The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-07

DUubO0k = ' \nunnDonn ----------------------- taken, teachers frequently arc poorly prepared. While there has been in the past decade marked advancement in the qualification of teachers. there is room for further improvement
 The children are entitled to the best of teaching. All things else being equal, the professionally trained teach CT is most likely to render eficient service. School oficiais should give preference to those teachers who have made the best preparation for their work.
 g. Compensation--Lack of adequate preparation among teachers may be ac- counted for in many ways, but the chief cause lies in tho lamentably short sessions, ranging from ninety-three days in the colored to one hundred and six days in the white schools; and in the ridiculousiy low average of salaries paid, ranging from $23 in the colcred to $33 month in the white schools. Think of securing high qualifications and efficient work for such terms Of service. and for such rates of compen- sation! The average day laborer Is
 
 throughout the year. If teachers were not of all people the least exacting. most of the schools would have to close.
 Is it possible that the people care less for the proper education of their children, than for the cultivation of their lands. the working of their mines. or the keeping of their live stock? We believe not. bnt the figures quoted should be seriously pondered. When we consider the small salaries received. 1t is little wonder that teachers soon tire of their labors and so to other States, or drift into other and more lucrative calIfngs.
 Teachers in the rural schools even should be paid salaries sufficiently large to enable them to live comfortably. to accumulate a reasonable competency, and to spend their vacations in making better preparation for the performance of their duties.
 V. Sources of Revenue.
 1. The Nationals has been suggest ed, the error of relying entirely upon the State for revenue with which to conduct the schools. was made in the organization of the system. Tn the view of many an ideal plan for raising revenue would be that in which 
 the district would contribute in the proper proportion. It should be as much the concern of the nation to have an educated citizenship in the State. as of the State to have such a citizenship in the county or district, for every citi- zen, educated or ignorant, has part. directly or indirectly. in making and executing the laws. local, State, and national
 Hut increased national aid while many regard 1t as just and wise, seems to be remote. For the present. If not for all time. we must look for maintenance to the state, the county, and the district.
 , The State-Considering wealth and population, the State Is doing it's fulI duty in the matter of appropria- tions. A sum equal approximately to 50 per cent. of all taxes levied upon real and personal property, is expended ar- nualiv for education. The amount Is more than a million dollars. The State could not reasonably be expected to increase materially its appropria- ton.
 Yet, the funds are altogether inade- auate. The per capita apportionment amounts to only $1.45. and from this must be taken the commission of the county superintendents. The average for each pupil In attendance is only s4.4I. Think of maintaining an adequate system with that sum! The idea is absi1rdl It Is little wonder that the buildings are make-shifts. that the terms are short, that the teachers are poorly prepared and more poorly paid. that the per centage of tlliteracy is high. and that expenditures for the support of pauperism and the punish ment of crime are great,
 It would be unfair to make the com parison between Alabama and some of the other States. but there is no in- Justice in the comparison which fol- lows. Taking annual average atten- dance as the basis. Iowa spends per pupil, s24sa: Nebraska, $23.oS: Kansas, s1T.5s: Maryland, $1ss1: Oklahoma. S13.44; Florida, $10.H; Virginia, ss.91: Louisiana. $s.s2: Texas. $s.s6: Mlssis- sippi. $6.4s: Alabama. s4.%i. Only two States show a greater percentage of illiteracy than Alabama What sad contrast! What stupendous appeal to duty!
 Then, if the State is doing all that can be expected in the matter of ap- propriations from the general treasury, wherein lies the difiieulty? A refer ence to the history of education in other States reveals the answer. In the absence of the exercise of the power of local taxation, no State has been able to maintain an efficient system. Those States that have made greatest progress have relied most on this policy, some of them raising over 90 per cent of their funds In this way.
 After giving to the subject a most careful consideration. we are of the opinion that the only way by which Alabama can meet her supremest obli- gation lies in giving. not only to coun- ties but also to districts, the power of taxation for educational purposes. II the people of community desire to levy a tax upon their property for the purpose of building a school house or for the purpose of suppiementing the State and county fund. in order that their children may enjoy better ad.