The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-19

not disturb the primary schools as now established, but the revenues derived from the increased appropriation. from cutting off unnecessary schools and the poII tax would be sufficient to support a school able to take care of the boys and girls as they pass out of the fifth grade. Where township high schools have been established with live up-to- date teachers, the results have been more than satisfactory. These schools cannot prepare young men for the diff ferent professit ns. but they can make good, honest men and women, upon whom rests the future glory of our glorious country. Establish these high schools and equip them as they should be equipped and employ the right kind of teachers, and you will see that many people who mov ed to our towns and cities for the purpose of educating their children will move back to their coun- try homes. They will then more fully realize beauty and pleasures of coun- try life where their children can de- velop strong, healthy bodies. fine in- tellectuaI powers, and, above all, good Christian characters.
 Another great barrier to the success of our public school system is the man. ner in which our teachers receive their pay. In withholding their hard earned salaries for three long months, a great injustice Is meted out to them Teach CTS are like most people, they want their money when the work is done They are not enlisted in this great work for glory alone. How often are they forced to seek the banker or the merchant to have their reports dis counted, and many times at exorbitant rates? Pay the teachers once a month as is done in only two counties in the State, Madison and Franklin. and you will have contented teachers and con- sequently better work. Withholding their pay for three months is not fair, not right, not just
 State School Funds.
 The State of Alabama has never had the opportunity for laying the founda- tion for better citizenship than she has today. Whether this opportunity will
 he utilized time alone will tell. Of the many difficult problems that will come before the Constitutional Con- vention, none will be of greater mo- ment than the questions that will be considered by the Committee on Edu- cation. It is an acknowledged fact that Alabama's school system today will compare favorably with that of any State in the Union, and let us hope that the Convention will put no DlONAS HI ehC "oJ tC AtS oAN~ cess.
 The great fundamental need to the success of our school system is money and the removal of the Department as far as possible from politics. In order to accomplish these ends let the Con- vention settle the question of funds for all time to come by setting aside certain portion, say Ia of all the revenues of the State for school pur- poses. This will take the annual ap- propriations out of the hands of dem- agogues and will guarantee fund large enough to meet the general demands of the people, and as the State grows in wealth and population the school fund will be approximately increased. and as the funds are increased the schools will be made better and will better prepare our children for good citizenship.
 At the conclusion of the address of the President, Prof. l.. " Rosser of Pickens County. read paper on 'Qual- lfication of County Superintendents. He took the ground that under the present law the superintendents are merely the disbursers of school funds and advocated more restrictive quali- fications.
 The paper was ably discussed by Messrs. I. W. McAdory, w. G. farrell and others.
 Assessment and Collection of the Poll Tax brought out a lively discussion which conaumed fully one hour~ The views advanced were as varied as the number who participated In the dlscus''
 The Department adjourned to meet again this afternoon at o'clock.