Education

The superintendent of public education, who is appointed to a four-year term by the state board of education, supervises the department of education. The superintendent implements the policies of the board of education, which contains both elected officials and members appointed by the governor. School attendance is compulsory from age 7 to 17.

Some of the nation's first schools for girls were founded by the Ursuline nuns at New Orleans in 1727. Lutheran schools were established in that city during the 1830's. New Orleans appointed a city director of education in 1826; he was the first municipal public school superintendent in the United States. However, most of Louisiana's schools were private, church-affiliated institutions until after World War I, when public schools gradually became more common.

The University of Louisiana System consists of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College at Baton Rouge; the University of New Orleans; the Medical Center in New Orleans; Louisiana State University in Shreveport; and two-year campuses at Alexandria and Eunice. The oldest and largest unit is the one at Baton Rouge, opened in 1860 as the Louisiana State Seminary of Learning. It was renamed Louisiana State University in 1870 and seven years later merged with Louisiana Agricultural and Mechanical College and adopted the present name. The largest private institution in the state, and one of the oldest, is Tulane University in New Orleans.

Interesting facts about Louisiana
Louisiana’s egret colonies are among the largest in the United States. About 70,000 cattle egrets and 15,000 snowy egrets nest at Miller’s Lake in Evangeline Parish, in the south-central part of the state. In St. Martin Parish, southeast of Evangeline Parish, there are large rookeries of wading birds at Lake Martin and in the Atchafalaya Basin. The birds at Lake Martin include about 8,000 cattle egrets and 4,000 great egrets. About 8,000 snowy egrets nest at a rookery in the Atchafalaya Basin.
More crayfish are produced in Louisiana than any other part of the United States. The state produces about 85 percent of the country’s crayfish, called crawfish in Louisiana. About 110,000 acres (44,500 hectares) are devoted to raising the seafood delicacy.
The longest boxing match in history was held in New Orleans on April 6-7, 1893. Andy Bowen and Jack Burke battled for 110 rounds. The fight lasted 7 hours and 19 minutes, ending in a draw.
Tabasco sauce originated on Avery Island. The sauce was first made from tabasco peppers grown on Avery Island by the McIlhenny Company from seeds brought from Mexico. Tabasco has been the company's exclusive trademark since 1868.
The St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans is the oldest cathedral in continuous use in the United States. It was originally built as a small parish church in 1716. The present structure is the third one built on the site. The oldest part of the present structure dates from 1794.