ABSTRACT

        This study deals with the development of the public education in Jefferson Davis Parish from 1913 to 1940. It discusses briefly the history of Old Imperial Calcasieu Parish from 1883 previous to the breaking-up of this territory to from the present parishes of Jefferson Davis, Allen, Beauregard, and Calcasieu. It attempts to show the beginning of organized educational systems, the installation of the special tax system and the outstanding work of Superintendent John McNeese, the pioneer educator.

        After the formation of Jefferson Davis Parish in 1913, this study tends to show the development characterized by certain educational trends; the progress that the local schools have made from local director control to school board control; the great advancement experienced in the consolidation of schools through the transportation system; the wide expense of benefit realized through the additional courses offered; increase in school revenues; improvement of school plants through a building program, and the inauguration of a parish-wide program of supervision.

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

        Early in the nineteenth century the territory comprising most of the present seventh Congressional District, including Old Imperial Calcasieu, was known as St. Landry Parish. The city of Opelousas was the parish seat. This territory was bounded by Opelousas and Lafayette on the east, the Sabine River of the west, Rapids and Vernon Parishes on the north, and Gulf of Mexico on the south. (1)

        In 1912, by Act of the Legislature of Louisiana, "Imperial" Calcasieu was divided into the present parishes of Allen, Beauregard, Jefferson Davis and Calcasieu. The bill was introduced by Powell and is known as House Bill No. 25. (2) Act No. 6 formed Allen Parish, Act No. 7 formed Jefferson Davis Parish and Act No. 8 formed Beauregard Parish. These acts were approved by L. E. Hall, Governor of the State of Louisiana, on June 12, 1912. The division actually took effect of January 1, 1913.

        The present school system in Jefferson Davis Parish owes much of its early advancement to the work of the veteran educator, John McNeese, who truly deserves the honor bestowed upon his memory in having the Junior College at Lake Charles named for him.
 

WORK OF SUPERINTENDENT JOHN MCNEESE IN CALCASIEU
GENERAL STATEMENT

        About the year 1884, outstanding school work was being done in Calcasieu Parish by John McNeese. It seems proper and fitting that recognition should be given to this prominent educator. It was, largely, through his untiring efforts that Calcasieu Parish was outstanding among the parishes of the state even before he had been superintendent more than a few years. He held a state-wide reputation as a builder and organizer.

        He served the schools of Calcasieu for thirty-seven years, beginning in 1884. In 1888, he was elected parish superintendent of education and served for twenty-nine years. Four year previous to this election he headed the schools, being a member of the board which then presided. His ability as a leader and organizer, and his understanding of school matters made him notable.

        The schools of Calcasieu and that territory which now constitutes the parishes of Allen, Beauregard and Jefferson Davis are greatly indebted to the sacrifices and efforts of John McNeese.

        Superintendent McNeese was a native of North Carolina, having come to Calcasieu in 1873. He spent nearly ten years teaching in the various schools over the parish. The schools of that time were not in the modern buildings of today, but were in the crudest of log shacks with only the barest necessities. McNeese had many ideas which he practiced and developed. (3) Every school into which he went profited by his guidance and became more beneficial to its vicinity. He left more highly developed schools, more efficient teachers and more pleased patrons behind him.

        In 1884 the Calcasieu School System was governed, for the first time, by a school board. (4) In the beginning, it was most crude but each month found it improving under the leadership of John McNeese. At this time he was still a member of the school board.

        In 1888, the Calcasieu School System changed. The superintendent controlled the school administration and dealt with its problems. Superintendent McNeese experimented, with good results. His brain child was proving a success.

        Superintendent McNeese was truly a pioneer in the field of education in Louisiana. He realized the necessity for good buildings, for higher standards in school work, and for more efficient teachers. He was responsible for securing better pay for teachers and for awakening the communities to the necessity for better schools. (5)

        As time passed and the population and wealth of the parish grew, his task became an easier one. The state contributed, police juries, local organizations and individuals made donations to these worth-while institutions of public educator.

        Soon came the era of special taxes (6) which was nothing short of salvation. This, also, was one of Superintendent John McNeese’s ideas and Calcasieu Parish was one of the first parishes in Louisiana to vote a special tax for educational purposes.

        In 1887, the first tax money was donated to the public schools by the police jury, the amount being $3,000. In the three years following, that is 1888, 1889, and 1890, the same amount was donated by the police jury. In 1891, the appropriation was raised to $7,000 as will be seen in the annual report of 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, (7) 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 Parish.

        This year has 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 month’s term in her building completed last year. This building was erected and furnished at a cost of $6,000. Jennings has a fine building, only second to that of Lake Charles. Welsh is preparing to build a school which no doubt will reflect credit upon the town for years to come.

Teachers

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

        The compensation for service 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 town-ship 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 contact 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 teachers 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 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, besides 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 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 an end.

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

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

        I think it necessary that our Constitution* be so amended that, throughout the state, the people be allowed to vote the levy of a tax upon themselves by a property qualification, an amount sufficient to give at least six months school in rural districts, and nine months in towns. (*The State Constitutional Committee provided this policy in 1898, seven years after this suggestion.)

        Nearly all states in the Union, as well as the territories have recognized in their schools 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

        From such reports as this is written the history of education by an educator who was truly captain of his ship. Interesting facts are divulged when extracts are read from Superintendent McNeese’s report to the Calcasieu Parish School Board, 1890. (8) These facts show that four townships held elections for use of sixteenth section funds for educational purposes. Several district institutes were held during the year. He also recommended that a week’s institute be held in the summer of 1890 by an expert institute director.

        Superintendent McNeese spent a great deal of his time visiting schools, encouraging officials, and giving aid and suggestions for the improvement of the schools. In 1891 Lake Charles, Welsh, Jennings, Merryville, Sugartown and Dry Creek were becoming educational centers in Calcasieu Parish, though little of the tax money for educational purposes was being used for their improvement.

        The development and progress that the schools continued to make is shown in a report from the regular meetings for school board members 1892 to 1896. (9) The scholastic year is to begin Monday, November 1, 1892. The School Board adopted a resolution declaring that the principalship of the Welsh, Jennings, Westlake, Vinton and Sugartown Schools should not be filled by the local board of said district except with people holding grammar grade certificates.

        To Superintendent McNeese, this did not seem adequate, although the Calcasieu Parish Schools had developed in size and along educational lines. He felt a need for better qualified and more capable teachers and he thought that the people should have a voice, more directly, in the affairs of their schools. Growing out of this is the development of the ward system.

        In Article 232 of the constitution of Louisiana, 1898, (10) the provision was made for levying special taxes in school districts and municipal corporations for the erection and maintenance of school building.

        Special ward taxes were voted, and from the record of the Police Jury Proceedings, (11) the first ward to vote a special school tax of three mills, was Ward Two. The main educational centers were Jennings, Welsh, Lake Arthur and Roanoke. The election to vote special taxes in other wards was ordered for December 23, 1901.

        Later records of the Calcasieu Parish School Board (12) show that the citizens of Roanoke, Ward Two, petitioned the School Board for the creation of a special school district. On August 6, 1903, the School Board granted this request and the district was known as District No. 11.

        Special building taxes were proposed and were carried by substantial majorities. 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.

        Reports each year of the high school principals to the Superintendent of Education show improvement and strengthening of the school system throughout the parish. Buildings were repaired, laboratories and teaching materials were added and the academic work was meeting the requirements of the State Department of Education.

    Consolidation was taking place on a small scale. The financial condition of the parish held this progress back, because the cost of wagonette operation was high.

    As this period drew to a close, the value of vocational training and guidance were being realized. Domestic science and corn clubs were organized and reported by principals as successful. Contests in athletics and literary events were sponsored and much interest was taken in them.

