefore.

The law passed by the Legislature of Louisiana in July 1898, to carry into effect Article 232, of the Constitution of 1898, was known as House Bill No. 381, by Mr. Wade, Act No. 131; (2) "To prescribe the manner in which special elections shall be held in any parish, municipality, ward or school district of this state, for the purpose of levying special taxes for the support of public schools, and for the purpose of erecting and constructing public buildings, public school houses, bridges, wharves, levees, sewerage work and other works of permanent public improvement, the title of which shall be in the public, in such parish, municipality, ward or school district, and to carry into effect Article 232, of the Constitution of 1898."

Section 1. The Police Jury orders the election to levy a special tax for the support of the public schools on the petition of one-third of the property owners.

Section 2. That the petition shall be in writing, and shall designate the object and amount of the tax to be levied each year and the number of years which it shall be levied.

Section 3. Police Jury to pass an ordinance to levy such tax if a majority in number and value of tax-payers vote in favor of the tax.

Section 4. That all tax-payers voting at said election shall be registered voters, except women tax-payers who shall vote without registration. All tax-payers entitled to vote shall do so in person except women, who shall vote either in person or by their agents, authorizing in writing.

Section 5. That the Police Jury of any parish, ward, school district, or the municipal authorities of any municipality, shall, when the vote is in favor of the levy of such taxes, levy and collect annually, in addition to other taxes, a tax upon all taxable property within such parish, municipality, ward or school district, sufficient to pay the amount specified to be paid in such petition, and such Police Jury and authorities shall have the same right to enforce and collect any special tax that may be authorized by such election, as is or may be conferred by law upon them for the collection of other taxes, which taxes so collected shall be used for the purpose named in said petition, and in the case of a tax being named for the support of the public school, or for the purpose of erecting a public school house, the same shall from time to time, as the same is collected, be paid to the board of school directors of the parish in which said tax is levied, and be used for the purpose stated in said petition.

Signed, S. P. Henry, Speaker of the House of Representatives
R. H. Snyder, Lieutenant Governor, and President of the Senate
Murphy J. Foster, Governor of the State of Louisiana

Creation and Development of Special School Districts
Voting Special Taxes for School Purposes by the Wards of Calcasieu Parish

The first special school tax voted by the citizens of Calcasieu Parish under Article 232, Act 131, of Acts and Constitution of Louisiana, 1898, was in Ward Six.

At a meeting of the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, June 6, 1899, (3) on motion of Mr. Choumont duly seconded and carried the petition of citizens of Ward Six, signed and presented by Tom J. Carroll was received and the President of the Police Jury was authorized to issue his proclamation calling the special election under the following conditions:

1. The special tax was to be 3 mills on the dollar.
2. The tax was to run for a period of ten years.
3. The purpose was for erecting and constructing public school houses, and support of public schools in Ward 6.

The petition was signed by one-third of the taxable citizens of Ward 6, and the first six men to sign the petition were M. J. West, G. J. Nicholas, J. O. Stewart, J. F. Miers, J. A. Bailey, and J. A. Whittington.

Ordinance Levying Special School Tax Ward 6
Meeting of Police Jury of Calcasieu Parish, July 14, 1899 (4)

On motion of Mr. Choumont duly seconded and carried, the following ordinance was adopted: "An ordinance to levy a special tax of 3 mills in the sixth ward in the Parish of Calcasieu, whereas, at an election held in the sixth ward, in the Parish of Calcasieu on the 10^th day of July, 1899, in pursuance of the Constitution of the state, and in the manner provided by Act 131 of 1898, for the purpose of taking the sense of the property taxpayers of said ward, whether or not a special of 3 mills for school purposes for the term of ten years shall be levied and collected in said ward. And whereas, returns of said election in legal form having been made by the Board of Supervisors of election for the Parish of Calcasieu, it appearing by the same that the results of said election was as follows, towit: for special school tax 70 votes, valuation of property $22,834, against special school tax 16 votes, valuation of property $465. And it appears that a majority in number and value of the property tax payers of said Ward 6, of the Parish of Calcasieu voting at said election have voted in favor of the levy of a special tax of 3 mills for school purposes in said ward."

"It is therefore ordained that a special annual tax of 3 mills on the dollar, for school purposes, for the term of ten years, be and is hereby levied in said ward in pursuance of said election, and the assessor and tax collector of the Parish of Calcasieu are hereby ordered to assess and collect said special tax according to law."

Second Special Ward Tax Voted in Calcasieu (5)

A petition for a special school election to be held in Ward 9, Calcasieu Parish, was presented to the Police Jury by Mr. LeBleu on April 2, 1900. The tax was to be 3 mills on the dollar, for a period of ten years, for the purpose of erecting, constructing schoolhouses, and support of public schools. The Police Jury authorized the election to be held June 23, 1900. The first six signatures on the petition were: Fred Stockwell, C. W. Kimball, C. C. Kimball, C. C. Shrock, J. T. Willty, and J. R. Jones. The result of the election was 38 votes and property valuation of $18,534 in favor of the tax, and no votes against it. On July 5, 1900, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury passed an ordinance levying the special school tax in Ward 9.

Central Ward Schools

The establishment of Central Ward Schools followed closely the advent of the special ward tax, from 1898 to 1906. These schools were the largest in the ward, and afterwards became the centers for a new school unit to be known as a special school district, which developed in the Calcasieu Parish School System from about 1904 to 1912.

In a meeting of the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, (6) October 2, 1900, the following resolution was adopted: "That the Police Jury concur with the Calcasieu Parish School Board in establishing ward center schools, provided that it does not shorten term of private schools. On roll call Messrs. Chaumont, Arceneaux, Chavanne, Bloch, House, Dodge, Sigler, Miller, Taylor, and Stewart voted Yea. Mr. LeBleu being absent, the notion was carried." At the same meeting a resolution was adopted that any member of the Police Jury desiring to have central ward schools established in his ward should appoint a committee of five citizens of the ward to locate site of the school.

Other Special Ward Taxes Voted

According to the Record of the Police Jury Proceedings, (7) the third ward to vote a special school tax of 3 mills was Ward 2. The main educational centers were Jennings, Welsh, Lake Arthur, Roanoke. The election was ordered for December 23, 1901. On February 5, 1902, Ward 7 held a fourth special ward school tax election of Calcasieu parish.

The fifth special ward tax petition was presented to the Police Jury by the citizens of Ward 5, Vinton, the largest town, on June 2, 1903. (8) The tax was for three mills, to run for a period of ten years for the purpose of aiding schools and school houses. The election was held on July 18, 1903, and passed by a large majority.

Formation and Development of Special School Districts

The Ward being such a large unit of territory, in many instances the educational needs of certain centers were greater than the rest of the ward, necessitating the passing of additional special taxes for school purposes. The Calcasieu Parish School Board recognizing this fact, created around these centers special school districts, and allowed the citizens of these districts to pass additional special taxes, that would not apply to the ward in general.

In the Record of School Board Proceedings of Calcasieu Parish (9) we find that the citizens of Roanoke, Ward 2, were the first to petition the School Board for the creation of a special school district. On August 6, 1903, the School Board granted Roanoke a special school district to be known as District No. 11. On the same date DeRidder, Ward 6, was granted a special school district to be known as District No. 12. In order, the School Board created the following special school districts: January 4, 1904, Oakdale, District No. 14; February 2, 1904, Lake Arthur, District No. 13; November 11, 1905, Vinton, District No. 15; October 11, 1906, Merryville, District No. 16; July 8, 1908, DeQuincy, District No. 17. The principal building in District No. 17 was to be known as the DeQuincy Central School.

Special District Taxes

While the practice of voting special taxes was not discontinued for some time after the voting of special district taxes began, we find in the Police Jury Proceedings for Calcasieu Parish (10) that on February 2, 1904, the Oakdale District, No. 14, and the Lake Arthur District, No. 13, petitioned the Police Jury for special district elections. The elections were granted, Oakdale to be held March 8, 1904, and Lake Arthur to be held May 21, 1904.

The first special ward election to be defeated in Calcasieu Parish was in Ward 7, Sugartown. The records do not show that the school tax issue was defeated by an election, but on May 3, 1904, (11) Mr. Sigler of Ward 7 presented the Police Jury of Calcasieu Parish a petition for a special school tax election in Ward 7. The petition was referred back by the Police Jury on account of lack of signatures. Two years later, on August 7, 1906, Ward 7 again presented a petition for a special ward election, which contained the signatures of the required one third of the property taxpayers, and an election was ordered for Ward 7, to be held November 6, 1906. The results of the Ward 7 election were as follows: (12) Total votes in favor, 109; total votes against, 55. Total valuation in favor, $35,890; total valuation against, $16,980.

Following, special school district, No. 20, Sulphur, Ward 4, passed a special tax election on June 2, 1907, (13) for 2 ½ mills, to run for five years, the purpose of which was to build a schoolhouse. The results of the election were: votes for, 91; votes against, 5; valuation for $44,800; valuation against, $7,850.

On December 3, 1907 (14) DeQuincy, Special District No. 17, voted a 5-mill, ten-year tax for the purpose of constructing, erecting and equipping school building; November 10,1908, Merryville, District No. 16; February 2, 1909, Singer, District No. 18, and DeRidder, District No. 12, voted special taxes with same millage, time and purpose. On December 7, 1909, Special District No. 15, Vinton, voted a special 5-mill, five-year erecting, constructing and equipping school building tax.

All these special building taxes carried by substantial majorities, and the first buildings of the present high schools of Jennings, Lake Arthur, Welsh, Oakdale, Kinder, Oberlin, Vinton, Sulphur, DeQuincy, Singer, Merryville, DeRidder, West Lake, and Sugartown were constructed.

The problem of keeping separate the funds of the Wards and Special Districts derived from the special school taxes became an intricate procedure, therefore, on April 24, 1909, (15) the Calcasieu Parish School Board adopted the following resolution: "That hereafter the parish treasurer be required to keep a separate and distinct account of all special taxes for school purposes, that have been voted in the various wards and districts, showing all receipts and disbursements separately of said special tax."

