Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-05
DR.. J. |. NJ. CURRY
Delivered an Able Address Before the Teach.
ers and Citizens at the High School
Yaefardav


Popular education was the subject of
an able address by Dr. ]. L. M Curry be-
fore the teachers of the public school at
the high school building yesterday after
noon. Besides the teachers there were
quite number of prominent citizens,
who sat before the distinguished speaker
and were enthused by his powerful pre-
sentation of facts in advocacy of public
schools
DR.. Curry is perhaps the ablest advo-
cate of popular education before the
American public. His position as a rep
resentative of the Peabody and the Sla-
ter school funds gives him true insight
into the needs and conditions of the peo-
pie on this line, and he speaks with full
knowledge of his subject
Space does not permit full publicat ton
or clear criticism here of the address,
but 1t was sound argument, Rrong and
convincing and admitted of ~ reasona-
BILE contradiction OF the necessity for an
awakening interest In the cause of public
education. 1t may be clearly called the
opening gun of a campaign of genuine
education in Alabama DR.. Curry being
a native of this state and having been
honored time and again by this people,
he feels deeply concerned for their ma
terial welfare, progress and development,
and believes the great need of the hour
public expense. By reference to statisti-
cal reports the distinguished speaker
presented the startling fact that Ala
bama Is within three states of the bot
tom of the ladder in educational affairs,
and urged his hearers to use their influ-
ence for an elevation Of their state from
its alarming condition. He referred to
the material wealth, progress and deVel-
opment of the state and urged the neces-
sity for utilizing these great resources
in enlightening the people.
The speaker paid a glowing tribute to
Birmingham and her public schools, de-
claring them to be surpassed by none
in America; and he thought that this
city should be the Jerusalem from which
the great campaign should start. He felt
that the state should take special charge
of educational affairs and engraft in her
organic law power of taxation for school
purposes; at the same time he strongly
favored local and municipal taxation
for the same purpose. He was convinced
that the most helpful the most 1egiti-
mate taxation that could be imposed
was taxation for education.
DR.. Curry, who Is an ex-Confederate
soldier and an eX-Confederate congress-
man, expressed the broad opinion that
the greatest curse that ever befell the
south was the Introduction and estab-
lishment of African slavery In these
states. He wanted to elevate the negro
by educating him and thus remove the
stain that has been laid upon us.
The speaker strongly favors Industrial
education. and deplores the helplessness
of the college graduate whose years of
training in literature, without educa-
ton of a practical nature, renders him
unfit for the useful and productive asso-
ella atoms of life. He wants the time to
come when the Birmingham public
schools shall be enabled to add Industrial
training to the already excellent system
The doctor paid his respects to the
politicians and sectarians, whom he de-
clared to be hindering the cause of sue
cessful popular education.
At the close of the excellent address
DR.. r. NJ Cunningham was called upon,
and in his usual interesting and forceful
style Endorsed the position of the dis
tinguished speaker who preceded him.
declaring himself squarely in lire for
the advancement Of the cause of the pub
lie schools.
President Ullman of the board of edu-
cation. who presided and introduced the
speakers made Few appropriate re-
marks thanking the speakers for the
words they had spoken.