CHAPTER II

THE DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION FROM 1913 TO 1940

        The first session (1) of the Jefferson Davis Parish Police Jury was held in the town of Lake Arthur on July 24, 1912. This body, composed of E. D. Conner, J. H. Cooper, R. P. Howell, T. S. Langley and H. ? Merritt, voted to have the temporary parish seat at Lake Arthur. After lengthy discussion it was moved and seconded to divide the parish into nine police jury and justice of the peace wards. (2)

        It was necessary, with several towns in the parish eligible for the parish seat, to draw up an ordinance (3) prescribing the conditions necessary for each applicant to meet. Each must furnish land with clear titles and be prepared to furnish a building and office furniture for the public offices until such time as a courthouse could be built and furnished.

        Next in order was an ordinance (4) fixing the boundary lines for the wards. A committee was appointed and asked to make its report at the next session of the Police Jury. It was necessary, with the election forthcoming to determine the parish seat, to draw up an ordinance (5) naming the voting precincts. For the purpose a committee was appointed and duly instructed to report. The next order of business was the construction of an ordinance (6) dividing the parish into school districts. The Police Jury of Jefferson Davis Parish, in the first meeting, transacted fundamental parish business.

        Ordinance 2, (7) Section 1, relative to the election to select the parish seat, reads:

BE IT ORDAINED, by the Police Jury of the Parish of Jefferson Davis, that an election to select the permanent Parish seat for the Parish of Jefferson Davis is hereby fixed and called for the 24^th day of September, A. D. 1912. Said election to be held according to Act 27 of the Acts of the General Assembly of the State of Louisiana, 1910 relating to such elections.

        The Towns of Welsh, Jennings and Lake Arthur (8) were declared in the race for the parish seat. The election was a bitter contest and caused much disturbance and unfriendliness. The returns (9) of the election were: Jennings, 722 votes; Welsh, 735 votes; and Lake Arthur, 213 votes. A total of 1670 votes were cast, thus, making 836 votes necessary to elect. A second election was called for Tuesday, October 22, 1912. The result of the second election gave Jennings the parish seat with 903 votes (10) while Welsh received 825 votes. Again bitter antagonism existed among the citizens and resolutions were written contesting the results of the election.

        With parish organization under way the police jury met at the Jennings’ Town Hall on January 4, 1913, (11) the rules committee having submitted the first Thursday of each month at nine o’clock (12) as the regular meeting time.

        With this knowledge of the early formation of the parish, this research advances into the study of the parish educational system. The Board of Directors of the Public Schools of Jefferson Davis met in the town hall of Jennings on January 6, 1913, for the purpose of organizing. (13) The meeting was formally called to order with V. A. Miller, R. M. Briggs, H. H. Precht, Henry Walton, W. M. Fenton, J. M. Booze, Z. W. Todd, O. Hebert and John Hay as members present. Of this body, W. M. Fenton has faithfully and untiringly served the schools of the parish from that meeting to the present time, 1941, as a member of the School Board. V. A. Miller acted as chairmen pro tem and R. M. Briggs acted as secretary pro tem.

        J. M. Booze was elected permanent chairman of the parish school board and W. M. Fenton was elected secretary to serve until a superintendent was appointed.

        The following committees were appointed: committee on finance, V. A. Miller, R. M. Booze, Z. W. Todd, and W. M. Fenton; committee on teachers, W. M. Fenton, V. A. Miller, John Hay and Henry Walton; the committee on buildings and sites, Z. W. Todd, O. Hebert, H. H. Precht and R. N. Briggs.

        The board adopted a resolution to work in conjunction with the Calcasieu Parish School Board in disposing of the collections and disbursements of the 1912 school fund. Seeing the necessity for close cooperation with the Calcasieu school board, a resolution was adopted to recognize the fact that the Calcasieu superintendent and treasurer should work as though no division had occurred until such time as a superintendent could be legally and fully installed.

        At the next regular meeting of the board on February 7, 1913, it was moved by R. M. Briggs and seconded by Z. W. Todd that W. P. Arnette, Principal of the Welsh High School, be elected parish superintendent.

        At this same meeting it was resolved that the parish schools begin at nine A. M. and not close before four P. M.

        Another resolution was adopted which is an example of the progressive attitude of the Jefferson Davis Parish School Board in the administrative development of the school problems. It read (14) to the effect that children from six to fourteen years of age should be schooled.

        At this same meeting, it was moved and seconded that the committee (15) composed of Superintendent McNeese and J. M. Booze of the Jefferson Davis Parish School Board be authorized to purchase the lots at Roanoke for the purpose of establishing an industrial school. This desire for an industrial school has always been uppermost in the minds of the Roanoke citizens.

        At the regular meeting (16) of the board on April 5, 1913, the Superintendent was elected permanent secretary. On June 2, 1913, (17) it was moved and seconded that the secretary to the Board be required to give bond to the amount of $15,000.

        With this foundation of research, it is the author’s desire to show the progress that has been made through consolidation and transportation, buildings, curriculum and libraries, teaching personnel, supervision and financial support from 1913 to 1940. The chapter on colored schools shows the improvement which has been made for colored education in the parish.

CONSOLIDATION AND TRANSPORTATION

        One of the most outstanding and noteworthy accomplishments of the school authorities of Jefferson Davis Parish is the consolidation of schools. This movement spread throughout the state and before 1913 some of the smaller schools in Calcasieu Parish had joined larger schools. Consolidation was discussed and proposed in the institutes and conventions of parish superintendents. (18) The superintendents and other school officials were highly favorable to this idea because it eliminated the undesirable one-room schools, thereby, saving the board the expense of repairing and equipping a large number of buildings.

        During the school session 1913-14 records show that there were thirty-eight schools distributed over the nine wards of Jefferson Davis Parish. These schools were namely: (19)

        In the study that was made relative to these schools, it was found that in Ward VII, the Ardoin School was sometimes referred to as the Bourgeois School and the New Haber School was sometimes called the Mayville School. (20)

        One school bus transported pupils during the school session 1913-14. It was a horse-drawn wagonette, but the record did not say to which school it transported pupils. The driver received $66.00 per year as was noted in the parish superintendent’s budget of receipts and expenditures of revenue for the school year 1913-14. (21)

        During the next ten years of service to public education, the Jefferson Davis Parish School officials, believing in consolidation of schools, eliminated fourteen schools from the list. As more consolidation took place, the children, from these small schools, had the opportunity to attend larger and better equipped schools. In 1922-23 twenty-four schools were in operation.

        As consolidation progressed, more transportation was needed as pupils were being transported many miles. The advantage was in the fact that better buildings were available and more highly trained faculties replaced the former ones. In 1922-23, thirteen school buses were in operation. The following table shows the number of school buses operating and the schools to which they transported pupils.

TABLE I

NUMBER OF BUSES IN OPERATION, SCHOOLS TO WHICH THEY TRANSPORTED PUPILS, 1922-23

*This school-bus driver took the children from the immediate vicinity to Calcasieu Parish, Bell City School. One half of his salary was paid by Calcasieu Parish and one half by Jefferson Davis Parish.

The next decade brought more consolidation and found these schools remaining as educational centers in 1931-32:

Ward	Schools
Ward I	Thornwell, Lake Arthur
Ward II	Jennings
Ward III	Crochet, Hathaway, Grand Marias
Ward IV	Elton
Ward V	Fenton
Ward VI	Roanoke ,Welsh
Ward VII	Mayville, changed to Niblett
Ward VIII	Woodlawn, Lacassine
Ward IX	None

Likewise a greater number of school buses transported pupils as is found in Table II.

TABLE II

NUMBER OF BUSES IN OPERATION, SCHOOLS TO WHICH THEY TRANSPORTED PUPILS, 1931-32

School	No. of Buses Used
Elton	5
Fenton	2
Gillis* (Calcasieu)	1
Hathaway	2
Iowa* (Calcasieu)	2
Jennings	4
Lake Arthur	5
Lacassine	4
Roanoke	2
Welsh	11

*These are same as preceding table with Bell City.

