The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-28

noblest wreath of glory-with Its most po-
tent fundamentally of enjoyment.
"Since it is generally conceded by thlhk-
ing people that education is an lndlSpehsd-
BILE requisite to the growth ana pfese4s u
ton of free institutions in government
like ours and that it is the duty OF tho
commonwealth to provide at public expense
such instruction as will qualify its people
for an intelligent and patriotic performance
of th, duties of citizenship let us inquire
how far provision has been made for q dls-
charge of this duty in our own STATE
Development of system
"While we were yet part of the Missis-
sippi Territory, the famous Green academy
at Huntsville was chartered and an appro-
priation made for its support. In 1926 steps
were taken to establish d school in the
city of Mobile, resulting in 1880 in
the opening of the noted Barton
academy which was the first public school
established after the admission of Alabama
into the union. The University of Alabama,
which was located at Tuscaloosa in 1877,
was not formally opened till 1881.
THE history of our school system as
state system really begins in 1854 when
the general assembly enacted a law pro-
viding for the establishment and maintain
ance of public schools throughout the state,
and fixing the township as a school unit.
I'm the beginning, the work of organiza-
ton necessarily proceeded slowly, except IN
the larger towns and cities, where some
thing was known of the successful opera
ton of the plan inaugurated at Mobile. In
the rural sections, on account of small APP
preparations, the sparsenesS of the popula-
ton, the Indifference of the masses, the in
experience and incompetency of subordin-
ate school officials, the work was attended
by many difficulties and discouragementS.
1.-The first census showed the number Of
children of school age to be 145, 5SS. The
number registered, not including those en-
rolled in the Mobile school and in the pri-
Yate and UNCONVENTIONAL schools, was $4,000.
The census enumeration since that time
has gone above 100000, and the annual en-
rollment approaches 100000. The amount
expended has increased from $237 900 to
1850, OOO and hereafter thanks to a patriotic
legislature the expenditures will amount
to more than a million dollars. The num-
Der of schools has increased to seven thous-
and and the number of teachers Is now
eight thousand.
"At first county supervision was placed
in the hands of commissioners, three for
each county. Afterwards the office of COM
missioner was abolished and that of county
superintendent was substituted for It, I'M
mediately there was a marked improve
ment in educational affairs throughout the
state.
Reconstruction Period
From 1858 to 1868 we have no record of
the operation of the system. During that
time occurred the memorable events which
led to the formation of the Southern Con-
federacy, to the great civil war and the
provisional government which followed. 1t
is supposed that schools were conducted till
the beginning of actual hostilities in 1861.
I'm 1868 the system was greatly changed,
its administration being committed in great
part to a state board of education. by
whom were exercised many legislative
functions and arbitrary powers By this
board the county superintendent were
named. The work of obtaining the first
enumeration of children under the new
management was greatly retarded by gen.
eral opposition on the part of tho people
opposition, not SO much on account OF
objection to public schools, as on account
of exception to the new regime. At the
close of the first year, so inefficient was
the administration, it was found, in many
townships and counties, that the salaries
| of teachers were greatly in excess of the
| apportionment.
"Of the management of the department
| of education during the reconstruction pc
| Rod, Hon. Joseph Hodgson, who was
elected to the state SUPPLEMENTARY in
1870 complying with q request made by
| Governor Lindsay for information con-
cerning the educational interests of the
state, said that he found the books and
papers OF the department IN great con-
fusion
''During that period, at least one class
of school officials were we'll paid for their
services. In the year ending September go
1869, the large sum OF $3.50 was paid to
county superintendent. Township trust
ees, too, were better paid then than now.
In that year the nice little sum of So, 1892
was paid for clerk hire for trustees. The
Salaries of county superintendent ranged
from $500 to $1,000 If they could be paid
at that rate now, 1 am sure we would get
better services and better results The
reign of the carpet-bagger was full of
disaster to the educational interests Of our
state, and it has taken years to recover
from the wreck left in his wake
"Since 1874, the system has had a steady,
but slow, growth. The state board of ed
ucation was abolished in 1873, and its Leg
islatve powers were transferred to the
general assembly. Trustees were prohib-
tied from making contracts until officially
notified Of the appointments for their