As in the past, Louisiana continued to rank near the bottom in educational achievement. One-fifth of the adult population had received no education whatsoever. To the state's credit, South Louisiana did have some good parochial schools and North Louisiana had a few good public schools. But most schools had low-paid and poorly qualified teachers and poor facilities.
Investment in public education in the region lagged behind that in other areas of the United States. In Louisiana the provision of public schools had traditionally been regarded as charity. Some did not want to give charitably; others felt that charity was not a function of government. And still others did not want to receive charity or be seen receiving charity. This attitude towards education seems foreign to us now, but delayed kept the growth of interest in providing education in Louisiana.
Three governors did make attempts to help Louisiana's school system improve. Huey and Earl Long provided free textbooks, lunches and bus transportation for the children and higher salaries for the teachers. During the administrations of the Longs and O. K. Allen more money was set aside for buildings schools int he state.
Governor Jimmie Davis also greatly increased the state's expenditures for education. During the administrations o these governors, the state college and university system was expanded to included professional schools for legal, dental, and graduate study. Teacher education was expanded and improved, also.
These four governors, three from Winn Parish and the latter from Winn's neighbor to the north, Jackson Parish, grew up in the some the poorest north Louisiana parishes. These parishes had been more sympathetic to earlier Socialist and Populist movements at the turn of the century and the idea of cooperatively providing public services through government was perhaps not as distateful to persons from these parishes. Also, these already poor areas were hit very hard by the depression. In the face of great needs, I'm sure the idea of giving and receiving "charity" did seem so unthinkable as it had in the past.
Despite the efforts of these leaders, the greatest contribution to the state was not made by any one person or public body in the state. The federal government made the greatest contribution to the area through the Works Progress Administration (later called the Works Projects Administration) which was created in 1935 in response to the Depression.
The WPA, cooperating with the Louisiana State Department of Education, carried out five basic programs . These five programs provided work for unemployed teachers and constructed new educational facilities.
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