To recall the last ten years and to realize the improvements is gratifying, indeed. Eight modern, well equipped high schools are housing the school children of Jefferson Davis Parish. In 1940-41, the remaining schools are:

Ward	School
Ward I	Lake Arthur
Ward II	Jennings
Ward III	Hathaway
Ward IV	Elton
Ward V	Fenton
Ward VI	Welsh, Roanoke
Ward VII	None
Ward VIII	Lacassine
Ward IX	None

With improved highways and means of transportation, this advance and progress in the schools of Jefferson Davis Parish was made possible. Paved and graveled highways improve conditions. Competent drivers who use safety appliances are employed as drivers. Fourteen buses with steel bodies are operating in the parish today. All chassis are in good condition and they are inspected monthly by expert mechanics.

A table shows the number of school buses for 1940-41.

TABLE III

NUMBER OF BUSES IN OPERATION, SCHOOL TO WHICH THEY TRANSPORT PUPILS, 1940-41

School	No. of Buses Used
Elton	5
Fenton	6
Gillis* (Calcasieu)	1
Hayes* (Calcasieu)	1
Hathaway	4
Jennings	4
Lacassine	5
Lake Arthur	5
Roanoke	2
Welsh	10

*Same as Table II.

A table shows the schools in operation for the session 1913-14, 1931-32 and 1940-41.

TABLE IV

SCHOOLS OF JEFFERSON DAVIS PARISH

1913-14	1922-23	1931-32	1940-41
Andrus Cove	Andrus Cove	Crochet	Elton
Ardoin	Broussard	Elton	Fenton
Crochet	Broadmore	Fenton	Hathaway
Edna	Carter	Grand Marais	Jennings
Elton	Cary	Hathaway	Lacassine
Fenton	Crochet	Jennings	Lake Arthur
Fuselier	Elton	Lacassine	Roanoke
Glen Roy	Fenton	Lake Arthur	Welsh
Grand Marais	Fuselier	Niblett
Hathaway	Glen Roy	Roanoke
Hebert	Grand Marias	Thornwell
Hutchinson	Jennings	Welsh
Jennings	Lacassine	Woodlawn
Lafargue	Lafargue
Lake Arthur	Lake Arthur
Liberty	Lowery
Little March	Mayville
Live Oak	Miller Cove
Lowery	Roanoke
Mallett	Thompson
Meadow Prairie	Thornwell
Miller Cove	Three Pines
New Haber	Welsh
Oak Bayou	Woodlawn
Pleasant Summit
Raymond
Rice
Roanoke
Shafer
Smith
Thompson
Topsy
Thornwell
Three Pines
Trahan
Verret
Welsh
Woodlawn
38	24	13	8

The following table shows the increase in the number of school buses, the number of pupils transported and the annual cost of transportation in Jefferson Davis Parish for the sessions 1913-14, 1922-23, 1931-32 and 1940-41.

TABLE V

SHOWING NUMBER OF SCHOOL BUSES IN OPERATION, THE NUMBER OF PUPILS TRANSPORTED, AND THE ANNUAL COST OF TRANSPORTATION

Year	Number of buses used	Number of pupils transported	Annual cost
1913	1	23	$ 122.05
1922	15	361	$7,600.56
1931	38	1,812	$35,580.20
1940	43	2,057	$41,923.61

        In a period from 1913 to 1940, the number of schools had decreased from thirty-eight to eight. The number of school buses has increased from one to forty-three. That is a beneficial advancement in this instance because these eight schools are conveniently located, causing no bus to travel more than fifteen miles one way.

SCHOOL BUILDING PROGRAM

        With a program of consolidation there necessarily comes a demand for larger school buildings to meet the increasing school population. The building program which has been developed in Jefferson Davis Parish shows that from the beginning of the parish the citizens have been interested in the welfare and education of the youth. Prior to 1919, the frame structures then in use were adequate and served the purpose of educational centers.

        From 1919 to 1930, bond issues (22) for building purposes were voted. In 1919, Lake Arthur and Welsh voted bond issues. The high school building at Lake Arthur cost $133,796.00 and the high school building was built at a cost of $134,896.00. A bond issue was voted in Jennings for the erection of the high school and south-side buildings . These were built at a cost of $233,000.00. Central School had been erected at a cost of $40,000.00 to the citizens of the city of Jennings. In 1923, a bond issue was voted at Roanoke and the high school building cost $61,587.00. In 1930, Elton High School was built at a cost of $83,000.00. The high school at Fenton cost $8,000.00.

        These buildings gradually became inadequate and insufficient to meet the growing and steadily increasing demands made upon the parish school officials by the increased enrollment in the parish schools.

        In 1938, a special bond issue of $350,000.00 was voted for building and repairing of school plants. This bond issue consolidated the various school districts of the parish, with the exception of district 22 at Elton, into Consolidated District One. With a grant of $178,581.41 from the Federal Government to supplement the $350,000.00 bond issue, a building program of $528, 581.41 was launched in 1938-39.

        The following is a report (23) compiled by Superintendent L. L. Kilgore showing the activities of the Jefferson Davis Parish School Board covering the period from July 1, 1937, to the present time.

Voted 3 ½ mill tax.

Consolidated Bond Districts $350,000.00.

Additional $178,581.41 from Federal Government.

 

Built following:

1.  Welsh:

Repaired High School building badly in need of repair.

Built Gymnasium-Auditorium

Built Home Economics Cottage

Purchased Land for School

2.  Lacassine:

Built Gymnasium-Auditorium

Built Classroom Building

Purchased Land

3.  Fenton:

Built High School Building

Built Gymnasium-Auditorium

Built Home Economics Cottage

Erected Fence around School

4.  Hathaway:

Built complete High School building including:

Auditorium-Gymnasium

Home Economics Department

Purchased Land

5.  Lake Arthur:

Built Gymnasium-Auditorium

Built Home Economics Cottage

Purchased Land

6.  Elton:

Painted and Repaired Elton High School Building

Remodeled old Elementary Building for Modern Home Economics’ Cottage

Built seats in Gymnasium and Equipped with Modern Lighting

7.  Roanoke:

Built Gymnasium-Auditorium

8.  Jennings:

Built Building with classrooms and Gymnasium-Auditorium

Built Home Economics Cottage

Built all-steel Stadium

Repaired Central School

9.  Built a Modern Jefferson Davis Parish Training School for Negroes, established an approved four year High School.  Repaired following Negro Schools:

Lake Arthur

Elton

Raymond

Roanoke

N. Lacassine

S. Lacassine

Welsh

Fenton

10.  Water Systems added to Lacassine, Hathaway and Fenton.  Hot and cold water added to the following white schools:

Lake Arthur

Lacassine

Welsh

Roanoke

Hathaway

Fenton

Modern heating systems added in all white schools.

Built sanitary toilets in all Negro schools in cooperation with Parish Health Unit.

The following table shows the buildings that were erected, where they were erected, and the cost as obtained from the figures of the resident engineer of the W. P. A.

TABLE VI

BUILDINGS ERECTED IN THE BUILDING PROGRAM 1938-39, WHERE THEY WERE ERECTED AND THE COST OF EACH

School	Building	Cost
Jennings	Gymnasium and Elementary Building	$58,769.00
	Home Economic Cottage	$14,752.69
	Stadium	$16,950.00
Lake Arthur	Gymnasium	$32,115.39
	Home Economic Cottage	$13,276.66
Welsh	Gymnasium-Auditorium	$32,163.71
	Home Economic Cottage	$13,324.75
Roanoke	Gymnasium	$26,135.00
Fenton	Gymnasium	$29,649.40
	Home Economic Cottage	$10,226.33
Hathaway	School house	$99,926.33
Lacassine	Gymnasium-Auditorium	$22,300.00
	Home Economic Cottage and Central Heating Plant	$18,300.00
Jennings	Jennings Training School	$26,827.00

        In addition to the building program much repair work was done. The Central School in Jennings was remodeled at a cost of $8,865.95. In 1937, an addition was added to the Fenton school building and a gas heating system was installed, costing $23,407.00.

