The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-13

any regard to scientific arrangement, proper lighting and all of the things that 20 to make up comrortaoie
 aKnowing that the re-districting of the State would require a great number of school houses, at the last meeting of the Alabama Educational Association suggested that an appropriation pc made for having made designs Tor school building from one 10 eisht rooms. The association maoe the ap- propriation and committee was ap- pointed to secure the plans. The plans were made. and the Alabama Poiytech- n,c Institute kindly furnished thous- and blue prints. These blue prints have been nut into the hands of every coun- tv superintendent of the State and this office is sending them to every district hoard upon request. There is healthy sentiment in the State in favor of bet ter school houses.
 Unisorm Text-Book Law.
 "The last Legislature passed law providing for the selection and use of d uniform series of textbooks in the public schools of the State. The law provided that the governor should ap- point a commisssion and sub-commis- sion. The duties of the sub-commis-
 
 books as would be presented by the va- rious publisher and make report thereof to the commission. On the sub commission, Governor Jelks appointed H. |. willingham, of the Fifth District Aericultural School; President M c. wilson. of the Florence State Normal School: Supt. J. H. Phillips. of the Bir- mingham City Schools; Supt. J. H. Eos ter. of the Tuscaloosa Public Schools, and Prof. W. W. Vincent, of the Fort Deposit Schools. This sub-commission met and, after several weeks Of very hard work, made its report to the com mission. The commission, under the law. was composed of the governor, superintendent of education and three educators of note in the State. On this commission, the governor appointed Pres. John w. Abercrombie. of the State University; Prof. Charles c. Thach, of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute. and Pres. F. M. Peterson, of the Girls In- dustrial School.
 ..The commission selected a series of books for the use of the State and procured from the contractors the very best prices obtainable. It Is matter of congratulation that, during the entire time when the light was on for the adoption, there was no suspi-
 
 pecialiy noticeable from the fact that such adoptions rarely occur in other states unless there are charges and counter charges of an unfavorable na- ture.
 .'rhe books adopted were to be put in the schools on the first of Septem- Der, 1908. As the contracts were made in July and the publisher had to manu- facture a great many of the books, there was slight trouble in the early apart of tn year nprocuring the nec- essary textbooks. That difhculty has been remedied. however, and l am in- clined to feel that the plan is work ing smoothly.
 Teachers Examination Law.
 After watching for two years, from the standpoint of Superintendent of Education, the operations of the state law for the examination of teachers. I am more than ever before convinced of thegwisdom of such statute. Under this law, standard of the teaching forces has been raised at least fifty per cent. Until the passage of this law only a few of the more enthusias- tic teachers gave any attention to the study of their profession. Under the present law, if a teacher expects to keep abreast of the times and to hold desirable positions he must do as other professional man and women do-- study. The law has defects just as all new laws have. and these defects can be remedied by the legislature. So far as have heard there Is nowhere any objection to the law except from a few who have failed to procure certii- cates.
 "As an evidence of the remarkable effect of this law, the state Is absolutely unable to supply the demand for first and second grade teachers. A lew years ago, I am informed requests would come to the state department asking for teachers. The grade of the certificate held by the teachers was not taken into question. Now ninety nine out of every 100 requests that reach the office demand a first or se- cond grade teacher.
 "A serious defect in the law. and one that should, If possible be remedied. is the provision which attempts to pre- vent the examination questions from getting into the hands of applicants before the day of the examination. It should be presumed that any one who would pose as a teacher of academic studies and of morals would not de- scend to the subterfuGe of securing a certificate by unfair means. Our ex- perience has shown that such is not always the case. On two or three oc- casions l have had positive informa- ton that the questions were in the hands of applicants several days be- fore the day set for the examination. The questions are never legally in the hands of but three parties until the day set for the examination. The state board of examiners prepared the ques- tions and they are turned over to the state printer for publication. They are then sealed heavily and sent by ex- press, to the county superintendent of education with direct and specific in- structions that the package be not opened until the morning of the exami- nation in the presence of the teachers. I have investigated every mans at my command to ascertain the leakage but have not been able to procure positive evidence. This is a very serious mat ter and some legislation should be had which would make the penalty so severe that parties would not be temp ted to make traffic out of the ex- animation questions.
 The State Schools.
 "The state schools, including the State University, the Alabama Poly technic Institute. the normal schools, the Girls Industrial school and the nine district agricultural schools are nearly all in a flourlshing condition. The last term of the University and of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute were the best in the history of these institutions, and I am informed. that, for the present scholastic year they tendance,
 '@The increased appropriation given to the normal schools by the last Ia1isIatuYs haa mt them m a hatfAr