The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-19
WANT DISTRICT
 TAXATION HERE School Rally Held Yesterday in
 Shades Valley MANY SPEECHES MADE Prof. Thomas R. Walker of WyIam Ad- vocates Local Taxation, With Dis
 trIct as a unIt--May Or
 eanize Movement.
MANY SPEECHES MADE

Possibly the largest and most success ful school rally ever held in this see- tion of the state was that of District In st,tute No 1o6. which was held at the Shades Valley school house near iroh- dale yesterday. All the county educators and district trustees were present.
 If has been the custom for district No. 1oe to give a school rally and picnic about this time every year. This year Pro- lessor ], w. Letson and others in charge took especial pains to make the ocea- sion q splendid success in every way.
 Nearly 400 of the most active educa- tors in this county were present at the meeting yesterday. Not only were many helpful ideas advanced on the best methods and plans for teaching, but the social feature was emphasized.
 For District Taxation.
 The feature of the meeting was the advocating of local district school tax by several of the speakers. Professor Thomas R. Walker. superintendent or schools at wylam, was the principal speaker on that question: All the speak CTS, however endorsed Professor Walker ,r his statement that local taxation with the district as the unit is the next step to be taken to improve the public school system of the county.
 An organized movement will propapiy be made later to send a delegation before the next legislature to ask for an amend ment to the constitution, allowing the citizens of each school district to vote on tha ouestion of A local taxation for school nurnoses in the district Local taxation for school purposes with the county as unit has met with almost universal favor over the state, and 1t is held that laws allowing a vote to be taken for tax alton in the districts would meet with like approval from the people.
 Professor Walker spoke for an hour on the subject and he carefully reviewed the history of local school taxation in the state. He said that change from local taxation with the county as unit to one with the district as a unit would be a step forward in the history of public schools in Alabama. And that with money appropriated from each district the schools could be kept in much better condition and more competent teachers employed.
 | In Jefferson county there are about 125 separate school districts, and in other counties the territory is similarly divided The idea is that each of these districts ! in every county be allowed the privilege | of voting on the question of levying a !, tax for bettering the school facilities in their respective districts It is thought that if the legislature makes the amend ment to the constitution as asked for, nearly all the districts of Jefferson coun- | ty will vote in favor of the tax.
 l The local county tax for the schools was authorized by an overwhelming ma ment for school improvement has met with the support of Jefferson county cit | izens. For these reasons 1t is thought that within the next eighteen months at the | latest the district schools in this coun | tv will be enjoying much better facilities and that more schools can be erected.
 Other Speeches Made. | County Superintendent of Education I. W. McAdory presided at the meeting | A visiting educators was made by Professor M. Mum. to which a response was mad, | by Prof S. A. Ellis of Woodlawn
 Prof, F. l.. Patton of Lewisburg spok, | at length on the subject of Great Things in Education.' Following Pro l lessor Patton's talk was an interesting dlscussion on what things should receiv, the greatest attention of teachers Mathe matics, grammar, spelling, geography history reading and penmanship had due number of supporters. but all agreed | that none of them should be neglected. Prof. S. A. Ellis and Prof. II. P. sel I spoke on the Small Things in Educa | tionv s"rhe Duty of the District Trus 1 tees'' was the subject of an interestin. | paper by Prof. B. F. Crump of Brighton | Prof. l. w. McAdory also spoke on tn, same subject Prof A. E. Tandley read paper on the question of which studio should receive the most attention. Prof | H. P. McKinnon of West End also spok ! along the same line.
 Acting Sheriff Albert Stradford wa | present at the meeting and made a sbor | impromptu talk In behalf of the pronoae | local taxation with the district as a mi, | MT. Stradford's statement that tha ide
 would meet with the support of a ma
 jority of tine citizens of Jefferson count
 was heartily concurred in by eyervon
 present
 An immense basket dinner was snre,
 on the ground and everything nossib,
 was done by the members of District NJ
 106 to give the county educators an CD
 joyable time.