Sale of Sixteenth Section Lands

The phenomenal development of the Calcasieu Parish school system from 1898 to 1912 was due primarily to the revenue derived from four sources: First, an increase in the Police Jury appropriation during this period, from $3,000 to $35,000; second, the voting of Special Ward taxes for school purposes; third, the voting of Special District taxes, mainly for the purpose of erecting, constructing and equipping public schoolhouses; and fourth, the source that did not cost the people of Calcasieu the expenditure of a dollar, the sale of Sixteenth Section Lands. This source of revenue was a great aid to Superintendent McNeese all through the period of the Ward system of Calcasieu Parish schools. Records show that the sale of the first section, in 1899, was for the extremely low price of $1.25 per acre, while toward the latter part of the period, in 1911, the School Board received from the sale of timber and lands on some of the last sections sold, the fancy price of $100 per acre.

Superintendent McNeese had difficulty in arousing the interest of the people to the extent that they would take advantage of the sale of these lands to aid their public schools. But his determination and perseverance won out, and it is to his effort, largely, that there was established in the minds of the people of Calcasieu the principle of supporting their public schools.

Growth of Central Ward High Schools

There were two high schools in Calcasieu Parish before January 1, 1898. These were Sugartown, Ward 7, and Central and High School, Lake Charles, Ward 3. Both of these schools enjoyed a steady growth from the time of their adoption, but Central and High School, due to the fact that Lake Charles was the Parish Seat, was rapidly becoming the largest and foremost high school in the Parish, and many pupils were attending this school from other parts of the parish, outside of the city of Lake Charles.

At a School Board meeting, January 15, 1898, (16) the Calcasieu Parish School Board set aside $600 to be paid in three installments of $200 per year, for the years 1898, 1899, and 1900, to be paid to the Central and High School of Lake Charles, for the tuition of pupils throughout the parish attending said school for the three years.

The third center ward school to make application to the School Board for a high school was Jennings. The application was made to the School Board on October 18, 1899, (17) and it was referred to the State Board of Education at Baton Rouge, with a petition from the Calcasieu Parish School Board for same.

The Calcasieu Parish School Board and Police Jury, by September 4, 1900, had established center ward schools in all the wards of Calcasieu. The School Board at its meeting of September 4, 1900, (18) appointed the following men as local directors for the center ward schools of the parish: Ward 1, Oberlin, E. S. Clement; Ward 2, Welsh, Elio Hebert; Ward 3, Lake Charles, A. M. Mayo; Ward 2, Lake Arthur, C. St. Germain; Ward 3, Second Ward, Lake Charles, W. J. Moeling; Ward 3, Lake Charles, Goosport, R. H. Doolan; Ward 3, Lake Charles, South Ryan, C. Hood; Ward 4, West Lake, C. R. Smith; Ward 5, Vinton, J. M. Simmons; Ward 6, Merryville, T.J. Carroll; Ward 7, Sugartown, Geo. W. Richardson; Ward 8, to be supplied.

On January 18, 1901, (19) the West Lake, Deridder, and Vinton Schools were advanced by the School Board from primary graded schools to Center Ward grammar graded schools, the principals to receive $60.00 per month. The salary of Superintendent McNeese of Calcasieu Parish, was at this time $100 per month, and that of his assistant secretary $30.00 per month.

The Westlake Herald was the official newspaper of the Calcasieu Parish School Board in 1900 and 1901.

The following resolution of the School Board was also adopted at the January 18^th meeting of the Board: "That the president and secretary be authorized to warrant against the 16^th section fund belonging to the Sulphur City School District to purchase the site where school-house now stands, when title to same is made over to school board as the law directs."

Qualification of Teachers of Center Ward Schools

At a resolution of the School Board, August 7, 1901, (20) principals of center ward schools, except Lake Charles and Jennings, whose principals had been required by the Board to be college graduates, previous to this time, must be found competent to obtain certificate of high school grade, the first assistant competent to hold at least a second-grade certificate and second assistants must hold a third-grade certificate.

On September 10, (21) 1902, the Board passed a resolution requiring principals of center ward schools to be graduates of either the Peabody Normal, or graduates of other colleges of the State that were authorized by law to confer degrees.

Length of School Term

While the length of the school term for small one-and two-room schools at this time (fall, 1902) was from four to six months, on September 10, 1902 (22) by resolution of the Board, "All center ward schools now granted and prepared to go into operation shall continue for a term of eight months, with a force of teachers as the patronage of the school may justify."

Singer, Merryville, Oakdale

June 12, 1903, Singer, Ward 6, was made a center ward school, the term of school to be eight months, on July 12, 1906, the present site of Merryville School was purchased, and on January 22, 1907, the present site at Oakdale was granted, and the site and building donated by the Industrial Lumber Company was accepted by the Board.

Center Ward Schools Made High Schools

A resolution was passed by the Calcasieu Parish School Board, at its meeting on October 11, 1906, that the DeRidder, Vinton, and Merryville Schools be made high schools, and recommended to the State as desirous of becoming State High Schools, also at its meeting of April 19, 1907; the same was passed in regard to Lake Arthur and Oakdale.

Separating the Schools of Lake Charles from the Parish School System

After April 19, 1907, the city schools of Lake Charles became a separate and distinct school system, and in considering the "History of Public Education in Calcasieu Parish," the city school system of Lake Charles will not be further included.

The Calcasieu Parish School Board at its meeting April 19, 1907, (23) adopted the following resolution: "Resolved that whereas the general assembly of the state of Louisiana has by Act No. 90, approved July 7, 1900, created a school board for the city of Lake Charles to provide for public education, and who shall possess and exercise within the corporate limits of said city, all the power conferred and that may be conferred upon the Parish School Board, and who shall within said territory discharge all said duties incumbent on said board.

And whereas, there are a number of public schools maintained in said city of Lake Charles on public school property, and owned and acquired for public school purposes, within said corporate limits of said city, and purchased by public school funds belonging to public school children of said city, or donated for school purposes to the school children within said corporate limits, belongs and is subject to the control and supervision of said school board of said city of Lake Charles, in accordance with aforesaid act of the legislature of the state.

Be it therefore resolved, that the Parish Board of School Directors of Calcasieu do hereby authorize the transfer of all said city of Lake Charles, together with the buildings and improvements thereon, to the board of School Directors of the city of Lake Charles for public school purposes, and shall transfer all rights acquired by them from the donors or vendors of said public school property, provided that the said city of Lake Charles reimburse the said Parish School Board of school Directors the sum of 3,557.50 borrowed from the 16th section fund under the control of said Parish Board of School Directors, to pay for and improve property known as the High School, situated on lots six and seven East of Boulevard and South of Broad Street, and lying in the N.E. ¼ of S. E. ¼ of Section 5, Township 10, South Range 8, West Louisiana Meridian, known as the College grounds, situated in said city of Lake Charles, Louisiana, as shown by plat recorded in conveyance records of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.

And that said Parish Board of School Directors are authorized to retain the aforesaid amount of the funds now in their hands allotted to said public schools of the city of Lake Charles, and apply the same to the extinguishment of the debt due the 16^th section fund.

Be it further resolved, that the President of the Parish Board of School Directors of Calcasieu Parish is hereby authorized to transfer by regular deed, to said city Board of School Directors for the city of Lake Charles, acting through its President all and singular the right, title and interest which said Parish Board of School Directors has in its said official capacity to all and singular, the public school property situated in said corporate limits of said city of Lake Charles, and also shall transfer all policies of insurance held by said Parish Board of School Directors on said property to said Board of School Directors for the city of Lake Charles upon the payment as aforesaid of said balance due the 16^th section fund borrowed as aforesaid to purchase and improve said High School, situated in said lots of blocks six and seven.

At the same meeting of the Board the following resolution was adopted: "That the President and secretary of the Parish Board be authorized to make warrant on school treasurer in favor of the Lake Charles School Board to the extent of the amount due them, less the $3557.50, the balance due the 16^th section fund for the purchase and improvement of the High School property in accordance with above resolution as to transfer of said school property in the City School Board."

Report of Superintendent John McNeese to State Superintendent J. V. Calhoun, 1902-03 (24)

Extracts from the report of Superintendent John McNeese of Calcasieu Parish to State Superintendent J. V. Calhoun will serve to give in general terns the conditions existing in the public schools of Calcasieu during the first part of the period from 1898 to 1913, known as the system of center ward schools.

Some of the most important extracts from this report are as follows:

We had a very successful year, session 1902-03. The amount disbursed exceeded preceding year by $10,000. Four of the eight wards in the parish are paying a special tax of three mills, amounting as per assessment to over $13,000.

The towns got no part of the revenue given by the Police Jury, which this year amounts to $30,000. The principal number of rural schools begin during the summer, so the money must be on hand before school begins.

The supervision possible to be carried on in this parish is by superintendent and local directors of each school. I have recommended the great necessity of an assistant superintendent to meet the growing needs of the work in the parish. The present number of teachers in this parish should be at least two hundred.

The present progress in articulating the primary, elementary and high school work fairly well to conform to our present course of study, is passing through its constructive period with good promise. The center ward schools are connected between the elementary schools of the parish and the high schools.

The tendency is more and more to centralize and make permanent good schools. Three years ago 25% of the pupils enrolled, were in ten of the largest schools, while now 40% of the pupils enrolled are in ten schools of the 170 class.

Since the increase of railroads and the better condition of public roads, we are growing in inclination to advocate the consolidation of schools in rural districts, and transportation of pupils thereto. Our center ward schools were a beginning to such a move.

Summary of Teachers session 1902-03

Reports on High Schools, Calcasieu Parish Session 1910-1911

The center ward schools at Jennings, Welsh, Oakdale, Lake Arthur, and Vinton had become state-approved high schools by the beginning of the session 1910-1911. Extracts from reports of the principals of these schools to Superintendent John McNeese for the session 1910-1911, will serve to show the extent to which these schools had developed by this time.

Report of C. E. Laborde, Principal at Vinton (25)

The session opened on the 5^th day of September, 1910, with an enrollment of 160 pupils in eleven grades, with seven teachers in charge. Every scholastic month marked an increase in the enrollment until the 250 mark was reached. At that time another teacher was added to the faculty.

