The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-05-25
Education Of the Poor White
Girls in Rural Districts
ASK LARGER APPROPRIATION
Meeting Of the Federation Productive
of Splendid Results-Need of
Women On School Boards.
Social News.
BY ANNIE KENDRlcK WALKER.

BY ANNIE kENDRlCk WALKER.
It is evident from the proceedings of
the meeting of the Alabama Federation
held in the Decaturs the past week that
the women who compose the federation
work along educational lines. nor of
looking quietly on while twelve hundred
helpless children are working in the text
lie mills of the state. The fact that the
legislature measures that have been so
strongly endorsed by the women of Ala
bama were not passed at the last leg
islature and that the child labor bill was
not even allowed a hearing has not dis
couraged the federation in its work to
raise the educational standards of the
state and to free it from the curse of
child labor.
The legislature committee appointed by
the federation in its report makes three
important recommendations; The child
labor bill, the financial interests of the
Alabama Industrial Farm for white boys,
and the requirement of first grade certi-
fcate for the county superintendent.
The federation is supporting each of
lneSe measures ana through us commit
tees is constantly calling attention to the
evils of child labor, to the inadequate
state appropriations for the Industrial
Farm and to the need of an educational
qualification for county superintendent
These three measures Will again be
brought before the next general assembly,
the federation to continue its work for
the favorable report upon the various
matters to be decided by legislative en-
actin. mt.
The Alabama federation pledged itself
anew to the cause of education and will
bring before the general assembly the
question of women serving on the school
boards OF the state This matter will be
referred to the state legislative education
al committee. The club WON en- of the
state Will endeavor to create a senti-
ment that will influence the legislature.
This action on the part of the federation
was perhaps the most widely significant
one of the convention.
But of the many important measures to
be supported by Alabama women and
of the matters to which they are calling
the attention of the state, that of an
Increased appropriation for the Monte
vallo school for girls should receive unan-
imous support.
peal to the federation pictured the pitt
full condition of the poor white girls in
the rural districts of the state. She point.
ed out that 1t was the negro schools that
were exclusively the beneficiaries durins
the visit of the Mr.. Robert c. Ogden's
party and other northern capitalists
while the needs Of the poor white chill
dren seemed Of secondary condition
This argument is advanced by those
who make plea for the education of
the white boys Of the state, for they
realize with the present state of affairs,
Alabama will be confronted by serious
problem II every effort is not exerted in
oehalf OF the poor white boys and girls
In the secluded spots of the state.
This brief mmary of the work which
the women of Alabama hope to accom-
plish will show that they have not only
the capacity for looking somewhat ahead
but that they are expecting some Won
derful results from the general assembly.