The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-21
Better Common Schools.

We present below a brief petition that
should be circulated for signatures in ev-
cry township and municipality in the state.
1t is, of course, open to amendment but we
present it in the belief that 1t will suit
every locality. 1t reads:
To the General Assembly of Alabama:
Gentlemen-In view of the pressing need
of better school facilities for the S000 900
children of Alabama, and realizing the ne
cessity of immediate legislation to place
our school system on par with those of
our neighboring states, We, your petitioners,
pray:
l. That you shall provide such increase
IN the school revenues of the state will
enable the rural schools to continue in ses-
sion for at least six months of each year.
T. That you shall provide some adequate
method of determining the competency of
teachers who are placed in charge of the
common schools of the state
3. That you shall protect the teachers and
children of the state from the incompet-
ency of supervising officers. Whether the
county superintendent be elected or APP
pointed, 1t is of vital Importance that the
office shall be restricted to those qualified
to instruct and lead the teachers under
their supervision.
The three vital defects in our state school
SyStciH dS at present administered are TO
be found in ID maintenance, (2) incompet-
ent teaching and 90 in competent supervi-
sion. That laws shall be enacted during the
present session of the general assembly to
remedy these defects. is the burden of this
prayer and petition.
Respectfully.
1t is very important that the legislature
when 1t assemblies next month should
thoroughly reform the school system, and
grant 1t, not an ample, but reasonable.
income. An ample income is very desir-
able, but that is beyond the resources of
the state. That would call for more mon
poses, and then the per capita expenditure
in the state would be below that of two
thirds of the states. But a reasonable ex-
pansion of the fund should be demanded,
and in order to secure this, petitions should
be circulated and signed in every school
district. In order to gain expert, competent
county supervision, petitions are also
necessary. The pull of the present county
superintendents should not be moderated.
They constitute ring of considerable pow
er.
Every man Interested in better schools
should take hold of this work Every wom-
ans club or society should start a petition.
Every teacher should give some time to
the task in hand. There Is no need of CEN
trail organizations. Paste the petition on
page of foolscap paper, and proceed to fill
the page and many more pages with the
signatures of citizens. Let the people of
each town and municipality work independ-
emily. and when a petition is fully signed.
let 1t be forwarded to the representative or
senator of the locality We urge all who
have the good of the bright-faced chill
dren of the state at heart to take hold of
the work. Don't assume that these ques-
lions can be settled at constitutional con-
vention, for they cannot be. County super
intendence is matter for legislation, and
school revenue under the new constitution
would be matter about two years off. If
the present lot of children are to receive
the educational help they need and deserve.
they must get 1t at the hands of the present
legislature. Start the petitions.