The improvement made during the past session is one of the prominent features in the history of the Vinton school. The building, though fairly adequate to the needs, had to be much unproved before the High School Inspector recommended the school to the State Department of Education for recognition as a state-approved high school. A complete laboratory was added to the high school department, thus making practical the study of the various sciences. Maps, physiology charts, and globes were added in the grades, besides sufficient blackboards in all rooms.

The sanitary conditions were improved by the installation of window shades in the entire building, and modern heaters in the classrooms. The floors were treated with a coat of Standard Floor Dressing, and feather dusters were discarded, the improved condition of sanitation being clearly marked in the appearance and increased activity of both teachers and children. The premises were also improved by strict observance of the sanitary code as prescribed by the State Board of Health.

The organization of different clubs, Corn Clubs for boys, and Domestic Science for girls, were steps taken during the session in the industrial line. The enthusiastic feeling existing among the girls for the progress of their club was well manifested at the outset by the large membership enrolled and by the amount of work done during their course. Among the features of the club was the reception tendered the ladies of the School Improvement League by the members of the Club exclusively. Assistant Superintendent Hamilton honored the Club by his presence for the occasion.

All classrooms were furnished with libraries fairly adequate to the needs, though not complete. A new one was added to the fourth room during the term.

One of the best School Improvement Leagues in the state was organized in Vinton three years past and has been living with the school ever since. It was one of the most effective factors of help in that town. Its contribution of medals, premiums to the school and especially to the clubs, is a strong incentive in promoting interest among the pupils. Some of its work last term was the addition of a high grade piano to the school, a set of modern lights for the auditorium, and the defraying of expenses for a janitor.

With a knowledge of the conditions existing and the difficulties overcome during the term, the Vinton High School has marked well with the other high schools in the state.

Report of J. L. Anderson, Principal at Jennings (26)

It is my pleasure to report that the schools at Jennings closed a satisfactory school year, May 19, 1911. The work of this year has been both profitable and pleasant to all parties concerned. The faculty has responded to all duties imposed upon them with credit to themselves and profit to the community. The pupils have been very mindful of the opportunities afforded them by their parents and have the best record for work and achievement so far recorded here. The patrons have been loyal in the fullest sense, and harmony throughout the year has prevailed.

The average attendance has been ever on the increase, and only loss has been due to removal from our midst. The monthly per centum of attendance as a result has been extremely good. During the past year we have enrolled 230 boys and 270 girls. We have kept up our reputation of having the largest per cent of high school pupils in attendance in this section of the state.

During the year we have made some improvements. However, with our new and modern school house, little had been left to us in the way of improvement. One fact that we might mention is the installation of the sanitary drinking fountain, and the addition of some grade equipment and numerous books for the several grade libraries. Our library now amounts to over a thousand volumes of well chosen books.

It is our pleasure to report that the State Sanitary Inspector gave us a clean record. 

Our work this year has conformed to the State Department’s requirements, having completed the course as outlined with much additional work. Every senior in the high school made full credit, and was granted a State diploma. The boys of the senior class made up 45 per cent of the enrollment of the class.

In our special department, much attention was paid to the industrial work. We were the winners of several prizes at the State Teacher’s Association in art and industrial work. Much interest has been taken by the pupils in sewing and shop work. We hope to add more of this work another year.

In closing this brief summary, I desire to state that our success for the year has been due in great measure, sir, to your personal help and interest and that of the able assistants in your office.

Report of J. Van Sant, Principal at Lake Arthur (27)

The Lake Arthur High School reached its maximum enrollment of 308 during the session of 1911, just closed. The average attendance was very good throughout the session, especially in the high school department.

The house was thoroughly cleaned, the floors oiled, and regular janitor installed during the session. New water-coolers were placed in the rooms and individual drinking cups used. For these improvements, however, we are very much indebted to the ladies of the Civic League.

No Corn Club or Domestic Science Club was organized this session, but plans were discussed for the organization of both next session, so as to have the Domestic Science Club meet with the Jennings Clubs. With persistence on the part of the organizers, the above plan, I feel sure, could be very successfully carried out.

Since all of the pupils had full access to the town library, there were but few books added to the school library during the past session.

Plans for grading and fencing the school yard were matured to the extent that $25.00 were raised for the purpose. The town council promised to supplement the above-named amount and to supervise the work, which, I hope, is now under headway.

Report of W. P. Arnette, Principal at Welsh (28)

This has been another year of marked improvement in our school. The enrollment increased from 250 to 340.

Two wagonettes brought pupils to our school from country districts. The people from these districts were well pleased with the wagonette arrangement and our country districts are asking for more wagonettes.

One new teacher was added to the faculty, and another room was equipped with forty new patent desks, one teacher’s desk, and eight Venetian blinds. Plans are already completed for two more rooms with necessary equipment, and one more teacher is engaged for another year.

Plans are completed for new sanitary closets and waterworks for laboratory. This work will be done before the opening of another school year.

The Corn Club consists of ten members this year and all report fine prospects. The two prizes won by our boys, best yield by Alton Fontenot, and best ear by Loyd Smith, have stimulated our boys to their best efforts for the next contest.

A Domestic Science Club of about twelve members was organized and is under the supervision of the teachers. Several nice pieces have already been made by these girls.

Thirty dollars worth of books was added to our splendid library and forty dollars worth of apparatus to our well equipped laboratory.

A Civic League was organized in our town this spring and a special committee was appointed to help the teachers look after the school grounds. In consequence of this, the old fencing has been torn from the back yard and the grass neatly mown and the flower beds are all gay.

Two school entertainments netted us $230 for incidentals.

Report of Floyd Hamilton, Principal at Oakdale (29)

I wish to submit the following report of the Oakdale High School for the session ending May 19, 1911.

Oakdale High School has enjoyed a very prosperous and successful session. There was a total enrollment of 386 pupils.

In addition to regular work of the course, considerable interest was manifested in the Corn Club movement. About 25 members were enrolled and two prizes were taken at the Parish Fair at Lake Charles in November. The girls’ Domestic Science Club, though hampered by lack of room and equipment, accomplished some very good results, especially in sewing. A public exhibit of this work brought forth some very favorable comments from the patrons. We expect to make this work a regular feature, and thoroughly practical. To the end that it may be a success, we solicit the hearty support of all concerned. All of this work was done supplementary and not at the expense of any of the regular work. This is proved by the fact that of those taking the work more than ninety per cent did satisfactory work and were promoted.

Other school activities also received their share of attention. We had a football team that would have done credit to any high school in the state. Four games won and none lost is the record in brief. We scored a total of 73 points with only five against us. With one entry, two first places, and one second were captured at the Parish Fair. The girls’ basket ball team, though up to usual standard of excellence was forced by continued rain to close the season with less to its credit. Only two games were played. At the annual meet of the North Calcasieu Athletic Association, the first prize in quartet singing, recitation, and spelling were won by pupils from the Oakdale School, which speaks well for the interest manifested by the pupils in their school work.

We believe that the past session was one of the best in the history of the school.

In conclusion, I wish to express my appreciation of the hearty support given me, as principal, by you, as superintendent, and by the local school authorities.

Report of Ward Anderson, Principal at DeRidder (30)

With an enrollment of 600 the DeRidder High School stands first in size among the parish high schools. One-fourth of the pupils enrolled in 1910-11 were in the primary classes. This indicates that there will be a rapid increase in the enrollment during the next few years. To meet this growth in the school a new building is needed and plans are now on foot to erect a modern, up-to-date structure, commensurate with the growing demands of the district. A very small percent of the pupils who attend the DeRidder High School are from the country, consequently there is not the demand for agricultural training found in other schools of the parish, but there is a keen interest in the domestic science work.

Girls’ clubs have been organized in all grades above the third and instruction in sewing is given and, while actual instruction in cooking cannot be given, the pupils are encouraged in such work in their homes. In the grammar grades the work in manual training is well carried out and several blue ribbons from the Parish Fair attest to the quality of work and also furnish an incentive to better and greater efforts in the future.

During the year some excellent reference books were added to the library. These books were for use in the History work. The latest edition of Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary was also added.

Interest in athletics was keen and most excellent results were got from the physical training. The high school foot ball team won three of the four games played; the track team won the greatest number of points in the meeting of the North Calcasieu Athletic Association. Jessee Smylie, the only boy sent to Baton Rouge, won the oratorical contest in the state meet. DeRidder is now a member of the athletic association that meets annually at Lafayette.

No common drinking cups were allowed on the school grounds and in the near future drinking fountains will be put in. This is made possible by the excellent water furnished by the Hudson River Lumber Company free of charge to the school.

Report of L. D. McCollister, Principal at Merryville (31)

The Merryville Agricultural School, located in the western portion of Calcasieu Parish, enrolled more than 300 students during the session 1910-11, and had a fairly good average attendance.

In order for our school to serve the homes, there has been provided at great cost, a Domestic Science Department for girls, and a farm for boys. The Domestic science building, modern in every respect, was constructed during the early part of the year and furnished with all the necessary equipment to make the work a success. The girls have taken a genuine interest in cooking and sewing and the course is comprehensive so that when they have completed the high school course, they will be proficient in one of the highest arts, that of real home making. A room in the Domestic Science building has been furnished with tools for the benefit of the boys.

The primary room has been furnished with three dozen Kindergarten chairs and several new desks during the year. Lecture chairs have been purchased for the laboratory and agriculture rooms.

The school has recently purchase a twenty-two volume encyclopedia worth $85.00, whish is a fine addition to our already good library.

The Corn Club is gaining the attention of many of our boys. They are making a strenuous effort to gain some of the prizes offered. Several of our girls have become members of the Home Economics Club that they might not be left behind the boys in bringing something to pass.

Our school is trying to serve the people the best it can. We realize that education means efficiency. Therefore, we teach those things which enable the boys to be worth something to a community, and the girls to help make a home ideal.

Data on Agricultural Department, Merryville High School (32)

The Agricultural Department of the Merryville High School was under the supervision of Mr. B. E. Carroll, (33) Teacher of Agriculture. This was the first Agricultural High School in Calcasieu and one of the first in the state.

