Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-01
r.. L. WILLIAMSON.
NOT PAYING TOO MUCH.

Mr.. Editor:-Some time ago you pub
lished a communicat ton from Greensboro,
signed George F. Ellis, on Our Public
Schools" 1t was doubtless intended to
catch the eye of the legislators of the
state. Knowing the writer as l do, feel
sure that he is entirely in earnest in all
he says. But am equally sure that he Is
mistaken on many points. Indeed, in
many respects his article answers itself.
If, as he says, "a large majority or the
people of Alabama are convinced that we
are paying out too much money for nor
NAL and agricultural Schools why should
1T take courage and strong backbone
for man In any of our legislatures TO
confront the false though popular notion
that normal schools are necessary
In this connection l need only say that
we are not paying out anything like as
much money for normal schools, abso-
lutely or relatively, as most of the older
states of the union, whose school systems
are far ahead of our own. Indeed,
through these schools largely have they
built up their school systems to a point
where they do not leave, as in Alabama,
nearly SO per cent of illiteracy in our
population The notion referred to Is,
indeed, popular, but it is not false.
Again, I'VE at this time have five times
as many well educated teachers as can be
employed. And comparatively few are
from the normal schools. They come
from the state university and from the
Agricultural and Mechanical college at
Auburn, and from our public schools,
such as you have, ETC." The last two
sentences answer the first, in the only
sense in which they are correct That is,
comparatively few of the unemployed
teachers are from the normal schools.
That is certainly true of the graduates
of this institution. And most of the un-
employed teachers to whom he refefs
come from the other sources named. In
deed, 1t is no reflection on the institutions
named that they have large number OF
graduates that are unemployed as teach
ers. They are not educated as teachers.
They are no more teachers because they
are educated men and women than they
are lawyers or doctors or preachers. Iney
may make either Whereas, the gradu-
teachers, with experience In the schooi
room, equal to from three to five years
outside of our halls. Our graduates are
in demand, and they teach.
/ have the honor of q personal ac-
uuaintance with the good brother who
wrote the letter to which l nave re-
ferred He never said or wrote any
thing which he did not believe. But he
can be mistaken, both as to facts and
as to the motives that prompted MS own
letter In this connection / venture 70
ask if he Is at heart friend to pubic
education? If so, in what way has he
shown it? Did he write this letter with
a view to aiding the public schools OF the
state? If SO, 1t is entitled to respectful
hearing, such as I have endeavored to
give 1t. If on the other hand 1t was
written by one who labors under "a false
though popular notion that, to puiid
up another class of institutions not even
referred to in the article in question, II
Is necessary to pull down our public
school system, it should have no weight
or consideration In short, the fr1ends
of public education, and not Its oppon-
ents. should have the ear of our legisla-
tors, who are sworn to support the consul
tuition of the state in all its parts, In
cluding the educational articles and sec
tions.
Rut for two facts, Mr.. Editor, I should
not have dignified the article with an
answer. 1t has been reproduced IN some
of our state papers In such a way h as 70
pushed by the writer or his frends.
Furthermore, your paper goes outside the
state, and this article has attracted un-
favorable comment from at least one
nerson high in the educational world,
who takes great interest IN advancing
our educational interests.
In drawing the illustrations solely from
the graduates of this institution, no dis,
courtesy was intended to other norman
schools The answer is intended to be
general. The example came from field
with which was perfectly familiar.
IT I were engaged in private or denom-
national education, 1 would favor the
most liberal policy possible toward our
public schools, as the most efficient way
to advance my own interests, If for nc
other reason. 1t is well known facl
that about the same proportion Of those
prepared for college actually go 10 col,
lege. BY building up our pupilc scnool
system. we could easily double the mum,
her prepared for college. This would
surely double the number who would en-
ter college. JAS. n, fOW Nno;
state Normal College, Florence, Ala.