Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-10-25
The Committee Appointed by the Alabama
Educational Association Held a Session
Yesterday = Full Proceedings.

The committee appointed by the Ala
bama Educational association at It's last
meeting met yesterday morning In re-
Spouse to the call of Acting Chairman j.
Il, Cunningham in the public library
rooms at the high school building. The
following members of the committee
were present: j. B. Cunningham, Biz
mingham; Col. r. C. McCowery, Univer-
sity; President J. K. Powers, Florence;
President J. A. Liner, Evergreen; Hon. j.
Il. Graham, Talladega.
The resolutions forming the basis or
the committees work are as follows:
whereas, the educational condition of
Alabama in respect to constitutional and
statutory provisions, and to the quallfca-
ton of teachers, Is such that immediate
and radical changes are necessary; and
Whereas, 1t is known that DR.. ]. l.. M.
Curry intends making an educational
campaign in Alabama during the year
1867, with the appreciation and aid or
the trustees of the Peabody educational
fund; therefore, be 1t
Resolved, l. That the teachers consti-
tuting the body known as the Alabama
Educational association do hereby set the
seal of their approval upon the crusade
of liberality against narrowness and en-
lightenment against Ignorance.
q That, as a means thereto, the incom-
ing president of this association Is hereby
empowered to appoint, on or before DC
| tober l. 1896 q committee OF seven, whose
chairman shall be DR.. J. l.. M. Curry, the
| duties of said committee to further by oil
honorable means the holding of consti-
| tutional conventions If failing In this. to
influence constitutional or statutory
changes affecting the examination, quail
flcation and licensing of teachers to the
degree that our beloved state shall be
fitted equally with the most progressive
states in her system of public instruc-
ton
Principal J. B. Cunningham, as acting
chairman. called the committee to order
at 10 o'clock a. m. and read letter from
DR.. Curry assuring the committee of his
ardent support, but declining the chair
manship of the committee as proffered to
him in the resolutions. The vacancy was
| filled by the withdrawal of Dr. Curry and
by the selection of Dr. J. Ii. Phillips, of
this city, as chairman.
Chairman Phillips stated that the work
placed in the hands of this committee
Is important and far reaching. The res
olutions of the association contemplate
memorial to the general assembly OF Ala
bama. This memorial should consist of
three parts; first, an emphatic statement
on behalf of the teachers OF the state or
the immediate and imperative need OF
new constitution as the primary step to-
wards educational progress in Alabama;
second. a concise statement of the def
ciencies In our present state system of ed
ucation and an outline of the constitu-
tional provisions and legal enactments
recommended by the teachers of The
state; third, recommends lions as to such
laws as may be enacted for immediate re-
lief pending the adoption of a new constl-
tuition.
The committee, after much earnest
thought and elaboration, and after full
discussion of the difficulties involved and
the peculiar conditions affecting the edu-
catlonal interests of the state. succeeded
In drafting a constitutional basis for a
complete state school system which shall
be recommended to the constitutional
convention when called. The provisions
agreed upon by the committee include
number of important changes in our edu-
cational status. which, IL adopted Will
give Alabama system of education on
a par with the demands of the age. These
recommendations cover such topics us the
esta bNshment of state board of educa-
ton, the qualifications of state superln-
tendent uniform examinations for teach
ers, school revenues and their distribu-
iion. local taxation. the unification OF the