The Home Economics Department of the Merryville High School, during the session 1910-11, was in charge of Miss Clyde Mobley, (34) who is now with the State Department of Education of Louisiana, and is the High School Supervisor of Home Economics for the State of Louisiana.

The Home Economics Department of Merryville High School was also the first organized department of its kind in Calcasieu Parish, and one of the first in the State of Louisiana. The Home Economics Department was an outgrowth of the sewing and cooking club movement.

Report of Superintendent John McNeese to the Calcasieu Parish School Board, Session 1910-11

The annual report of Superintendent John McNeese to the Calcasieu Parish School Board for the session 1910-11, (35) will serve to give the development of the Calcasieu system as a whole, during the latter part of the period 1989 to 1913. The financial part of the report is omitted, as this will be given in the financial statistics report later.

Extract from report is as follows:

We now have on the list seven approved high schools, and Sulphur School will be added to the number of high schools soon, now that the new building will be ready for occupancy in the near future. In addition to the high schools, we have fifteen graded schools that are doing good work through the ninth grade.

Consolidation is fast taking place, the only factor tending to retard the movement being one of finance. It is more expensive to consolidate the smaller schools and operate wagonettes, but the service rendered fully justifies the outlay. We had during the past year 24 wagonettes in operation, making an average of 16 children in daily attendance.

The work in the Corn Clubs has been continued. Not so Many boys were enrolled this year as last, there being no effort to secure a large membership, the effort being made, rather, to secure boys all of whom would be successful. It is believed to be better to have a small membership and have only those who are calculated to make practical demonstrations of the advantage of scientific small agriculture than to have a large membership and have many whose efforts are failures.

During the past year Home Economic Clubs have been organized among the girls between the ages of ten and 18 years of age. The purpose of the organization is to more closely connect the school and the home life. The girls are being instructed in sewing and cooking and it is believed that the work will result in much good to the schools.

The installation and extension of libraries has been continued, there having been added to the high school libraries 2,466 volumes and to the elementary grades 9,394 volumes. Under the provision of the Board, each grade or room having a library is entitled to receive current reading matter of $2.50 for the session, and much has been distributed.

I am grad to report that the teaching force is regarded as one of the most efficient corps of teachers employed by any School Board in the State. A very large per cent of them are attending the summer normals and a majority attending the monthly institutes the past session.

During the past session, Miss May Breazeale was employed as supervisor and while it was impossible for her to do much close supervision, her visits resulted in much good to the system by improving sanitary conditions and by the helpful suggestions and aid she was able to give to the teachers. Owing to vast amount of work to be done in connection with this work and the difficulty of reaching many of the country districts, it was thought best to engage a gentleman as supervisor for the coming year. Mr. J. Van Sant, who the past session, was principal at Lake Arthur, has accepted the work and will enter on his duties in September.

Thanking you for the able support you have given me as your executive officer, I beg to remain, etc.

Financial Report Calcasieu Parish School Board July1, 1910 to July 1, 1911 (36)

RECEIPTS

Financial Report Calcasieu Parish School Board July 1, 1910 to July 1, 1911 (37)

Disbursements

Courses and Subjects Taught in Calcasieu Parish Schools from 1898 to 1913

The schools of Calcasieu taught all the subjects recommended by the State Course of Study during the period 1898 to 1912. (38) During the years 1907 to 1910 the idea of vocational work in connection with the school sprang up, and we find Corn Clubs and Domestic Science Clubs being organized in most of the large Center Ward Schools and high schools. The work of these Clubs was so successful that the result was the addition of two special courses to the course of study for Calcasieu, the Domestic Science Course and the Agricultural Course. Not long after this the Commercial Course was added to the list of subjects taught in the schools of Calcasieu.

CHAPTER III

Public Education in Calcasieu Parish from 1913 to 1933
General Policies

The state law enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana in 1912, which divided "Old Imperial Calcasieu" into four parishes, Beauregard, Allen, Jefferson Davis, and Calcasieu, became effective January 1, 1913. While the division of the original parish of Calcasieu, for all other purposes, was completed January 1, 1913, the schools of the four parishes continued under the administration of Superintendent John McNeese of Lake Charles, until July 1, 1913.

In the fall of 1913, Superintendent McNeese resigned from the Board, and Fuller M. Hamilton, who had been assistant superintendent under Mr. McNeese since 1909, became Superintendent of Calcasieu Parish. Mr. Hamilton served as Superintendent from 1913 to 1917. In the spring of 1917, Superintendent Hamilton resigned, and was succeeded by F. K. White, who served as Superintendent of Calcasieu Parish Schools for twelve years, from 1917 to 1928. During the term of office of Superintendent White and under his direction, Calcasieu developed one of  the most wealthy and efficient school system in the State of Louisiana. Upon the resignation of Superintendent White, in the fall of 1928, the School Board appointed Mr. H. A. Norton, Superintendent of Schools, who is at present holding this position.

The first School Board of Calcasieu Parish, that is, the present Calcasieu, was organized in the fall of 1913, and composed of Dr. R. W. Vincent, President, Sulphur, Ward 4; J. W. Rosteet, Vice President, Lake Charles, Ward 3; Joseph Roberts, Gillis, Ward 1; L.L. Funk, Iowa, Ward 2; J. E. Burch, Starks, Ward 5; Rev. Robert L. Miers, DeQuincy, Ward 6; J. J. Dubourg, Vinton, Ward 7; F.M. Hamilton, Supt. Sec.-Tres., F.A. Ford, Assistant Superintendent, Lake Charles; Inez Alston, Assistant Secretary, Lake Charles; Dr. G. C. McKinney, Medical Supervisor, Lake Charles; Paul D. Perkins, Special Agent in Charge of Farmers Cooperative Demonstration Work and Director of Boys’ Agricultural Clubs, Lake Charles; Clyde Mobley, Special Agent in Charge Extension Work for Women, and Director of Girls’ Agricultural Clubs, Lake Charles.

The general policies of the Calcasieu Pariah school System in 1914-17, under Superintendent Hamilton as given by himself, were as follows: 1. "First, that every child, no matter where it may live, or what its condition in life may be, is entitled to equal school advantages with other children. Second that our schools should utilize for educational purposes the activities of the various communities, in so far as this may be found practicable. Third, the school proper cannot be divorced from the other educational factors of the community, but that all educational forces must be utilized and correlated for the education of all the people." In general, the work of the school system embraced, under Superintendent Hamilton, "The Schools and School Plants," "Agricultural Extension Work," "Medical Supervision," and "Adult Extension Work for Women."

During Superintendents White’s administration of the Calcasieu Parish Schools, 1917 to 1928, the following may be given as the underlying principles of development: First, placing the Calcasieu Parish School System on a strong financial footing; second, establishment of classroom supervision in the schools; third, standardization of school work by achievement testing programs; fourth, homogeneous grouping of pupils by intelligence testing; fifth, improvement of school buildings and erection of new and modern high school plants; sixth, placing all teachers on a definite salary schedule; seventh, began a program of consolidation of small rural schools.

Enrollment in Calcasieu Parish Schools 1913 to 1933

The enrollment of the pupils in the schools of Calcasieu enjoyed a steady growth during the twenty-year period, 1913 to 1933, the first twenty-year period since the division of the parish.

The city of Lake Charles has a separate school system and is not included in the history of the enrollment of Calcasieu Parish.

During the session 1913-14, there were enrolled 3,135 white children in the schools of Calcasieu, with an average attendance of 1,818. There was a continual increase in both enrollment and average attendance until the session 1924-25, the enrollment reached 4,915 pupils, with and average attendance of 3601.8. During the year 1925-26 the Union Sulphur Company ceased to operate its sulphur mines, situated near Sulphur, Louisiana, Calcasieu Parish, consequently a large majority of the employees of the company were dismissed, and practically all of them left the Parish and State for re-employment. Owing to this fact, mainly, the enrollment of Calcasieu during the session 1925-26 dropped from 4,915 in 1924-25 to 4,384 in 1925-26, a loss of 531 pupils. The average attendance also decreased from 3601.8 in 1924-25 to 3479.2 in 1925-26. However, since the year 1925-26 the enrollment has increased rather rapidly, even though the depression has been on, until during the past session, 1932-33, the enrollment reached a maximum of 5, 214, and average attendance, 4,443.

The following table gives the enrollment and average attendance of all white schools of Calcasieu Parish, from session 1913-33, the first session after the present parish was organized, to and including session 1932-33, the first twenty-year period of the present Calcasieu Parish School System. *

*All data on Calcasieu Parish School System, from 1913-33, unless otherwise stated, was secured from Records in the Calcasieu Parish School Board Office, Lake Charles, Louisiana.

TABLE XII
Enrollment and Average Attendance of Calcasieu Parish Schools from 1913 to 1933

It may be seen from the above table that the enrollment of Calcasieu Parish gained 66.3 per cent from 1913 to 1933, while the average attendance gained 144.4 per cent during the same period.

Financing in the Schools of Calcasieu from 1912-33

When the parish of Calcasieu was divided in 1912, the receipts of the new parish were considerably smaller than the receipts of the old parish had been. The receipts of the School Board of "Imperial Calcasieu" on July 1, 1911, were $267,897.93, as compared with the receipts of the Board of the present parish on July 1, 1915, of $171,565.51. There were many sawmills and such timber lands that passed from Calcasieu and made up the assessment rolls of other parishes. However, Calcasieu was not left destitute in regard to property values in her midst. Her main assessments were made up of rice lands, the Union Sulphur Company property, or Sulphur Mines, railroads and few sawmills. Oil and naval stores were other sources from which Calcasieu, since 1915, received an increasing amount of revenue.

Following the close of the World War the Calcasieu Parish School Board began the policy of running the schools on a cash basis. (2) The expenditures of the Board were curtailed, and the schools were run very economically, with no debts incurred by the School Board from year to year.