        In district twenty-two at Elton a special bond issue of $90,000.00 was voted. The Consolidated Bonded District One assumed the old bond issue indebtedness of $10,000.00 that remained. The elementary school building was built and the high school building was repaired. The old high school frame structure was remodeled and is now used for a home economics cottage.

        The following table shows the cost in the furniture and plumbing contracts were they were let separately.

TABLE VII

COST OF FURNITURE AND PLUMBING IN THE BUILDING PROGRAM OF 1938-39 WHERE THEY WERE LET SEPARATELY

School	Building	Item	Cost
Jennings	Gymnasium	Furniture	$2,099.96
	Home Economics Cottage	Furniture	$1,446.26
Welsh	Gymnasium	Heating, Plumbing	$1,941.31
	Gymnasium	Furniture	$125.93
	Home Economics Cottage	Furniture	$1,004.60
Hathaway	School House	Furniture	$7,435.17
Fenton	Home Economics Cottage	Furniture	$968.81
Lake Arthur	Gymnasium	Plumbing	$2,689.00
	Gymnasium	Furniture	$33.44
	Home Economics Cottage	Furniture	$1,019.53
Roanoke	Gymnasium	Plumbing	$3,050.52
	Gymnasium	Furniture	$52.80
Lacassine	Gymnasium	Plumbing	$2,135.70
	Gymnasium	Furniture	$83.02

        Thus a complete building and renovation program has been completed in Jefferson Davis Parish. Each school is now equipped with a modern gymnasium, modern home economics department and the school buildings are all in good repair. The school buildings should meet the needs for several years. Each year an attempt is made to bring modern facilities of educational buildings to the public.

ENROLLMENT AND AVERAGE ATTENDANCE

        The schools throughout the parish of Jefferson Davis have enjoyed a steady growth from 1913, when the parish was formed, to the present time. In 1913, there were 2811 pupils enrolled in the elementary and high schools of the parish. By 1940 this number had increased to 3902 pupils. This increase in enrollment is shown in the following table compiled from the yearly reports of the Parish Superintendent.

TABLE VIII

ENROLLMENT IN THE SCHOOL OF JEFFERSON DAVIS PARISH
1913 TO 1940

Years	Elementary School Boys	Elementary School Girls	High School Boys	High School Girls	Total Boys	Total Girls
1913	1,353	1,194	101	163	1,454	1,369
1922	1,499	1,309	230	282	1,829	1,561
1931	1,586	1,543	290	293	1,876	1,836
1940	1,658	1,466	376	399	2,037	1,865

        The above table shows a yearly gain in enrollment for both the elementary and high schools, and the boys and girls. The enrollment in the elementary school in 1913 was 2547 and in 1940 it had increased to 3124, showing a net gain of 577 pupils or 22.6 percent. The high school enrollment in 1913 was 264 and in 1940 it had increased to 775, showing a net gain of 511 or 193 percent.

        To get an idea of the average attendance of the pupils during these three decades of educational development, the table below shows the enrollment for the elementary and high schools of Jefferson Davis Parish and the average attendance for each.

TABLE IX

ENROLLMENT AND AVERAGE ATTENDANCE OF WHITE PUPILS IN JEFFERSON DAVIS PARISH SCHOOLS 1913-1940

Year	Enrollment Elementary School	Enrollment High School	Average Attendance Elementary School	Average Attendance High School
1913	2,547	264	1,679.3	216.9
1922	2,808	512	2,235.0	450.0
1931	3,129	583	2,690.6	500.6
1940	3,124	1,064	2,702.7	944.1

        This table shows that as the enrollment increased the average attendance also increased. The citizens of the parish have always displayed an interest in the education of their children. From the time of the many small one-room schools during the year 1913, the school attendance has been good. Today, with a school system highly consolidated, having only eight schools left out of the thirty-eight that were operating in 1913, and with a very convenient and extensive program of transportation, the average attendance is considered satisfactory.

        In 1910 (24) the legislature passed a compulsory school attendance act governing the school in the city of New Orleans. In 1914 (25) the legislature passed a compulsory school attendance law for the state of Louisiana, excluding the city of New Orleans. This act required all pupils between the ages of 8 and 14 years of age to attend either a public or private school for at least four months. Another act was passed in 1914 that made compulsory school attendance optional, since, the people in a parish, ward or district could determine in an election whether or not they wanted compulsory education. (26) The people in Jefferson Davis Parish took no action in this connection. The parents apparently wanted their children to have the benefits of an education. An effective compulsory school attendance law was passed in 1916. It required all children between the ages of 7 and 14 years, inclusive, to attend a public or private school for a period of 140 days, or more, each school year.

CURRICULUM AND LIBRARIES

        The schools of Jefferson Davis Parish began, when created, to strive for the best curriculum to meet the needs of the pupils. Before courses of study were organized, the school did not have efficiently organized schedules and well balanced courses. When the State Department of Education prepared and issued courses of study for both the elementary and high schools it made the program of instruction uniform throughout the state.

        From the earliest records in Jefferson Davis Parish, the people have been discussing the advantages and disadvantages of various courses in the schools.

        The earliest record of this fact appears when Ward 4 (27) appealed to the school board for a two-mill tax to purchase suitable property to erect buildings for agricultural and domestic science departments.

        Again, the early records show that people of Elton in 1913 wanted to levy a three-mill tax for suitable buildings and equipment for agricultural and domestic science departments. (28)

        On the other hand, on July 5, 1913, at a meeting of the Jefferson Davis Parish School Board, a petition was received from Roanoke, (29) asking that the teaching of domestic science be discontinued in Roanoke. This petition was signed by Dave Thomas and eighty-eight others. A committee composed of W. M. Fenton, R. M. Griggs, and W. P. Arnette was appointed to investigate.

        In 1913 and 1914 much industrial work (30) was done throughout the parish. Thirty-six boys were enrolled in corn clubs; nineteen were enrolled in pig clubs; and 126 were enrolled in agricultural classes. The girls of the parish also had the advantage of this work. Thirty-one girls were enrolled in tomato clubs and forty-seven were in domestic science classes.

        Music was taught in those schools where teachers were so qualified as to be able to instruct classes and groups. In some instances the schools paid individuals in the communities to instruct students in music for quartet and chorus work for rallies and for special events.

        Special attention was given to the health of students as early as 1914. At a meeting on the fourteenth of July in that year the Jefferson Davis Parish School Board adopted a resolution to enforce Act 192 of 1898 from the sanitary regulations of the Louisiana State Board of Health concerning hygiene and sanitation of schools:

        No one shall be entered as a pupil in the public school of this state without first having presented to the principal in charge a certificate from a registered physician of Louisiana certifying that within the preceding five years the applicant was successfully vaccinated.

        Three unsuccessful attempts of vaccination with a proven virus shall be accepted as an immunity for a period of one year. Pupils are required, at the end of each five years, to renew their vaccination certificates. (31)

        At a stated meeting of the Jefferson Davis Parish School Board, a contract (32) was entered into with Dr. J. H. Cooper in which he was appointed by the board and the police jury to serve as public health officer. His salary which was $120.00 per month was paid jointly by the school board and police jury.

        Each year has brought new courses and improved equipment into the schools. Vocational courses have been placed in the program of each school. All schools offer agriculture and home economics. Commerce and French are offered in four schools, and in all schools both vocal and instrumental music is taught. Physical training has developed into modern, organized and supervised physical education.

        The growth of the libraries has kept up with the development of the curriculum. The school library had forged ahead and has changed from the room-corner library to the full, well-equipped, large library with a part-time or full-time librarian.

        The Library Act, (33) No. 202 of 1906, obligated the parish school boards to assist the schools in purchasing library books, and the Jefferson Davis Parish School Board has been very liberal in purchasing library books.

        Since the state has been furnishing free library books, the school libraries are very well supplied.

        The elementary grades have individual room libraries as well as full use of the high school library.

