The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-06-27
RURAL SCHOOLS
STILL DEFICIENT
County Tax is Regarded as
Very Important
HIGHER SCHOOLS DO WELL
University Especially is Doing Some
Excellent Work-AariculturaI
Schools Also Are Impor.
tant Factor.
HIGHER SCHOOLS DO WELL

Montgomery. June 26.-(Special)-In a
talk with one of the leading educational
men of the state it is learned that the
great work of the better school advo-
Gates for the next year or two will be
for local taxation. He regards this to be
the most promising and direct road to bet
ter things in the way of helping the
country sections, where the help is most
needed. 1t is hoped that all the coun-
ties which have not done so will adopt
the Decent tax for school purposes, and
that by the time the legislature meets 1t
will be possible to get an order for a
vote on an amendment to the constitu-
tion looking to the permission of dis
tricts and communities to tax themselves
as heavily as they see fit to keep up
good schools
1t is regarded by those who study
the question of the education of the chill
dren as too soon in the history of prog
ress to try compulsory education. 1t is
not thought that any law to this effect
could be enforced, or that the schools
could be provided even If there should
be a compulsory statute. With com
Bt'A1hoANO pan VI lotd1 ldAdllOn ~ Will
be possible to reach the point in a very
few years when the parents could be
made to keep their children In school
until they receive enough education to
help them through life. AS the matter
now stands no area less than a county
is allowed to vote the tax and no county
with a tax rate alrdeay up to its limit.
This retards the movement and to elimi-
nate it there Is going to be some good
txfifsl he trrrr
Doing Good Work.
It is now regarded that the higher
schools of the state are in pretty good
shape. The university is doing magnn-
cent work and has reached a point in
standing and prominence to inspire the
pride of every citizen of the common
wealth. 1t Is doing great service to
not only the young men and young wo-
men who desire to secure education. but
has been able to render valuable aid to
those who are teaching by means of the
summer school now in session. The same
may be said of the Polytechnic at Au-
burn, where science and industry is being
built up and given to the young men and
young women, with a high order of liter
airy efficiency. The normal schools are
meeting the demands upon them and are
turning out better teachers every year.
The tone Is high in all OF these and the
state has every reason TO be proud Of
their work
There is always a good word to be said
about the nine district agricultural
schools. which are proving a great help
to the boys and girls of the country sec
lions who are ambitious to get we'll along
in the school work Four of the Auburn
graduates this year are young fellows
who were started by the Seventh distric.
school al Albertsville when W. r. Fea-
gin. now secretary of the state heard a.
examiners was at its head These
schools are giving TO a class Of boys end
girls the only show they have for an
education, and as a consequence seem
to be filling the want .hsy we're created
to meet.
Need of Country.
But the country schools are not get
ting what should be coming to them.
They are too poor to keep up long terms
and in many cases supplied by teachers
who would much better be digging bitches
than trying TO impart learning. There
is, too. a woeful lack of efficient super
intendency in the rural sections, which
will remain as long as the present sys-
tenn of choosing county superintendent
prevails. 1t Is thought that the best way
to select county superntendents Is by
the school boards. like they do in the
cities. and not by election, for In that
way there is at times too much politics
for safety
The fight is to be made for better SUI
perintendency and more money In the
country, and then will be taken up the
idea In earnest of making parents send
their children to school,