In the early twenties, during the years 1921 and 1922 the Union Sulphur Company entered suit against Calcasieu Parish, to contest their assessments, upon the grounds that they were assessed too high. The court proceedings continued for two years, consequently no tax money was received from the Union Sulphur Company during this period of litigation, for the support of the schools. Yet the School Board refused to borrow money, but rather ran the schools from the revenue derived from the rest of the parish. When the Court adjustment was made, and the Union Sulphur Company settled with the parish for the back taxes during the time their assessment was tied up in Court Proceedings, the amount received by the School Board produced a surplus of around $200,000. This was the basis for the beginning of the surplus accumulated by the Calcasieu Parish School Board, during the years 1920 to 1928, when the assessment of property was high, culminating June 30, 1928, the sum of $421,405.51.

The purpose of accumulating this surplus was to be protected against the time when the natural resources, such as sulphur and timber would be exhausted. The School Board realized that some day it would be faced with the problem of rapidly decreasing assessments, then the surplus should be used instead of voting more taxes upon the people, or lowering school standards to a point not to be desired. The decrease of assessment came as the Board surmised.  Following are the assessments of Calcasieu Parish for the years indicated: 1920, $49,236,342; 1926, $31,078,610; 1927, $23,376,550; 1928, $20,113,250; 1929, $19,108,000; 1930, $19,131,640; 1931, $18,679,520. In 1929 a two-mill school tax expired that was not re-voted, this together with decrease in revenues due to lowering of assessments, and the increase in current expenses, due to increased enrollment, in 1929 forced the Board to begin drawing on the surplus, and for the years 1929, 1930, and 1931 there was an average of $36,450.30 per year used from this fund. On June 30, 1931 the surplus was $313,054.60. More of this surplus was used to tide the Board over the remaining years of the depression, 1932-1933. In 1914-15 the cost per pupil to educate, based on enrollment, was $36.81 per year, based on average attendance the cost was $45.81. While we find that through the twenty-year period ending 1933, the cost to educate the pupil gradually climbed until based on registration or enrollment, the cost was in 1932-33, $52.23, and based on average attendance, $62.31.

The bonded indebtedness of the parish, including the new high school building at DeQuincy and the two new modern brick buildings in the high school plant at LaGrange, was only $288,700 on July 1, 1931. This is low, as all bonded indebtedness of the parish expires January 1, 1935, with the exception of DeQuincy and LaGrange.

The receipts and expenditures of the Calcasieu Parish School Board by five-year periods from 1914-15 to 1930-31 were as follows: 1914-15, receipts, $171,565.54 and expenditures $171,565.54; 1920-21, receipts, $474,877.25, expenditures $327,334.77; 1926-27, receipts $353,624.30, expenditures $254,853.89; 1930-31, receipts, $254,628.63, and expenditures $287,520.86.

Records show that in the twenty-year period since the organization of the present parish of Calcasieu, the people of this parish have not voted down a single school tax. This shows that the people are anxious for their children to be educated, and that they are willing to support their public schools.

High Schools of Calcasieu Parish

When the present Calcasieu Parish School System began, July 1, 1913, there were only four state-approved high schools in the parish, and these were located at Vinton, DeQuincy, Sulphur, and Westlake. During the session 1921-22, Iowa was approved, 1922-23, Bell City was approved, 1927-28, Starks was approved, and in 1930-31, LaGrange was approved, making in all at the present eight state-approved high schools in the parish.

Of the eight high schools in the parish, three are on the accredited list of the Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools of the Southern States. DeQuincy, accredited in 1920; Vinton, accredited in 1922; and Sulphur, accredited in 1924.

Enrollment and Number of Graduates of Calcasieu High Schools, 1913-14 to 1932-33

The number of pupils enrolled in the high schools of Calcasieu gained 732 per cent from 1913-14 to 1932-33. During the session 1913-14 there were enrolled in the high schools only 137 pupils, with an average attendance of 96. During the session 1932-33 there were enrolled 1,004 pupils, with an average attendance of 860. During this period the number of high school graduates increased from 12, in 1913-14, to 171 in 1931-32.

The following table gives the number of pupils enrolled, the average attendance, and the number of graduates in the high schools of Calcasieu Parish from the session 1913-14 to 1932-33.

TABLE XIII
Enrollment, Average Attendance, and Graduates of the High School of Calcasieu Parish from 1913 to 1933

Courses Offered in Calcasieu Parish High Schools

The courses taught in the four high schools of Calcasieu as given by Superintendent F. W. Hamilton, in his Educational Report of Calcasieu Parish Schools, (3) 1914-15, were as follows: Sulphur, "Courses Comprising literary work, Commercial, Manual Training, Home Economics, and Art are offered by competent instructors. There is run in connection with the school a demonstration farm, which in time, will become a school farm in the accepted sense of that term." Westlake, "This school offers only the literary and domestic science courses at the present time, but it is expected that other courses will be added as the demands for them increase, and the enrollment becomes greater." Vinton, "The school has literary, commercial, and domestic science courses, and practical work in gardening is offered in connection with the agricultural studies." DeQuincy, "This school offers the same courses as the Vinton School."

During the session 1918-19 Sulphur High School became a State-approved Agricultural High School, and added the regular agricultural courses.

In Iowa High School, also Starks, Bell City, and Westlake at the present time is offered the General Course, consisting of English, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, Foreign Language and Vocational Subjects, and the Home Economics Course, consisting of the above, with the exception of the Foreign Language. Also, under the new 1933 State Course of Study these schools may offer the College-Preparatory Course, which calls for more Mathematics, more Science, and more Foreign Language.

In the Vinton, Dequincy, and LaGrange High Schools at the present time the following courses are offered: The College Preparatory, Home Economics, Commercial, and General Course. At Sulphur High School is offered the College Preparatory, Home Economics, General, and Agricultural Courses.

Types of School Buildings Erected in Calcasieu Parish from 1913-1933, and Their Cost

The first two years that Professor F. M. Hamilton was Superintendent of Calcasieu, from July 1, 1913, to July 1 1915, he constructed eight new brick school buildings, at a cost of $129,220.44. During the same period he constructed eight frame school buildings at a cost of $18,206.25, making a total in the two years spent for new school buildings, $155,911.84. (4)

These buildings were modern at the time they were constructed, but they are rapidly becoming out-of-date. Practically all of the wooden buildings have been discarded, and the schools consolidated with larger schools.

The Vinton High School Building constructed in 1917, is a fairly modern building. The new high school buildings at Sulphur and DeQuincy, constructed in 1922 and 1925, are modern, adequate, and well-constricted buildings. The two beautiful new brick buildings at LaGrange High School, constructed in 1931 and 1932, are completely modern in every respect.

TABLE XIV
Data on Type, Size, and Cost of School Buildings of Calcasieu Parish

The above table gives name of buildings, cost, date of erection, type of building, number of stories, number of rooms, and number of classrooms of all school building in Calcasieu Parish in 1933.

Consolidation of Schools in Calcasieu Parish 1913 to 1933

Superintendent Hamilton began the program of consolidation in Calcasieu in 1914, and it was continued by Superintendent White during his administration, 1917-28, and by Superintendent Norton until at the present time there are no one-teacher schools in Calcasieu, only one two-teacher school, four three-teacher schools, two four-teacher schools, and eight five or more teacher schools.

In 1914 the number of consolidated schools in the parish was 12; in 1915 the number had increased to 18. A school was considered consolidated if it employed two or more teachers.

The following table shows rate of consolidation of schools in Calcasieu Parish from 1914 to 1932.

TABLE XV
Consolidation of Calcasieu Parish Schools, 1914-1933

It may be seen from the above table that over 50 per cent of the schools of the parish are the large high schools, there being eight state-approved high schools in the parish, and seven graded schools less than high schools.

Transportation

The consolidation of public schools calls for transporting the pupils from the communities where the smaller schools were situated to the larger schools.

Consolidation and transportation have been developed in Calcasieu Parish to the extent that at the present it is more costly to educate the rural child than it should be.

In 1914, there were 140 pupils transported in Calcasieu, and there were 3,135 pupils enrolled. The number transported was 4.4 percent of the enrollment. This number has increased to the extent that of the 5,070 pupils enrolled in the Calcasieu Parish schools during the session 1930-31, 2,298 were transported, or 45 per cent.

The total cost of transporting children in 1914 was $2,064.25 per year, in 1915, $4,613.85, and in 1930-31, $36,032.85.

The average salary paid transfer drivers in 1914 was $38.57 per month, in 1915, $53.00 per month, and in 1930-31, $85.00 per month.

The average cost per pupil registered per month to transport was $1.93 in 1914, $3.18 in 1915, and $2.34 in 1930-31.

In 1914 and 1915 the vehicles used to transport children to school were horse-drawn wagonettes, with few or no comforts. This mode of transportation was slow and could not be used on long routes. With the advent of good roads, this mode of transportation was replaced by the motor bus, which is more rapid, and can be used on longer routes. At the present time specially built auto busses are used, mainly and the majority of them are fairly comfortable.

The first school transfer salary schedule was made in 1927. This schedule was exactly like the one given in Table XVI, 1931, with the exception that the 1927 schedule was $5.00 per month higher on all salaries.

The bus drivers are responsible men, residing in the community of the route, and paid by the School Board according to a salary schedule which at present is as follow:

TABLE XVI
School Transfer Salary Schedule, 1931

TABLE XVII
Transportation of Pupils, Calcasieu Parish, Session 1930-1931

The Teaching Force of Calcasieu, 1913-33

Calcasieu has always had a well-qualified teaching staff. The main reason for this is that Calcasieu has consistently paid higher than average salaries, and therefore could command the best teachers.

Records show that as far back as the session 1913-14, out of 91 teachers employed, there were only two teachers in the parish holding third-grade certificates, 29 holding second-grade certificates, and the remaining 60 holding either first-grade certificates or Normal or College diplomas. There were two men and two women holding College degrees, 2 men and 18 women holding Normal diplomas, and 14 men and 26 women holding first-grade certificates.

In 1915 there were no third-grade teachers in the parish and only 18 second-grade. There were 13 men and 34 women holding first-grade certificates, five men and 22 women holding Normal diplomas, and 7 men and 13 women holding College degrees.

In 1931, of the 151 teachers of Calcasieu there were 10 with College degrees, in the elementary school, and 45 with College degrees in the high schools. Fifty-five of the 151 teachers holding four-year College degrees. The remaining 96 had two or more years of College work.