        The following report, compiled by Superintendent L.L. Kilgore, shows the activities of the Jefferson Davis Parish School Board covering the period from July 1, 1937 to the present time.*  *(Files of the Superintendent's Office, Jefferson Davis Parish)

1.  Music continued and extended

2.  Extended libraries; equipped and built modern libraries

3.  Courses established:

Home Economics and Agriculture-Lake Arthur

Home Economics-Welsh

Home Economics and Agriculture-Elton

Agriculture-Jennings

Agriculture, entire Senior High School Department-Lacassine

Home Economics and Agriculture, Senior High-Hathaway

Home Economics and Agriculture, Senior High-Fenton

4.  Physical Education and Health:

Junior program of sports, Tournaments and Festivals

Cooperated in securing State Laboratory for Health Unit and raised appropriation for health unit

5.  Established Visual Education in schools

6.  Conducted Adult Schools, taught 1,000-12,000 reading and writing

7.  Cooperated with County Agent and Home Demonstration Agent, and continued appropriation

8.  Secured and sponsored book-binding project Co-operated with W. P. A.

The following table shows the number of courses taught in the school from 1913 to 1940.

TABLE X

COURSES OFFERED, JEFFERSON DAVIS PARISH SCHOOLS 1913-1940

Year	Number offering agriculture	Number offering home economics	Number offering commerce	Number offering music	Number offering physical education
1913	10	1	2	-	-
1922	1	2	-	-	-
1931	1	2	1	-	-
1940	8	8	4	8	8

        With eight high schools in the parish, the above table indicates that vocational courses are offered in more schools in 1940 than ever before.

        The following table shows the development made in the libraries from 1913 to 1940. These figures were obtained from the annual reports of the Superintendent.

TABLE XI

NUMBER OF VOLUMES IN LIBRARIES, LIBRARIANS EMPLOYED ANNUAL EXPENDITURES FOR LIBRARIES 1913-1940

Year	Number of volumes	Librarians Employed Part time	Librarians Employed Full time	Total annual cost
1913	1,226	-	-	$ 40.98
1922	3,022	-	-	$629.33
1931	4,456	4	-	$4,088.87
1940	14,018	6	2	$4,436.20

        The above table shows the increase in the number of volumes in the school libraries. The largest addition has been made since 1931. It also shows that the amount of money spent on libraries has increased from year to year. The school libraries are now supervised by teachers trained in library science. The table shows that each school now has either a part-time or a full-time librarian.

TEACHING PERSONNEL

        The teaching personnel of Jefferson Davis Parish has increased since the parish was organized in 1913. In that year there were eighty-seven teachers, today there are 150. With this increase in number has come an increased demand in teacher qualifications.

        In those early years, there were less than three thousand teachers employed in the state and 70 percent held low grade certificates. (34) It was almost impossible for teachers to attend summer school on the small salaries they were paid. They were allowed to take examinations and were given certificates according to the grade which they made. Some teachers received these certificates by taking examinations immediately after finishing high school. As they improved on the examination, the grade of the certificate which they held was raised.

        The Jefferson Davis Parish School Board, at the regular meeting on July 14, 1914, framed the following resolution. (35)

        Be it resolved by the Board of Directors of the Public Schools of Jefferson Davis Parish, that after the school term of 1914-15 no one shall be employed to teach in the Graded and High Schools of Jefferson Davis Parish unless he or she be a graduate of Louisiana State Normal or some other institution of equal or higher learning. Be it further resolved that the applicants may be employed to teach in the above schools if they have obtained 32 units in some recognized college or university.

        Today, standards are continually being raised and most of the teachers of Jefferson Davis Parish attend summer school at regular intervals to improve their scholarship and professional training.

        The following table compiled from the superintendent’s annual reports shows the number of teachers employed in the schools of Jefferson Davis Parish from 1913 to 1940.

TABLE XII

NUMBER OF TEACHERS EMPLOYED IN THE ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOLS
OF JEFFERSON DAVIS PARISH, 1913 TO 1940

Year	Elementary School Male	Elementary School Female	Total	High School Male	High School Female	Total	Total Male	Total Female
1913	-	-	-	-	-	-	12	75
1922	3	88	91	10	20	30	15	108
1931	2	92	94	13	15	28	15	107
1940	5	86	91	27	32	59	32	118

        From the above it is seen that the number of elementary teachers employed in 1922 was exactly the same as the number employed in 1940. In the high school department the number of teachers employed during the 1940-41 session is more than twice the number employed in 1931. This is due to two reasons, first the high school enrollment has increased from 583 students in 1931, to 775 students in 1940 and secondly, the addition of several new departments of commerce, home economics, agriculture and music in the high schools has necessitated the employment of additional teachers.

        The parish has always had a well qualified teaching staff. The main reason for this is that Jefferson Davis Parish has consistently paid higher than average salaries, and therefore could command better teachers.

        The following table shows the average annual salaries of teachers.

TABLE XIII

AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARIES OF TEACHERS 1913 TO 1940

Year	Male	Female
1913*	$ 626.40	$ 435.38
1922	$1,851.18	$900.95
1931	$1,836.33	$913.61
1940	$1,748.46	$1,039.40

*School session was 7.2 months.

    The qualifications of Jefferson Davis teachers has been raised steadily through the period, 1913 to 1940. As financial compensation has increased, more of those in the teaching profession have sought better educational qualifications and have received further training in higher institutions of learning.

    The following table shows the training received by the teachers of Jefferson Davis Parish from 1913 to 1940.

TABLE XIV

QUALIFICATION OF TEACHERS, JEFFERSON DAVIS PARISH FROM 1913 TO 1940

Year	M.A. Degree	B.A. Degree	3 yrs. of College	2 yrs. of College	1 yr. of College
1913	-	26	38	15	8
1922	-	20	75	20	6
1931	3	32	74	9	4
1940	5	94	23	28	0

        The above table shows definite improvement in teacher qualifications over the period 1913 to 1940. The greatest improvement was in the number of teachers graduating from a college or university. In 1940, there were five teachers holding the Master’s degree and ninety-four teachers with the Bachelor’s degree. In 1931, there were three teachers with the Master’s degree and only thirty-two teachers with the Bachelor’s degree. The teachers of the parish have always been willing, though not required by the School Board, to attend summer schools.

        It was always the custom in Jefferson Davis Parish to continue a teacher in her position as long as she gave satisfaction. Because of this, good teachers have remained in the parish for many years.

        Table XV shows the teaching experience of teachers in 1913 and 1940.

TABLE XV

TEACHING EXPERIENCE OF JEFFERSON DAVIS PARISH TEACHERS FOR 1913 AND 1940

Experience in Years	Men-1913	Women-1913	Men-1940`	Women-1940
More than Twenty	-	-	3	15
15-20	-	-	2	15
10-14	-	-	6	19
8-9	-	-	3	17
7	-	-	2	2
6	5	22	2	8
5	1	9	1	5
4	2	7	2	10
3	1	17	3	6
2	1	12	4	6
1	2	8	4	15
Median	4	3	6	8-9

        The above table shows that in 1940 eighty-four teachers, or 56 percent had seven or more years of experience, whereas, in 1913 there were no teachers with more than 6 years of experience.

SUPERVISION (36)

        The office of parish school supervisor in Jefferson Davis Parish has existed only at times. Superintendent W. P. Arnette from 1913 to 1937, did a great deal of supervision. The principals, during his term of office, were supervising principals. Since Superintendent L. L. Kilgore assumed the office in 1937, he, too, has devoted much of his time to classroom supervision. The principals are still doing a great amount of classroom supervision.

        There was no supervisor in the parish until 1919, when Lizzie McCall was made elementary supervisor. She supervised all of the white elementary schools of the parish until 1922. During the session 1922-23, she was employed as elementary teacher in the Lake Arthur school.

        During the school year 1922-23, A. S. Pollard was elected parish supervisor. His term of office lasted for one year, after which Lizzie McCall was again employed as elementary supervisor. She held the position until 1932.

        There was no parish supervisor from 1932 to 1935. The supervisory duties were performed by the superintendent and the principals.

