The age-herald., 1898-01-16
The Alabama Schools.

average intelligence that Ala'bamas school system, as now administered, re- fleets no credit upon Ithe state. To the organic law must be attributed much of the, we akness and inefficiency of the system. It practically keeps counties, cities and schoca districts fIom levylng adequate taxes for school purposes, even when there is almost sofid public sen tfnent in favor of such taxes. If the constitution-malS had said in so many words 'there shall be inferior and in- efficient schools in Alabama they would nat have crippled the school system more than the limitation as to taxation has done. The school revenu ss-six- tesnth section fund, state appropriation and poll taxes-will maintain but sem blance of school for term not longer than twoor three months in a year. These shadowy ard fiesting schools are usually held in churches, 1ardvate housss, or in buildings erected by individuals. Such buildings are seldom adapted for the purpose, end are rarely provided with the equipment demanded by eff c1ert teaching. Alabama does not own, and has never aided fin the instruction of single bu lding for its comni5n schools.
 The salaries paad to the teachers of Alabama are the lowest paid in the United Stat ,s. the average being s25 GOO e,, females. The next lowest in the matter of teachers salries in South Carolina, With an average of $50 a month f-r males, and $29 a month for females. | The average salary paid is a pretty good index to the character and efficiency of the average teacher. It is quite natural that the pTost efficient should soon leave a profession that is esteemed so lightly and remunerated so meagerly There is plentiful supply of so-called teachers, but witfjout any system to test scholarship and efficiency, without amy n1ethod to wlnnow out the unworthy the schools of Alabama are, generally speaking, tn the hands of the most in efficient teachers in the United States It is but natural that this should be the case when the nature of supervision in Alabama is considered. School su- rintendents-whether pf the stalte or of county or of a cfty-should possess the highest moral qualifications; should m scholarship be at least equal to those who Heach llndep. ffh ern and shn11 La bava special skill in methods of teaching and school organization. The office of su- perfntendert should be especially guard ed by restrictive qualifications which would ensure a fair degree of scholar ship, and some successful experience in teaching. It is notorious that the great majority of county supeldntendents in Alabama have TO qualifications for the 1 office; few of them know anything about teaching; some of them are, it is | said, unable to write their own reports, | or even their names.
 The salary is too small to justify a good man in giving much of his time to the cauee, being per cent of the IuIIuS dppTOuNl6u Dy Une stare. In Jefferson oounty and a few other coun- ties a salary is paid by the county com | mfssoners; and there is no reason why
 this should not be dome in all the coun-
 ties of the stahe. No reforms in the
 schools of a county are possible under
 an undelpaid and incompetent county 1 superintendent.
 The office of state superimt endent
 should not be used to serve party pur-
 poses. This one office should be lifted
 out of politics, and placed in the hands
 of the most thorough-going educator fn
 the state-one who is recognized by his
 professional colleagues as a leader
 Without efficient supervision, state and
 county, no permanent progress can be
 expected in the school system of the
 state. In any work requiring skin, ex.
 pert supervision is the keynote to eff. | ffciency.