The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-06-30

Ex-President Roof, formerly Of How
ard College, discussed before the Ala
bama Educational Association, which
recently met in this city, the public
schools of this state. After reciting
various statistics he said:
with the facts before us, that our
public schools in Alabama enroll an
nually only about three-fifths of the
| public school population in the state
and that only one out of hundred OF
these ever gets inside of a high school,
with at least three chances to one that
he will never get through when he gets
| there also, that a large majority OF the
! ninety and nine left behinu will quit
school permanently before they hnish
/ the elementary course, 1t becomes rather
apparent that our public schools are not
doing what our business men would call
rushing business in the preparation OF
our boys and girls for the multifarious
duties of life.
| "Since the elementary schools are OF
prime necessity to secondary and higher
education in fact, to the very existence
of these Institutions; and since 1t Is In
them that the great majority of our boys
and girls must secure their only prepara-
ton for business, society and citizenship
their success should be the earnest de-
sire of every citizen and the first object
and constant care of the state. But
what can be done to improve them?
ID We should have local taxation.
Alabama is the only state in the Union
without local taxation for education OF
raiaad in the United
States for public schools, the sum raised
by local taxation is more than double
the amount raised from all other sources.
But no comparison of Alabama with any
Northern state can give us a working
basis because the conditions which OBJ
tain In the two sections are different. So
let us come nearer home for COMPARE
sons.
1.-The four states which bound Ala
bama raise annually by local taxation for
schools an average of 81. 43 per tax payer,
and from all other sources 81 per tax
payer.
Result (by inference) %. Every one
of these states enroll greater per cent
of its school population than does Ala
bama; (2). The number of day schooling
given to each pupil enrolled in each of
these states is greater than the number
given to each enrolled pupil in Alabama;
g. The total value of public school prop
erty In these four neighboring states
averages 81 40 to the inhabitant while
the average in Alabama Is only 81 cents
to the inhabitant.
These four states are selected because
they are all adjoin our own, and their
people are confronted by approximately
the same conditions that confront us.
What local taxation Is doing for them, 1t
will do for us. 1t will give longer school
terms, better salaries to teachers, and,
therefore, better teaching; 1t will create
in the minds of the patrons deeper in
terest in their school and higher respect
for 1t and for themselves; first, because
the school costs them something, and
second, because it is better school.
These things will naturally lead to
better enrolment, more regular attend
ance, and better cooperation of the
patrons with the teacher.
% Many districts in Alabama are in
sore need of better school houses The
rural school house need not be very
costly affair. but it ought to be COM
Portable, for the sake of the health and
comfort of the pupils; it ought to be neat
and inviting, for 1t will then be a great
factor In attracting the children to the
school and keeping them there throughout
the sessions 1t will do more, 1t will
brighten and gladden. the lives of the