The age-herald., 1900-03-26

trad section (to which Iowa belongs) the increase was from 3.n to 5.2 years-less than 42 per cent.
 Alabama Has Been Slow
 Admitting that Alabama has not done as much as she ought for her public schools, the fact is easily accounted for The pub lie school system of Alabama was not es- tablished until 1854, thirty-fve years after the states admi. 10 the union. It can- net be said that the system was at first generally popular. as there existed some thing of a prejudice in the hearts of the people against receiving what they consid- cred a gratujty. Excellent private schools were maintained in the more populous parts of the state, but the people looked rather with disfavor upon the public school ex- pertinent, so that no great progress was made in the development of public educa- tion prior to the war. The demoraliZation end ruin resulting from that unhappy ex- perience interrupted for some years the general progress of the state, and especially the interests of education In the advent of the negroes and aliens to control of the government in 1868, an attempt was made to re-establish the public school system, but their rule being one of Tapine and plum der, the intelligent classes were disgusted and the attempt was so unpopular that no headway was made until a change of state government was effected in 1874. So that the public school system of Alabama has, properly speaking, been in existence only about twenty-five years. In fact until very recent years many people in the south have considered the matter of public education as rather tentative and experimental, and the spirit above alluded to dominated the legislative bodies more or less. As a con- firmation of these statements reference is made ito statistics of public school attend ance which shows that in the south this Dt 4- in 1870, to. GA per cent. in 1897. The same authority reveals the fact that the average attendance in the northern and western sections of the country made a slight de- cline during the period named. (See intro- ductory statement referred to above, paga 69.)
 Does an Injustice
 The minority report, in making an exhibit of Alabama's educational condition does us an injustice, unin tentional, of course, in showing us as we were two years ago and not as We are now. Public education has received a strong impetus in conse- quence of the action of the last legislature which made an appropriation and levied tax that resulted in approximately doub- ling the school fund. This action consisted m the increased appropriation of $l00 900 from the general fund and the levying of a tax of one mill, which will amount to $250.- 000, adding S350,000 to the fund The pre- vious appropriation was S350000. so that now. including the poll tax, sixteenth sec tion, interest, &c. the fund approximates one million dollars, which, with the sup plements of municipal taxation and private contributions, makes the per capita nearly or quite twice what it is represented to be sn the minority report.
 The fair face of Alabama is turned to the morning. For forty years she has struggled against conditions that were not only adverse, but in many instances ap- palling. These obstacles to her progress have been met and overcome, and her peo- pie are now on the high road to a pros per;ry the like of which has not been seen by this generation. The spirit of progress is rife, and public education has an im- petus not known before. The necessity for competent teachers is imperative. Without them our advance will be slow and much of the appropriation for free schools little bet ten than wasted. We ask the general gov ernment for that which to 1t Is a source of annoyance and expense. but which might be turned to the bes. account If devoted to the education of the struggling youth Of Alabama.
 In conclusion. permit me to say that all four of the schools seeking aid from the general government are doing excellent work, are equally worthy of assistance and could have their usefulness greatly increas- ed by this grant which they are seeking. Again, if only small donation of land is to be secured, this is the most effective way in which it can be applied.
 Trusting that you may be able to secure the donations sought. arn, yours truly.
 JOHN w. ABERCROMBIE.
 Superintendent of Education of Alabama
 Montgomery, Ala, March 24 1900.