        In 1935, P. E. Wilson, then principal of the Welsh High School, was elected parish supervisor of schools. The supervisor’s duties were made to include the elementary and high school departments of both the white and colored schools of the parish. His term of office lasted for almost two school sessions. In March, 1937, the superintendent’s office was filled by the Jennings High School principal, L. L. Kilgore. Supervisor Wilson relinquished his position as supervisor to accept the principalship of the Jennings High School, leaving no supervisor for the remainder of that school year.

        While P. E. Wilson was supervisor, a program stressing reading and arithmetic was used. Tests were given in these subjects and ratings were made.

        J. B. Wooley, Roanoke High School principal was elected parish supervisor in 1937 and held the position for two years. The program of supervision used during his term of office was a continuation of the program started by P. E. Wilson.

        In 1939-40 there was no supervisor, the supervisory duties being assumed by Superintendent Kilgore.

        In 1940, L. H. Richard, then principal of the Lake Arthur High School was elected parish school supervisor. The supervisory program for the session 1940-41 did not stress any particular subject or subjects, but rather attempted to improve teachers in all phases of classroom activities. Special attention was given to teaching methods and procedures. Individual and group conferences were held during the year.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

        The schools of Jefferson Davis Parish have been financed, in some measure, by special taxes. The people of the parish desired better schools and have helped to provide for them by voting special taxes.

        The police jury established boundary lines for wards (37) and voting precincts. (38) They also divided the parish into school districts. (39) As early as April in the first year of the parish formation, the taxpayers of District Ten wanted to levy an eight-mill tax. This failed to carry, and a five-mill tax was then proposed. (40)

        Special taxes were voted many times throughout the parish for school purposes. Some examples of this were apparent when Ward Four wanted a two-mill tax to erect buildings for agriculture and domestic science departments, (41) and when School District Twenty-one wanted to levy a three-mill tax for buildings to be used for the same purpose.(42)

        Bond issues which were voted in the parish from 1914 to 1939 are shown in Table XVI. (43)

TABLE XVI

BONDS VOTED FOR CONSTRUCTING AND EQUIPPING SCHOOL BUILDINGS IN JEFFERSON DAVIS PARISH FROM 1914 TO 1939

District	Date of issue	Date of expiration	Rate of Interest	Amount
29	1914	1929	5%	$3,500.00
28	1914	1929	5%	$3,500.00
14	1915	1935	5%	$8,000.00
10	1919	1949	5%	$125,000.00
22	1915	1945	5%	$10,000.00
1	1919	1949	5%	$110,000.00
21	1920	1945	5%	$285,000.00
1	1921	1945	5%	$50,000.00
10	1921	1945	5 %	$50,000.00
11	1923	1943	5 ½ %	$78,000.00
22	1930	1950	5 ¼ %	$90,000.00
1*	1939	1945	3 ½ %	$350,000.00

        *This bond issue consolidated the districts of the parish, with the exception of District No. 22 (Elton). It is known as Consolidated District Number One, and has assumed all of the bonded indebtedness of the parish schools, including the indebtedness of District No. 22 at Elton. (44)

        This Consolidated School District Number One of Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana, was created on the 17^th day of February, 1938.

        The following were assumed and recognized as outstanding and legally binding obligations of Consolidated School District Number One of Jefferson Davis Parish: (45)

A. $21,000.00 bonds originally issued by School District No. 1of Jefferson Davis Parish, said bonds being dated April 1, 1920 bearing interest of 5% per annum, maturing serially on April 1 of each of the years 1939 to 1945 inclusive and numbered 30 to 50 inclusive; and $63,000.00 bonds originally issued by School District No. 1 of Jefferson Davis Parish, said bonds being dated October 1, 1919, bearing interest at 5% per annum maturing serially on April 1 of each of the years 1939 to 1949 inclusive, and numbered 48 to 110 inclusive.

B. $67,000.00 bonds originally issued by school District No. 10 of Jefferson Davis Parish, said bonds being dated October 1, 1919 bearing interest at 5% per annum, maturing serially on April 1 of each of the years 1939 to 1949 inclusive, and numbered 59 to 125 inclusive; and $21,000.00 bonds originally issued by School District No. 10 of Jefferson Davis Parish said bonds being dated April 1 of each year of each of the years 1939 to 1945 inclusive, and numbered 30 to 50 inclusive.

C. $28,000.00 bonds originally issued by School District No. 11 of Jefferson Davis Parish, said bonds being dated April 1, 1923 bearing interest at 5 ½ % per annum, maturing serially on April 1 of each of the years 1939 to 1943 inclusive, and numbered 51 to 78 inclusive.

D. $124,000.00 bonds originally issued by School District No. 21 of Jefferson Davis Parish, said bonds being dated February 1, 1920, bearing interest at 5% per annum, maturing serially on February 1 of each of the years 1939 to 1945 inclusive, and numbered 162 to 285 inclusive.

E. $40,000.00 bonds originally issued by the city of Jennings on the School District of the City of Jennings, in the Parish of Jefferson Davis being an outstanding Bonded indebtedness of the School District of the said City of Jennings, said bonds being dated July 1, 1907, bearing interest at 5% per annum, maturing July 1, 1947, but redeemable at the expiration of 30 years from their date, and numbered 1 to 40 inclusive.

        The following tables were compiled from the superintendent’s yearly reports and show the revenues and expenditures of the Jefferson Davis Parish School Board from 1913 to 1940. It may be seen from the table of revenue receipts that there has been a steady increase in the amount of money received from the state, while the amount received from the parish, special taxes and other sources varied. The amount of money received from the state in 1913 was $8,511.84 and by 1940 the amount had increased to $123,134.39.

        The increase in the revenues is necessarily followed by an increase in expenditures. From Table XVII it is seen that the largest increase was for instruction. In 1913 that item cost $44,066.54. By 1922, the cost of instruction rose to $143,848.85, an increase of $99,782.31.

        The amounts received from the equalization fund by Jefferson Davis Parish have varied. The first amount to be received was in 1931. In that year, the parish received $20,737.56. In the last period, 1940, the parish received $22,429.00. During the intervening period 1931-40, in some years small amounts were received and in some years none was received.

TABLE XVII   

REVENUE RECEIPTS, JEFFERSON DAVIS PARISH SCHOOL BOARD 1913-1940

Year	State	Parish	Special	Other Sources	Balance Forwarded*
1913	$8,511.84	$56,255.69	-	$21,949.24	-
1922	$38,246.39	$54,901.43	$157,982.48	$24,230.16	$115,654.44
1931	$58,358.12	$41,234.74	$100,293.34	$17,560.56	$160,461.55
1940	$123,134.39	$131,834.35	$96,069.22	$79,921.35	$205,512.54

TABLE XVIII

EXPENDITURES, JEFFERSON DAVIS PARISH SCHOOL BOARD 1913-1940

Year	Fixed charges	Capital outlay	Debt service	Unclassified
1913	$2,558.28	$1,389.13	-	$2,223.00
1922	$2,612.55	$34,096.28	$42,959.12	$17,260.95
1931	$5,741.76	$3,167.79	$55,265.20	$10,552.77
1940	$5,365.01	$121,345.95	$97,223.88	$24,530.02

TABLE XVIII (CONTINUED)

EXPENDITURES, JEFFERSON DAVIS PARISH SCHOOL BOARD 1913-1940

Year	General control	Instruction	Operation of plants	Maintenance of plant	Auxiliary agencies
1913	$5,038.00	$44,066.54	$707.50	$140.90	$533.71
1922	$6,483.53	$143,848.85	$9,265.07	$6,688.03	$7,700.56
1931	$11,099.55	$137,499.38	$13,808.24	$4,110.34	$41,159.62
1940	$13,312.67	$151,782.29	$18,066.20	$1,968.73	$52,025.47

CHAPTER III

NEGRO EDUCATION

        Education of Negroes in Jefferson Davis Parish began with the organization of the parish in 1913. (1) The education of Negro children has always been encouraged by the Parish School Board and the leading citizens of the parish.

