The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-07-20


capable school men with the staxe school
commissioner, eX-Officio, member, ana
not composed of members of the general
assembly who, like the members OF the
present state board of education, were
not elected because of any special fitness
for considering school questions.
With such a commission as the Degln-
ming point in a system, the people could
feel well assured that there would be
no need for continued unwise and hurt
full amendments by the legislature. at
least for some time to come. For TINS
suggested change there would be re-
CURED an additional amount of money
that would finally inure greatly to the
benefit Of the state. Are not the children
of the state entitled to it?
With a commission to give the state u
system, the next criticism I would make
is found in the limited means for max
ing teachers.
During my administration I had the
honor, in my first inaugural address. to
recommend as follows
''If the state carries forward, success
fully the great work it has undertaken,
We must have better teachers for the
schools. longer terms for instruction and
better pay for the service. For the train
ing and instruction of teachers the state
needs a normal school or normal 1nSu-
| tuition; for longer terms and better pay
the system needs more money, 1he
governor of the state receives his salary
when it is due. The judges of the courts
receive their pay upon demand. TIE
members of the general assembly obtain
their per diem upon call The teachers
in our public schools aye the only serv-
ants of the state whose pay depends
upon contingency and doubt. The honor
of the state demands q change. All
the interests of the state urge upon you
favorable consideration of efficient plans
for the better education of the masses"
This resulted in the extension of the
school term from three months to five;
the inauguration of the present system
of institutes and the establishment of
this most excellent normal school.
What the system needs now is an en-
largement of this institution so as to
meet adequately and completely the de-
mands Of the state in training every
teacher that is allowed to take charge
of a state school. The greatest evil of
the system is found in the large number
of poorly prepared teachers. If it be
true that the future of the state depends
upon the intellectual and moral strength
of it's citizens the state cannot afford
to be niggardly or sparing in the prepa-
rations necessary to prepare teachers for
the grave and responsible duties that
await them.
Teachers Paid Too Little.
7 desire to stress another srievous
fault Of the system as found in the pain
fully small salaries paid the teachers
of the state schools This change should
be made not simply to get higher sala
ries for the teachers, but that the chill
dren may be better trained you can
get more talent to teach your boy when
you pay a good price for it than when
you pay only as much it takes to
feed a pauper or maintain criminal in
the county Jail"
This great body of state teachers should
formulate some plan OF demand that will
ha a n
these years that enforces the scaling of
accounts to a miserable pittance as pay
for the services rendered the state. Press
the question until it is fully and fairly
answered How is it that every state
officer of the civil system. including the
negro porters at the capitol be
promptly paid and the teachers alone
are told to discount their bills and wait
until after everybody else consumes the
public money before they can hope to
get theirs? | stand here in my place to
denounce the policy as unfair and in
iquitous. Eight thousand teachers scat
tered throughout every county in the
state are enough to compel a change.
Demand your rights and stand upon your
demands. ! do not like to counsel re-
bellion, but if ever there was a time
when labor should throw down it's tools
and walk away from the shop and leave
come to the teachers in Georgia, If your
appeals are not heard and satisfied.
Longer Terms.
Ny next criticism is upon the length or
IA Their the shortness of the school term.
A child cannot be made advance prop
erly with five months tuition and seven
months dleness. The state should fur
nish five months tuition and require the
tn oh adj rWO
months, or better three by local taxa
taxation. If the state can compel a tax
for five months the state can compel
a tax for seven months and should do 1T,
if the common good requires.
Whatever may be the plan adopted, the
term should be heightened and attend
ance required we will lapse into isno-
rance and possible degeneracy. Thus far
l have discussed the system as to its eff
ficiency. 1t deserves also to be consid-
cred in its application. ] am in position
10 pronounce our system practically
failure unless the people in the rural dis
tricts can be concentrated or the schools
consolidated
If the school system continues in its
present lack of application the rural dis
tricts will soon be abandoned or the chill
dren living in them will grow up without
instruction. If the change can be made
in either way I have suggested, the rural
districts VIII greatly increase In popula-
ton and the state be greatly advanced In
tax values thereby. People are moving
away from the rural districts because
thov cannot have satisfactory school IA
cilitios aud people are declining to move
in for the same reason.
4 vital question to he considered Is.
can we afford To GLOW these dangers
to threaten MS? Shall the rural popula-