The qualifications of Calcasieu teachers have been raised steadily through the period, 1913 to 1933. At present the State Board of Education specifies the type of certificate to be used in both elementary and high schools of the state. Calcasieu has always met these requirements. In order to be qualified to teach in the elementary school it is necessary to have a two-year course in an approved teaching-training college, and for teaching in high school a degree from a standard college or university is required. (5) These requirements of the state have aided Calcasieu in maintaining her high standard of qualifications of the teaching force.

Not only have teachers been required to be qualified, but they have desired to improve themselves professionally. The first method of teacher improvement was the Parish Teachers Institute. (6) This Institute was held bi-monthly in 1915, and 86 percent of the teachers employed attended. At these Institutes such educational books as A Brief Course in the Teaching Process, by Strayer; Standards in Education, by Chamberlain; Teaching the Common Branches, by Charters; and High School Administration, by Hollister, were studied by the teachers. The teachers of the parish have always been willing, though not required by the School Board, to attend summer schools. The have also read professional books and journals throughout the school year, which has for many years been practically a requirement.

Experience

It has been the custom in Calcasieu to continue a teacher in her position as long as he or she gives satisfaction. Because of this, good teachers have remained for years in the same position, or at least in the parish. Good salaries also have tended to hold teachers in the parish for a number of years. Due to these conditions prevailing in the school system, we find that as early as 1920, 54 percent of the teaching staff had five or more years of experience. In 1931 the Report to the State Department on Teachers for Calcasieu shows that almost fifty percent of the teachers, to be exact, 43.6 percent had six or more years’ experience and 20 percent had eleven or more years’ experience.

Salaries Paid Teachers

Salaries paid in Calcasieu have been considered among the best in the state; however, during the period of the World War, when prices were high, and salaries of other professions high, teachers were not paid in accordance, due to the fact that the School Board was establishing a cash basis system for the running the schools at that time. In 1915 the average salary paid men teachers was $85.18 per month, the average paid women was $65.12, and the average both together was $70.13. From this, salaries increased as the years passed, until the peak was reached under the salary schedule of 1927-28, which schedule remained in force three years, until 1931-32 before being reduced. The following table shows the salaries paid under the salary schedule of 1927-28.

TABLE XVIII
Salary Schedule of Principals and Assistant Principals, 1927-1928

Groups 1, 2, and 3 paid on an annual basis, twelve months. Groups 4 and 5 paid on school month basis, nine months. Assistant Principals were paid on school month basis, nine months.

TABLE XIV
Teachers' Salary Schedule 1927-1928

Supervision

Local supervision in the schools of Calcasieu has been and is at present done by the superintendent, Assistant Superintendent or Supervisor of Elementary Schools, and the principals of the different schools.

There has been only two Parish Supervisors since the parish was organized, Mr. F. A. Ford, from 1913 to 1928, who is at present Dr. Ford, Dean of Education, Louisiana State Normal College, and Mr. H. M. Wells, who began in 1928 and is at present holding the office.

Both Superintendent Hamilton, 1913-17, and Superintendent White, 1917-28, did considerable general supervision in addition to their administrative duties. One of the supervisory activities undertaken by Superintendent Hamilton was a program from 1914 to 1917 to put into the schools, which had for its purpose the elimination of waste due to poor average attendance. During these years the enrollment and especially the average attendance were improved in the Calcasieu Parish Schools.

The main features of Superintendent White’s supervisory program were the standardization of grades, by means of Standardized Tests, and the introduction of a program of classroom supervision. These features perfected and improved are some of the reasons why Calcasieu enjoys a strong educational system today.

Assistant Superintendent Ford’s duty was to supervise in the elementary schools of the parish. Some of the strong points of Professor Ford’s career as supervisor in Calcasieu, 1913 to 1928, were as follows: First, the development of a reading program in the elementary school, to the extent that it was not unusual for an elementary pupil in the second grade, or any grade, to read as high as forty books per session. Second, the development of a system of teaching spelling in Calcasieu schools: it was in connection with this method of teaching spelling that Dr. Ford developed his famous "Record of Misspelled Words" that has been used not only in Calcasieu but also in other states as well. Third, in 1922, Supervisor Ford introduced the first teacher-rating pad used in the parish. This pad was to be used by the principal of the school and parish supervisor when observing a classroom teacher. On this pad the essential points that make a good recitation were listed, and as the lesson was taught, criticisms were noted by each of these points. A carbon sheet was used at each observation, and when the lesson ended the teacher was given a copy of the criticisms. Fourth, the elementary libraries were built up to the extent that Calcasieu ranked with the best parishes in the state in this respect. Fifth, assignment note-books for both teachers and pupils were introduced.  In these notebooks the teachers were required to write the aims and the questions on the assignment before going to class to teach a lesson. The questions on the assignment were written on the board from the teacher’s assignment notebook, to be used later by the pupil as an aid in preparation of the assignment. The pupil assignment note-book system is still in use today.

Mr. Ford supervised every elementary teacher in the parish from [of] to three times yearly, depending upon his estimate of a teacher as to the amount of help needed.

In the fall of 1928 Superintendent Norton and Assistant Superintendent Wells assumed the duties of local supervisors of Calcasieu. Superintendent Norton supervises the high school work and Mr. Wells, the elementary.

During the session 1928-29 Superintendents Norton and Wells issued a pamphlet, "A Hand Book of Supervision", for Calcasieu Parish Schools. Every teacher in the parish is given a copy of this hand book to refer to during the school session. The subjects upon which instruction and information are given are as follows:

1. Administrative Duties of the Principal.
2. Supervision of Janitor’s Duties.
3. Discipline.
4. Grouping of Pupils.
5. Supervisory Work of the Principal.
6. Teaching Pupils to Study.
7. Lesson Planning.
8. A Standard Method of Recitation.
9. Methods of Teaching Each Subject.
10. Checking and Testing.
11. Subjects Receiving Special Emphasis.
12. Teaching Inter-Curricular Subjects.
13. Extra-Curricular Activities.
14. Libraries.
15. Professional Growth.

The supervisors, principals, and teachers work hand in hand for the success of the present supervisory program.  A brief discussion of some of the important phases of the program would include:

First, Lesson Planning. Each teacher in the parish is required to write plans for each lesson taught, in the subjects that they teach. These plans are written two weeks in advance of the time the lesson is to be taught. They are written in a plan book, and it is the duty of the principal to analyze them, and point out to the teacher possible ways of improvement. Second, Lesson Observation. Superintendent Norton, in the high school, and Wells in the elementary school, observe each teacher in the parish four times during the session, and the principal in the larger high schools observes each teacher in his faculty from eight to twelve times during the session. The usual length of the observation period is one hour, the extent of one lesson, unless the observation is in the lower grades, then more than one lesson is observed. In many of these observations only praise or commendation can be given, as there were no bad features, but in many others, in addition to praise and commendation on the good features of the recitation, sympathetic aid and suggestions should be given on the points that need improvement. When a teacher is observed she is rated by the supervisor from excellent to unsatisfactory on a teacher-rating blank specially prepared for the purpose. No teacher is supervised without a conference following the observation, in which all the points of the recitation are discussed and helpful suggestions given. The teacher is asked to rate herself once during the session, and her rating is compared with those of the supervisor and principal.

Table number XX show the rating blank that is in use in Calcasieu Parish at the present time.

TABLE XX
Teacher Rating Blank

School __________________________
Teacher _________________________
Grade of Work____________________

CHAPTER IV

Summary

Before 1840, the year Imperial Calcasieu was organized, almost all the territory of Southwest Louisiana was known as St. Landry Parish. The period of time occupied by Imperial Calcasieu extended from 1840 to 1913. The parish seat was first Marion and later Lake Charles, where it is at present. Calcasieu was divided in 1912 into the four Southwest Louisiana parishes of Beauregard, Jefferson Davis, Allen, and Calcasieu.

The population of Old Calcasieu increased from 4,451 in 1860 to 62,767 in 1910. The present Calcasieu increased in population from 32,870 in 1920 to 41,963 in 1930. Most of the early settlers were either English, Anglo-Saxons, or French, and some of the oldest settlements were at Hickory Flat or Oberlin, Mermentau, Lake Charles, Vincent Settlement and Barnes Creek. The settlements were widely distributed over the 3,650 square miles of territory, with few or no roads connecting them.

In the earliest Annual Report of the State Superintendent of Public Education to the General Assembly of Louisiana in which there appeared a report of the public schools of Calcasieu was in 1854. There were thirteen school districts, with 784 pupils attending public schools. The amount paid teachers was $4164.59, and all this money was received from the State Apportionment. The Reports on the conditions of the schools were given by the Parish Treasurer, and were often incomplete because directors of the school districts would fail to report to him.

The next report in 1858 showed that the pupils had increased to 917; however, the amount paid teachers was less, being only $2,036.55. The number of months taught was from three to five.

There are no records of the public schools of Calcasieu from 1860 to 1865, probably due to the Civil War. The next annual Report to the State Superintendent from Calcasieu was in 1871.  There was a considerable increase in the number of educable school children in the parish after 1858, and also in the amount of money received and expended for public schools. There were 2,536 educable school children in Calcasieu in 1871, with total receipts of $9,210.95, most of which was received from the State, but $490 was received from the Parish Treasurer. Teachers’ wages amounted to $3,200, repairs to school buildings $138.66, with a balance on hand of $4,862.12.

In 1876 the number of educable children in Calcasieu was given as 3,604, but the enrollment seemed small, only 794, with twenty-three schools and 23 teachers employed. The length of term was four months and the average salary of teachers per month was $43.50. The amount of money received in 1876 was $4,019.91, and the total amount disbursed was $3,226.23. The attendance in some cases was good and in others poor. Some of the names of the first teachers of Calcasieu on record were given in the report of 1876; they were: Miss Mary E. Rowe, W. B. Knight, Louis Doulanger, Lise Landry, Mrs. T. E. Dade, A. Bennoist, W. M. Dunn, C. A. Ruscoe, S. W. Pierce, Jno. Kelly and James E. Bilbo. Some of these teachers were listed as very competent, others as incompetent.