        For a number of years following the organization of the parish the school terms for Negro schools were very short, ranging from four to six months. The buildings which housed the pupils were inadequate. They were not repaired sufficiently and the equipment consisted of only the barest necessities. In spite of the short school terms and inadequate facilities the Negro children took advantage of the opportunities afforded them and proved that there was a demand for better Negro education throughout the parish

        The Annual Report of the Parish Superintendent of 1913 (2) shows that the best work in the Negro schools was being done in the Mermentau and Jennings schools. These two schools had been operating longer than the others and were better organized.

        The number of Negro schools increased during the first ten years following the organization of the parish in 1913. The increase in enrollment demanded additional teachers. The parish school board, in 1913, (3) spent $2,156.50 for instruction in Negro schools and by 1922 (4) the amount so spent had increased to $6,882.50. More efficient Negro teachers were employed, buildings were repaired, new schools were erected throughout the parish where Negro population warranted them. About 1920-21, when new brick buildings were built for several of the white schools, the frame buildings which had been used for white schools were moved to other locations and used for Negro schools. Those buildings in several places are still being used.

        In 1937, when L. L. Kilgore became Parish Superintendent of Education, he realized the need for a Negro high school in the parish. In the building program of 1938-39, the school officials included a modern school building for Negroes and established the first and only Negro high school in Jefferson Davis Parish. The school is known as the Jefferson Davis Parish Training School and was built at a cost of $26,827.00. The building contains eight classrooms, library, gymnasium and principal’s office. Complete courses in home economics and manual training are offered to all Negro children of the parish desiring to get a high school education. The gymnasium serves a double purpose in that it is used for both school and community activities. The graduating class of 1941 was the third class to graduate from that school.

        Prior to 1939, there was no high school for Negro children in the parish. Those children desiring a high school education were forced to go outside the parish to get such training. The majority of the Negro children attended high school in Crowley.

        The following table gives the location of schools, value of buildings and the number of teachers employed in the Negro schools of Jefferson Davis Parish for the session 1940-41.

TABLE XIX

VALUE OF BUILDINGS, NUMBER OF TEACHERS AND LOCATION OF NEGRO SCHOOLS, JEFFERSON DAVIS PARISH, 1940

School	Ward	Value of buildings*	Number of teachers
Thornwell	1	**	1
Lake Arthur	1	$1,900.00	2
Jennings	2	$32,327.00	10
Mermentau	2	$2,000.00	2
Raymond	3	$1,300.00	1
Elton	4	$3,200.00	3
Fenton	5	**	2
North Welsh	6	**	1
Welsh	6	$3,800.00	5
Roanoke	6	$1,400.00	2
South Lacassine	7	**	1
North Lacassine	8	**	1
Totals		$45,927.00	31

        *These values were obtained from the insurance records in the Superintendent’s office.

        **These buildings are not owned by the parish school board.

        The above table shows that the total value of Negro school buildings owned by the parish school board in 1940 was $45,927.00. Five of the buildings used for Negro schools are not owned, but are maintained by the school board. The table also shows that in 1940 there were thirty-one Negro teachers employed in Jefferson Davis Parish.

        The school session of 1940-41 was of six months duration in all of the Negro schools of the parish except the Jennings School which had an eight-month session.

        The following table shows the salary schedule for Negro teachers in Jefferson Davis Parish for the session of 1940-41.

TABLE XX

SALARY SCHEDULE FOR NEGRO TEACHERS, JEFFERSON DAVIS PARISH, 1940-41

	Years of College Training
Experience	B.A.	2 and 3 years	Less than 2 years
0	$48.00	$42.00	$38.00
1	$49.00	$43.00	$39.00
2	$50.00	$44.00	$40.00
3	$51.00	$45.00	$41.00
4	$52.00	$46.00	$42.00
5	$54.00	$47.00	$43.00
6	$55.00	$48.00	$44.00
7	$56.00	$49.00	$45.00
8	$57.00	$50.00	$46.00
9	$58.00	$51.00	$47.00

        The above salary schedule was prepared by Superintendent Kilgore and was adopted by the school board for the session of 1940-41.

        Summary. Since 1913, Negro education in Jefferson Davis Parish has developed rather slowly. The increased enrollments in the various schools and a need for more than an elementary school system in the parish was apparent. In 1939, the Jefferson Davis Parish Training School was established. That school, located in the city of Jennings, is the main center of Negro education in the parish. It has high school rating with the State Department of Education.

        The Negroes of Jefferson Davis Parish are proud of their schools. They have cooperated with the superintendent and the school board in all of their efforts to provide better education facilities for Negro children.

CHAPTER IV

SUMMARY

        The organization of Jefferson Davis Parish from territory taken from Calcasieu Parish did not change the community centers that had been built up around churches and schools.

        In 1913, with the complete organization of Jefferson Davis Parish, the wards were formed. From the beginning of the ward system, special taxes were voted by the people for school purposes. In 1937, the school districts of the parish were consolidated and formed one school district, known as Consolidated District No. 1. The consolidation was the result of a special school tax voted by the people. In this election a $350,000.00 bond issue was voted to cover the proposed building program.

        The consolidation of schools and transportation of pupils have given many rural boys and girls the opportunity to receive a high school education. Courses in home economics, agriculture and commerce have been made available, through consolidation and transportation, for pupils living a long distance from the school centers. Because of these added advantages many pupils have remained in school, who otherwise would probably have dropped out.

        The result of an extensive building program in 1938-39 has been that each of the eight high schools has a modern gymnasium and home economics department. Because of the building and repairing program, the school plants of Jefferson Davis Parish should meet the needs for several years.

        Since Superintendent Kilgore became parish superintendent of public education in 1937 many courses have been added to the school curriculum. Agriculture and home economics were added in six of the schools. Three additional music instructors have been employed. There are in the parish at present three instructors for vocal music and two for instrumental music. Both of these courses are taught in all of the parish schools.

        The school board makes appropriations for the parish health unit, the county agricultural agent, and for the home demonstration agent which shows a progressive attitude and desire to be of service beyond the classroom.

        The teachers of the parish, both white and Negro, have made commendable improvement in their training from 1913 to 1940. Of the white teaching personnel, in 1940, five have the Master’s degree and ninety-four have the Bachelor’s degree. The number of teachers holding the Bachelor’s degree has increased from twenty-six in 1913 to ninety-four in 1940.

        Of the 150 white teachers of Jefferson Davis Parish in 1940, sixty had more than ten years of teaching experience.

        During the development of education throughout the parish, the Negro education has not been over looked.

        Pubic education, in Jefferson Davis Parish, from 1913 to 1940 has made steady progress. It has been under the guidance of capable leaders, has been supported by the people, and has served, nobly, the boys and girls of the parish.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Acts Passed by the General Assembly of the State of Louisiana at the Regular Session of 1912. Baton Rouge: Ramires-Jones Printing Company, 1912. 583 pp.

Acts Passed by the General Assembly of the State of Louisiana at the Regular Session of 1898. Baton Rouge: The Advocate, Official Journal of the State of Louisiana, 1898. 544 pp.

Acts Passed by the General Assembly of the State of Louisiana at the Regular Session of 1910. Baton Rouge: The New Advocate, Official Journal of the State of Louisiana, 1910. 555 pp.

Acts Passed by the General Assembly of the State of Louisiana at the Regular Session of 1906. Baton Rouge: The Times, Official Journal of Louisiana, 1906. 391 pp.

Biennial Report of the State Superintendent of Public Education to the General Assembly of Louisiana, 1888-1889. New Orleans: Ernest Marchand, State Printer, 1890. 105 pp.

Constitution of the State of Louisiana, 1898. New Orleans: H. J. Hearsey, Convention Printer, 1898. 129 pp.

Dupre, Gilbert L., "Imperial St. Landry," Published Address delivered before the Louisiana Historical Society, at the City of New Orleans, December 15, 1925. 8 pp.

