EDUCATION. The educational reports of Louis iana for recent years show that the State is in a fair way of redeeming its educational reputation. The enrollment of white pupils in the public schools increased from 3S,S70 in 1881 to 125.257 in 1901, the enrollment in the latter year amount ing to 63 to every 100 persons between the ages of six and eighteen. During the same period the enrollment of colored pupils increased from 2:3, 590 to 73,624, the cur responding percentage being 40. Aloreover, the length of term-120 days —as reported for IOW was greater than that for any other Southern State, and the term of the colored schools was as long as that for the whites. However, the educational status in a number of parishes is deplorable and the enroll ment is exceedingly low. The fur 1000 shows that Gil per cent. of the negro popula tion ten years of age and over was illiterate—but a little less than the corresponding percentage in 1880. The illiteracy of the native white popula tion was 17.3 per cent. in 1900. Tim law of 1902 provides that the State appropriation fur education shall be distributed among the parishes of the State according to of children between the ages of six and eighteen, but the poll tax should be retained in the parish in which it is collected. Local parish taxes may he assessed by the police jurors for school purposes, subject to certain maximum and minimum limitations. Certain other local receipts in the form of fines are used for educational purposes. In 1901 the total receipts for school purposes was $1,393,892, of which the most important sources were the corporation taxes, $403,185; current school fund, $:322,413; police jury tax, $208,116. The disburse
ment amounted to $1,2:36,647, of which $983,515 went for teachers' salaries. inducements are made to teachers to extend their academic courses by allowing graduate; from the State Normal, State University, and certain other institutions to teach without passing an examination. in 1901 there were 2384 female and 835 male white teachers, and 541 female and 511 male colored teachers. The average salary of White males is $42 per month, and of the colored males $26.50 per month. According to the low of 1902 there is a State Board of Education consisting of the Governor, Superintendent of Education. Attorney General, and one person from each of the seven Congressional districts of the State. appointed by the Governor. This hoard appoints a beard of school directors for each parish. the members of which office four years. These directors elect the parish superintendents and fix their salaries within certain limits. The State Board selects a uniform series of text-books.
Higher education is provided by the Stale at the State' University and Agricultural and 'Me chanical College, located at Baton Bonge; Tubule University; the industrial Institution at Rus ton; the Southwestern Industrial • Institute at Lafayette; and the Southern University—colored —at New. Orleans. The State exempts from taxa tion the valuable real estate of Tulane Univer sity. This institution, situated at New Orleans, is one of the foremost educational institutions of the South. There are also a number of denomi national colleges. most of which are in New Orleans.