The next year’s Report, 1877, was incomplete, as compared with the 1876 Report. Numbers of pupils enrolled was given as 128, number of teaches employed, five, average salary per month per teacher, $25.45, length of session 2.5 months, teachers employed: Wm. Jackson, Miss Virginia Cole, Louis Doulanger, Mrs. M. E. Rowe, and Wm. M. Dunn. The branches taught were Webster’s Speller, McGuffey’s Readers, Alphabet and Primer, Penmanship, Arithmetic, Geography, Grammar, and History. Total receipts were $3,729.87 and disbursements, $3,416.27.

The 1883 Report gave the educable youths of Calcasieu as 4,054, but no other school statistics were given, except the state school apportionment was given as $1,033.76.

Mr. John McNeese, later superintendent of the schools of Calcasieu Parish for many years, came to Calcasieu from North Carolina [most reports state that McNeese came from Maryland by way of Texas] in 1873. For ten years he taught in the public schools of Calcasieu. He became connected with the Calcasieu Parish School Board as Secretary in 1884, and when the office of superintendent was created by the Board, he became Calcasieu’s first Superintendent, in 1888, and served with distinguished success in that capacity until 1913, when he retired. Superintendent McNeese was an organizer and builder of schools and the public school system of Calcasieu is largely a product of his efforts to establish public education in Southwest Louisiana. He was first in Calcasieu to champion higher standards for teachers and more decent pay for them, improvement of school buildings, and awakening communities to the importance of education.

In 1885 the enrollment of Calcasieu Parish schools was 833, with an average attendance of 708. The average salary paid teachers was $45.00 per month, male, and $37.50 per month, female. The length of school term was 3.68 months. The sources of receipts were State Appropriations, Poll Taxes, and Interest on 16^th Sections. The total amount received was $5,307.21, and total disbursements were $5,099.02.

The Superintendent’s Annual Report to the State Department of Education from Calcasieu for 1888 shows a great improvement in the public schools of Calcasieu, due largely to the efforts of Superintendent McNeese, who as Secretary of the Board was virtually a superintendent. Number of white schools was 61, number of pupils enrolled 1,896, average attendance, 1,603, or about 85 percent of the enrollment. White men teachers received $44.25 average monthly salary, and female teachers, $42.55.

The first record of School Board Proceedings was kept on November 11, 1887. The First Police Jury Appropriation for schools in Calcasieu was in 1887, for $3,000. In 1890 the expenditures for public schools was $10,000.  In 1891 the Police Jury Appropriation was raised to $7,000 per year, and number of educable children in Calcasieu was 7,258.

In the Annual Report of Superintendent McNeese for 1891, we find that he had graded the schools of Calcasieu into primary, with teachers receiving $30.00 per month; intermediate, with teachers receiving $40.00 per month; and grammar, with teachers receiving $50.00 per month. The schools in the districts were controlled by local directors. There were 40 teachers in the parish with 2,075 pupils enrolled, average attendance 1610, average term 3.75 months, number Institutes held in the parish one, number in districts six, average salary of teachers per term $158.25, number organized schools in the parish 100, with expenditures of $13,200 and receipts of $20,202. It was in this year, 1891, that Superintendent McNeese suggested that the State Constitution should be amended to allow the people to levy a special school tax upon themselves for school purposes.

The city block upon which the Central School of Lake Charles now stands was purchased by the Calcasieu Parish School Board for $800.000 (sic) [$8,000.00?], and the frame building known as the Central and High School was two stories high, 40 feet wide and 80 feet long, and cost, $5,499.

The first high school in Calcasieu was at Sugartown, made by resolution of the Board, January 4, 1890. The principal was to receive $75.00 per month, increased from $50.00. The second high school established was at Lake Charles, on October 28, 1890, principal to receive $75.00 per month.

In Superintendent McNeese’s Annual Report to the Calcasieu Parish School Board for 1890, he stated that four townships help elections for the use of 16^th section funds for school purposes, that he spent half his time visiting schools, that Lake Charles, Welsh, Jennings, Merryville, Sugartown, and Dry Creek were becoming educational centers, and that he recommended one week’s Teachers’ Institute in the summer.

November 1, 1892, the Calcasieu Parish School Board passed a resolution that the principals of Jennings, Welsh, Westlake, Vinton, and Sugartown schools should hold Grammar Grade Certificates.

The Annual Convention of Parish Superintendents was invited to hold its meetings in Lake Charles, at the meeting of the Board, Janury7, 1893. In this year the white schools had increased to 103, with 4,084 pupils enrolled and average attendance of 3,069. There were 111 teachers employed, receiving average salaries of $36.02 for men, and $29.42 for women. The average length of school term was 4.21 months per year. The first four years that Superintendent McNeese was in office he increased the number of schools from 40 to 120. The amount of money received in 1892 from all sources was $34,416.63; total disbursements were $24,904.61, balance, $9,512.02.

In 1893 the Police Jury Appropriation was increased to $15,000. The School Board appointed Professor C. H. Beecher principal of Lake Charles High School at $90.00 per month. The State Convention of Parish Superintendents met in Lake Charles, June 28, 29, and 30, 1893; school men from each ward in the parish were invited to attend.

Professor J. E. Keeney was appointed principal of Lake Charles High School, May 30, 1894, to receive $1000 per session. In August 1894, Professor J. E. Keeney and John McNeese prepared the first course of study for Calcasieu Parish to be used during the session 1894-95.

On August 7, 1897, the School Board passed a resolution that the principals of Jennings, Welsh, Lake Arthur, Oberlin, Westlake, Vinton, Merryville, Sugartown, and Hickory Branch should hold first-grade certificates, and that all teachers of Central High School, Lake Charles, should be Normal Graduates or hold first-grade certificates. Professor J. E. Keeney was again appointed principal of Lake Charles for session 1897-98 at $130 per month.

In the six-year period, 1891 to 1896, the School Board received $17,410 poll tax money, when the amount should have been $33,073, if all polls had been collected.

Comparisons of school statistics in 1880 and 1900 will be found interesting; population increased from 12,000 to 30,000; educable children from 3,600 to 9,500; enrollment from 1,160 to 6,625; average daily attendance from 700 to 4,592; number male teachers employed from 15 to 54; female, from 20 to 149; average salary from $40.00 to $42.04 for males, females, $35.00 to $36.00 per month; number school houses from 23 to 160; value of school property from $1,000 to $50,000; total income from $2,344.92 to $56,231.21, cost to educate child per session, based on enrollment, from $3.03 to $8.82, and on average attendance from $3.35 to $12.24.

By Article 232, of the Constitution of Louisiana, 1898, wards, municipalities, or special school districts were permitted to levy upon themselves special school taxes, above the ten-mill Constitutional levy for School purposes. The Police Jury was to grant the election upon petition of one-third the property voters of the ward, municipality, or special school district. Ward 6, Calcasieu Parish, was the first to vote a special three-mill, ten-year school tax for constructing schoolhouses and supporting schools. Ward 9 was second.

The Police Jury and School Board established Center Ward Schools at Lake Arthur, DeQuincy, DeRidder, Merryville, Westlake, Welsh, Jennings, Oakdale, Oberlin, Singer, and Vinton from 1898 to 1906. The special school district followed closely the establishment of Center Ward Schools. Special building taxes were voted in the special school districts for erection of modern school building.

The sale of 16^th section lands aided greatly in constructing and supporting Center Ward Schools. The range of sale prices of these lands was from $1.25 to $100 per acre.

Jennings was made a high school, October 18, 1899. On January 18, 1901, Westlake, DeRidder, and Vinton were advanced from primary graded schools to Center Ward Grammar graded schools, the principals to receive $60.00 per month.  At this time Superintendent McNeese was receiving $100 per month  for his services.

The length of term of Center Ward Schools was to be eight months for the session 1902-1903. Singer, Merryville, and Oakdale were made Center Ward Schools in 1903.  DeRidder, Merryville, and Vinton were made parish high schools by resolution of the Board on April 19, 1907.

The Lake Charles city school system was separated from the Calcasieu parish school system by resolution of the School Board on April 19, 1907.

The Annual Report of Superintendent McNeese for 1902-1903 states that there were 179 teachers in the parish, revenue from special taxes, $13,000 per year, Police Jury donation, $30,000.00, tendency toward centralization.

By the beginning of the session 1910-11, the Center Ward Schools of Jennings, DeRidder, Merryville, Welsh, Oakdale, Lake Arthur, and Vinton had become State approved high schools. Mr. C. E. Laborde was principal of Vinton, with 160 enrollment and seven teachers. J. L. Anderson was principal at Jennings, 600 pupils enrolled. J. Van Sant, principal at Lake Arthur, reported 308 enrolled during the session. Welsh, W. P. Arnette, principal, 340 in attendance. Floyd Hamilton, principal at Oakdale, enrolled 386, and had 11 percent football team. Ward Anderson, Present Superintendent of Lake Charles city schools, was principal at DeRidder, 600 enrolled, good track team. L. D. McCollister, principal at Merryville, 300 enrolled, Agriculture and Domestic Science Departments.

Sulphur school was added to the list of state approved high schools in 1912. Superintendent McNeese in his Report to the school Board, 1910-11, stated that Calcasieu had one of the most efficient teaching staffs in the state. Miss May Breazeale was Calcasieu’s first supervisor. During the year 1910-11 the receipts of the school Board were $267,879.89. The courses taught from 1898 to 1913 were those prescribed by the State Course of Study, with vocational courses in Domestic Science, Commerce, and Agriculture.

Since the organization of the present parish of Calcasieu in 1912, the Superintendent’s office has been held by three men, F. M. Hamilton, F. K. White, and H. A. Norton. During Superintendent Hamilton’s term, 1914-1917, his most important accomplishments were: the building of new school plants, agricultural extension work, and medical supervision in the schools. During Superintendents White’s administration, 1917-1928, the most notable features were: the development of a strong financial school system, homogeneous grouping of pupils, and a systematic salary schedule for teachers. The main problem superintendent Norton has had to contend with thus far has been the Depression in regard to the schools. He has added high school supervision and continued intensive elementary supervision.