Foote, John M., Twenty-five Years of Public Education in Louisiana. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State Department of Education, 1926. 30 pp.

Fortier, Alcee, Louisiana, Vol. III. Atlanta: Century Historical Association, 1914. 806 pp.

Files of the Parish Superintendent’s Office, Jefferson Davis Parish.

General Ledger Book I, Jefferson Davis Parish School Board, 1913-1935. 400 pp.

General Ledger Book II, Jefferson Davis Parish School Board, 1935-1941. 84 pp.

Harris, T. H., The Story of Public Education in Louisiana. New Orleans: Delgado Trades School, 1924. 118 pp.

Minute Book No. I, Jefferson Davis Parish School Board, 1913-1919. 366 pp.

Minute Book No. II, Jefferson Davis Parish School Board, 1919-1928. 211 pp.

Minute Book No. III, Jefferson Davis Parish School Board, 1928-1939. 284 pp.

Minutes of the School Board Proceedings, Calcasieu Parish, 1890. 225 pp.

Public School Laws of Louisiana, Ninth Compilation, 1914. Baton Rouge: Ramires-Jones Printing Company, 1914. 158 pp.

Police Jury Proceedings, Parish of Calcasieu, Book F. 630 pp.

Police Jury Proceedings, Parish of Jefferson Davis, Book I. 596 pp.

Parish Archives of Louisiana, No. X, Calcasieu Parish. University, Louisiana: The Department of Archives, Louisiana State University, 1938. 113 pp.

Parish Superintendent’s Annual Report to State Department of Education, 1913-1914. 9 pp.

Parish Superintendent’s Annual Report to State Department of Education, 1922-1923. 8 pp.

Special and General Fund Book I, Jefferson Davis Parish School Board, 1913-1920. 282 pp.

Special and General Fund Book II, Jefferson Davis Parish School Board, 1920-1926. 205 pp.

Special and General Fund Book III, Jefferson Davis Parish School Board, 1926-1931. 287 pp.

Special and General Fund Book IV, Jefferson Davis Parish School Board, 1931-1935. 281 pp.

Special and General Fund Book V, Jefferson Davis Parish School Board, 1935-1939. 167 pp.

Special and General Fund Book VI, Jefferson Davis Parish School Board, 1939-1940. 201 pp.

BIOGRAPHY

        Luke Harry Richard was born January 3, 1906, at Labadieville, Louisiana, in Assumption Parish.

        He graduated from the Labadieville High School of Assumption Parish in 1922 and enrolled at the Louisiana State University in the fall of the same year. He was awarded the Bachelor of Arts degree from that university in the summer of 1926.

        The writer has been teaching since the school session 1926-1927. He taught in the St. Martinville High School, 1926-1927; the Lutcher High School, 1927-1928; the Lake Charles High School, 1928-1929; the Gulf Coast Military Academy, 1929-1930; and the Welsh High School, 1930-1934. He served as principal of the Roanoke High School, 1934-1935; and principal of the Lake Arthur High School, 1935-1940. He was elected supervisor of schools in Jefferson Davis Parish in 1940, which position he now holds.

        He was married to Thelma Jeter of Welsh, Louisiana, on August 4, 1931.

        In the summer of 1941 he is a candidate for the Mater of Arts degree from the Louisiana State University.

Footnotes

Chapter I

1. Gilbert L. Dupre, " Imperial St. Landry, " (published address delivered before the Louisiana Historical Society, at the city of New Orleans, December 15, 1925), pp. 2-3.   

2. Acts 6,7,8, Acts Passed by the General Assembly of the State of Louisiana at the Regular Session of 1912, (Baton Rouge: Ramires-Jones Printing Company, 1912), pp. 10-12.

3. Alcee Fortier, Louisiana Vol. III, (Atlanta: Century Historical Association, 1914), p. 275.

4. Parish Archives of Louisiana, No. X, Calcasieu Parish, (University, Louisiana: The Department of Archives, Louisiana State University, 1938), p 78.   

5. Biennial Report of the State Superintendent of Public Education to the General Assembly of Louisiana, 1888-1889, (New Orleans: Ernest Marchand, State Printer, 1890), p. 48.

6. Act 131, Acts Passed by the General Assembly of the State of Louisiana at the Regular Session of 1898, (Baton Rouge: The Advocate, Official Journal of the State of Louisiana, 1898), p. 200-202.

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

8. Minutes of School Board Proceedings, Calcasieu Parish, 1890, p. 107.

9. Ibid., p. 185.

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

11. Police Jury Proceedings, Parish of Calcasieu, Book F, p. 543.

12. Minutes of School Board Proceedings, Calcasieu Parish, 1903-1906, p. 28.

Chapter II

1. Police Jury Proceedings, Parish of Jefferson Davis, Book I, p. 1.

2. Ibid., p. 2.

 3. Ibid., pp. 2-3.

4. Ibid., p. 4.   

5. Ibid., p. 5.

6. Ibid., p. 8.

7. Ibid., p. 9.

8. Ibid., p. 14.

9. Ibid., p. 17.

10. Ibid., p. 24.

11. Ibid., p. 39.

12. Ibid., p. 43.

13. Minute Book No. I, Jefferson Davis Parish School Board, pp. 1-5.

14. Ibid., p. 5.

15. Ibid., p. 5.

16. Ibid., p. 5.   

 17. Ibid., p. 12.

18. T. H. Harris, The Story of Public Education in Louisiana, (New Orleans: Delgado Trades School), 1924, p. 93.

19. Special and General Fund Books I-VI, Jefferson Davis Parish School Board, 1913-1940.

20. Ibid.

21. Minute Book No. I, Jefferson Davis Parish School Board, 1913, p. 76.

22. Special and General Fund Books I-VI, Jefferson Davis Parish School Board, 1913-1940.   

23. Files of the Parish Superintendent's Office, Jefferson Davis Parish.

24. Act 222, Acts Passed by the General Assembly of the State of Louisiana at the Regular Session of 1910, (Baton Rouge: The New Advocate, Official Journal of the State of Louisiana, 1910), p. 366.

25. Act 91, Public School Laws of Louisiana, Ninth Compilation, 1914, (Baton Rouge: Ramires-Jones Printing Company, 1914), p. 65.

26. Ibid., p. 66.

27. Minute Book No. I, Jefferson Davis Parish School Board, 1913, pp. 15-16.

28. Ibid., p. 18.

29. Ibid., p. 35.

30. Parish Superintendent's Annual Report to State Department of Education, 1913-1914, p. 4.

31. Minute Book I, Jefferson Davis Parish School Board, 1913, p. 152.

32. Police Jury Proceedings, Parish of Jefferson Davis, Book I, pp. 551-552.

33. Act 202, Acts Passed by the General Assembly of the State of Louisiana at the Regular Session of 1906, (Baton Rouge: The Times, Official Journal of Louisiana, 1906), p. 357.

34. John M. Foote, Twenty-five Years of Public Education in Louisiana, (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State Department of Education, 1926), p. 5.

35. Minute Book No. I, Jefferson Davis Parish School Board, 1913, p. 152.

36. Special and General Fund Books I-VI, Jefferson Davis Parish School Board, 1913-1940.

37. Police Jury Proceedings, Parish of Jefferson Davis, Book I, 1913, p. 4.

38. Ibid., p. 6.

39. Ibid., p. 8.

40. Minute Book No. I, Jefferson Davis Parish School Board, 1913, p. 6.

41. Ibid., pp. 19-16 (sic).

42. Ibid., p. 18.    

43. Minute Books No. I, No. II, No. III, Jefferson Davis Parish School Board, 1913-1940.

44. Minute Book No. III, Jefferson Davis Parish School Board, 1938, p. 228.

45. Ibid., pp. 228-229.

Chapter III

1. Parish Superintendent's Annual Report to State Department of Education, 1913-14, p. 6.

2. Ibid., p. 6.

3. Ibid., p. 6.

4. Parish Superintendent's Annual Report to State Department of Education, 1922-23.

 

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