Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-11-24
GIVE us MORE FREE SCHOOLING.

1lN u % MUM fbEfi SCfiOO1lINCs Y.
Under the above caption the Russell
County Register offers some plain facts
that cannot be overlooked by the law
makers of the state now in session.
Alabama now stands so near the foot
of the stairs among the sisterhood of
states in an educational way that the
papers are really ashamed to refer to it.
Birmingham has reaped more recogni-
ton for her public schools than all the
rest of the state combined, but this has
been due in the main to local pride and
the efforts of a cosmopolitan citizenship
"a citizenship made up Of people from
nearly every state in the union, a large
number of whom have been residents of
states where schools for years have
ranked with the church as the corner
stone of civilization.
The school interest, however, cannot
be materially aided under the present
constitution. Birmingham has been col
Letting until recently a special school
tax, accepted and paid by her citizens
in the face of the constitution which says
too plainly to be misunderstood that such
a tax cannot be legally collected.
The closeness of money matters has
caused several large property owners of
this city to refuse to pay this tax, and
local court recently sustained the plea
that the special tax Is unconstitutional,
and the money thus collected is being re-
funded.
The Register is emlnently correct in its
views, and the State Herald reproduces
what it says in full, and urges it with all
the state papers to use their influence for
a constitutional convention that many
barriers german to the general upbuild-
ing Of the state may not longer be re-
tarded by a constitution conceived and
written to suit an age and circumstances
that have undergone q complete and rad
ical change.
"There will be no question presented to
the legislature of more Importance than
the proposition to increase the free school
period. As the law now stands the pub
lie schools must be taught at least term
of three months in every year. There
are propositions to increase the term to
six months and various shorter periods.
AS the public schools now run only three
months, and inasmuch as the schools in
the country generally stop at the end OF
that period, the schools really amount
TO comparatively very little. Ii the
term could be doubled the benefits would
be increased three fold or more. six
months school in every township in Ala
bama would be such a benefit as can
hardly he appreciated as compared with
the three months school.
There are thousands of boys and girls
growing up with no educational oppor-
tunities save that of the public schools,
and it does really seem that point
should be strained for theirsakes. No sane
person would intimate that there is not
a grave responsibility resting somewhere
for the growing ignorance in our midst.
There is a great opportunity presented
to elevate humanity and society, and
contribute to a deserving cause by in
creasing our public school facilities.
If it is necessary that a small special
tax should be levied for the purpose, no
man who loves to see boys and girls grow
up to manhood and womanhood, fitted
for the duties and responsibilities of life,
and prepared to discharge the demands
of good government upon them, will OBJ
ject to paying the small tax rather than
see these creatures who are endowed
with sufficient intellect, but who, for
want of sufficient educational advant-
ages, grow up in ignorance and allow
their talents to remain dormant and bur-
led as it were.
Every good white citizen and every
good colored citizen should lift his voice
in favor of better educational facilities"