The enrollment in Calcasieu Parish Schools increased from 3,135 in 1914-15 to 5,214 in 1932-33, or 66.3 percent. The average attendance for the same period increased from 1,818 to 4,443 or 144.4 percent.

During the period 1914-17 the School Board incurred many debts on account of the large building program, but during the period 1918-28, the School Board not only paid all debts, but also built up a surplus, to be used when assessments decreased, that reached the sum of $421,405.51 on June 30, 1928. As was expected, the assessment of Calcasieu decreased for $49,236,342 in 1920 to $18,679,520 in 1931, consequently for the years 1929, 1930, and 1931, an average of $36,450.30 of this fund was used, in lieu of re-voting expiring taxes.

The high schools enjoyed healthy growth since 1914. Enrollment increased from 137 to 1,004, average attendance from 96 to 860, and the number of graduates from 12 to 171 per year. The courses offered are General, College Entrance, and Vocational.

The buildings are mainly of pressed brick of fairly modern design. The new buildings at DeQuincy, Sulphur, and LaGrange are thoroughly modern in every respect. The price range of the brick buildings is from $9,360 to $60,000.

Consolidation has been effected in the Calcasieu system to the extent that there are no one-room schools, only seven elementary schools, and eight high school.  The problem of transportation, closely associated with consolidation, is carried on very efficiently through a system of transfer regulations, and a definite transfer salary schedule. There are 49 transfer routes, 2,299 pupils registered on transfers, with a monthly payroll of $4,859.00 to transfer drivers.

The teaching force of Calcasieu has always been experienced and well qualified. In 1931, 55 out of 151 teachers held college degrees, and the remaining 96, two years of college work, and 43.6 percent had six or more years’ experience.

The highest salaries paid in the parish were paid in 1928, 1929, and 1930, when principals of high schools ranged from $1800 to $3000, large elementary schools from $150 to $175 per month, assistant principals, $170 to $200 per month, high school teachers from $120 to $155 per month, elementary teachers from $80 to $140 per month, and principals of small elementary schools from $85.00 to $155 per month.

Supervision in the Calcasieu Parish Schools is performed, locally, by the Superintendent, Supervisor of Elementary Schools, and the high school principals. Superintendents Hamilton and White did some general supervision, while Superintendent Norton does a great deal of high school supervision. Mr. F.A. Ford and Mr. H. M. Wells have been the only elementary supervisors of Calcasieu. The main features of development along the line of supervision have been: reading programs, spelling programs, and intensive work in almost all other subjects, classroom supervision, rating teachers, lesson planning, and direct aid to teachers. Supervision is well implanted in the Calcasieu Parish School System, and good is being done as a result.

FOOTNOTES

CHAPTER I

1. Fifteenth Census of the U. S. Vol. I, p.457.

2. Robert Jones, Article in the American Press, Lake Charles, Louisiana. Issue of November 3, 1931.

3. Ibid.

4. Educational Reports, Vol. I, Department of Education, Baton Rouge. Report of the State Superintendent of Education to the General Assembly of Louisiana, January, 1855, p. 65.

5. Ibid., p.66.

6. Educational Reports, Vol. 1, Department of Education, Baton Rouge. Report of the State Superintendent of Education to the General Assembly of Louisiana, 1858, p. 18.

7. Ibid., pp.13 and 17.

8. Educational Reports, Vol. I, Department of Education, Baton Rouge. Annual Report of the State Superintendent of Public Education to the General Assembly of Louisiana, pp. 163 and 180.

9. Educational Reports, Vol. II, Department of Education, Louisiana. Annual Report of the State Superintendent of Public Education to the General Assembly of Louisiana, January 1876, p. 107.

10. Ibid., pp. 107-109.

11. Educational Reports, Vol. III, State Department of Education, Louisiana. Annual Report of State Superintendent of Public Education to the General Assembly of Louisiana, 1877, p. 39.

12. Ibid., p. 40.

13. Educational Reports, Vol. III. Department of Education, Louisiana. Biennial Report of the State Superintendent of Public Education to the General Assembly of Louisiana, 1883, p.18.

14. Mrs. L.L. Squires, Scrapbook, clippings from American Press.

15. Educational Reports, Vol. III, Department of Education, Louisiana, Biennial Report of State Superintendent of Public Education to the General Assembly of Louisiana, 1884-1885, pp. 18-19.

16. Ibid., pp. 18-19.

17. Educational Reports, Vol. IV, Department of Education, Louisiana, Biennial Report of State Superintendent of Public Education to the General Assembly of Louisiana, 1888-89, p. 36.

18. Record of School Board Proceedings, 1887, Calcasieu Parish, page 30.

19. Educational Reports, Vol. IV, Department of Education, Louisiana, Biennial Report of Public Education to the General Assembly of Louisiana, 1890-91, p. 48.

20. Educational Reports, Vol. IV, Department of Education, Louisiana. Biennial Report of State Superintendent of Public Education to the General Assembly of Louisiana, 1890-91. pp. 85-88.

21. Record of School Board Proceedings, Calcasieu Parish, pp. 42, 45, 47, and 85.

22. Record of School Board Proceedings, Calcasieu Parish, 1890, p. 75.

23. Ibid. pp.74, 77, and 78.

24. Ibid., p.90.

25. Ibid., pp. 95, 221, 275, 320, 355, 367, 423.

26. Ibid., p. 103.

27. Ibid., p.107.

28. Ibid., p.166.

29. Ibid., pp.185, 202.

30. Ibid., pp.205-5.

31. Ibid., pp. 209-217.

32. Educational Reports, Vol. IV., Dept. of Education, Louisiana.  Biennial Report of State Superintendent of Public Education to the General Assembly of Louisiana, 1892-93, p.28.

33. Ibid., p.75.

34. Record of School Proceedings, Calcasieu Parish, p. 221.

35. Ibid., p. 237.

36. Ibid., p.275.

37. Ibid. pp. 288, 290.

38. Ibid., pp. 322, 340-41, 353, 355-56.

CHAPTER II

1. Constitution of Louisiana, 1898, pp. 60-61.

2. Acts and Constitution of Louisiana, 1898, pp. 200, 201, 202.

3. Police Jury Proceedings, Parish of Calcasieu, Book F, pp. 179-80.

4. Ibid., pp. 197-98.

5. Ibid., pp. 270-71, 305-6.

6. Missing.

7. Ibid., pp. 543 and 567—8.

8. Police Jury Proceedings, Book G, Calcasieu Parish, pp. 149-153.

9. School Board Proceedings, Calcasieu Parish, 1903-1906, pp. 28-114.

10. Ibid., pp. 266, 268, 289.

11. Ibid., p.301.

12. Police Jury Proceedings, Book H, Calcasieu Parish, p. 33.

13. Ibid., pp. 203-4.

14. Ibid., pp. 237, 394-5, 420, 424, 513.

15. School Board Proceedings, Calcasieu Parish, 1900, p. 405.

16. School Board Proceedings, Calcasieu Parish, 1898, p. 368.

17. Ibid., 1899, p. 394.

18. Ibid., 1900, p. 422.

19.Ibid., 1901, pp. 426, 428-9.

20. Ibid., August 7, 1901, p. 9.

21. Ibid., 1902, p. 21.

22. Ibid., 1902, pp. 21, 1903, p. 36, 1906, p. 109, 114, 1907,(rest of citation cut off).

23. Ibid., 1907, pp. 119-22.

24. Educational Reports, Vol. V, State Department of Education, Louisiana. Biennial Report of the State Superintendent of Public Education, etc., pp. 73-74.

25. The Twenty-second Annual Report of John McNeese, Superintendent of Public Education, Calcasieu Parish, 1910-1911, pp. 11, 13.

26. Ibid., pp. 13-14.

27. Ibid., pp. 14-15.

28. Ibid., pp. 15-17.

29. Ibid., pp. 17 and 18.

30. Ibid., pp. 18-20.

31. Ibid., pp. 21-22.

32. Ibid., p. 23.

33. Ibid., p. 40.

34. Ibid., p. 48.

35. Ibid., pp. 8-9.

36. Ibid., p. 34.

37. Ibid., p.35.

38. Record of School Board Proceedings, Calcasieu Parish, 1908 and 1909, pp. 142, 163.

CHAPTER III

1. Educational Report, Calcasieu Parish Schools, F. M. Hamilton 1914-1915, p. 2.

2. F. K. White, Superintendent Calcasieu Parish Schools, 1917-1928.

3. Educational Report, Calcasieu Parish Schools, F. M. Hamilton, Superintendent, pp. 4, 5.

4. Educational Report, Calcasieu Parish Schools, F. M. Hamilton, Superintendent, p. 7.

5. State Department of Education, Bulletin, Number 220, p. 127.

6. F. M. Hamilton, (Superintendent), Educational Report Calcasieu Parish Schools, pp. 13, 14.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Fifteenth Census of the United States, Volume I.

2. American Press, Lake Charles, La., November 3, 1931.

3. Educational Reports, State Department of Education of Louisiana, Volumes I, II, III, IV, and V.

4. Squires, Mrs. L. L., Scrap Book, Lake Charles, La.

5. Record of School Board Proceedings, Calcasieu Parish, 1887-1933.

6. Acts and Constitution of Louisiana, 1898.

7. Police Jury Proceedings, Calcasieu Parish, Books F, G, and H.

8. The Twenty-second Annual Report of John McNeese, Superintendent of Public Education, Calcasieu Parish, 1910-1911.

9. Educational Report, Calcasieu Parish Schools, F. M. Hamilton, Superintendent, 1914-1915.

10. Calcasieu Parish School Board Records.

11. State Department of Education of Louisiana, Bulletin, Number 220.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY

The writer was born in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, November 12, 1889.

He attended the public schools of Bienville Parish. He graduated from the Louisiana State Normal School in the summer of 1914, and received the degree of Bachelor of Arts from the Louisiana State University in 1926. He taught as principal of elementary schools in Calcasieu Parish from 1914 to 1918, and as principal of high schools in Calcasieu Parish from 1918-1933.

In 1933 he completed requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Teachers College, Louisiana State University.

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