The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-10-16

house. Applications for the bonus came In rapidly, In one instance by
 "! trust that the next Legislature will pass a law providing assistance, under certain conditions and regult. flens scboo, to aid in building and rspair school house In the state must be built from plans approved by the De- partment of Education. Other .tatcs should not hesitate to demand sanitary buildings for her children.
 During the east four years I have the State to assist me to improve tne educational conditions of the rural SC hools. among the number that patrl- ation of womens' Clubs. This organiz- strong committee which undertooE
 snd Hst dstrets o ahe sse sss irto School Improvement Associations. The work of the committee has now EMgssed EMsse be beyond & the syrerimsntai stage. ganizations were seen. appeals for or ganizations became 50 numerous that t became necessary to have lady the Peabody Board. The services of Miss Burns. an experienced teacher.
 
 coing this work Any communication addressed to the committee or to Miss | I.atona Burns. care O.. Department of Education will receive prompt atten tion.
 Competent Supervision, "The evidence of the most success ful school system in every section of the country and the most successful county. town and district systems in the South proves conclusively the ne- cessity. and the wisdom of competent supervision Without competent su- pervision and direction no great bus mess can succeed The business of education Is no exception to the rule. Each county system of schools must no higher than its head. The super visor of the county system should be man trained to his work with abil- ity to make and execute plans for the improvement and training of the pub lie school teachers, to direct campaigns for education of public sentiment on educational questions and for the ad- vancement of pubic education along all properly direct school committeeman and other school officers: he should be endowed with tact. wisdom. common along with folks and to command the confidence of teachers, officers, children and patrons. In word, this man oc- cupies the real strategic point in all South today. He must be a many sighted man possessing not only pro- fessional training. but rare qualities of leadership The work is difficult thought and energy of the most com petent man, the entire consecration of every facility of his head and heart and body. You cannot command such a man for long without paying him a living salary. The average salary paid men for this sort of work in the South is less than $500 a year.
 zN. by the State Superintendents of Public Instruction of the Southern States to tho people of the South. issued in 1904. By substituting Alabama wherever appear to have been written for this State.
 Alabama has goodly number O; county superintendents who are striv- ests of their counties by visiting the schools. making educational addresses and educating public sentiment on needful educational lines, in addition fee. These men give practically all of their time to the duties of their of fee. The State has also goodly mum Der of county superintendents who per and draw their per centum commis- sons regularly. Which class of super intendents should receive the larger salaries.
 "The Superintendent of Education thinks that the Legislature should pass a general law setting aside per centum of the entire school fund for supervision as provided oy the Con stitntion. and make provision for an equitable and just apportionment of said 4 per centurn to the county super intendents of the state in salaries.
 Increase of Revenues.
 "On account of the increase in the taxable valuation of the property of the State there has been a gradual and T The total amount certified by the Au- ditor for apportionment for the year ending September 30. 19o6 was s1,0s5.- | 06S.95. The amount certified for the $1.15O.26l.4O. It will thus be seen that | the school fund levied under the Con stitution Is gradually increasing and l will continue to increase as long as
 "It must not be understood that the 1 figures given above indicate the amount | which IS spent for for public education ahe tsxaton and tbe enuH the public school fund in the various towns and cities easily make the amount annually expended for public spent in the higher institutions, $1, 600. .0O0
 it is impossible to conduct satis- actorily schools or a necessary length of time on the funds available. The most important question in our edu- cational affairs is the providing of , sufficient funds to conduct the rural schools a reasonable length of time and to have them in charge of competent No question coming be- fore the next sess ion of the Legisla- ture will be more important than this
 More Money Needed.
 "Who lets his country live, lets all things live. and all things living bless him. Who lets his country die. lets all things die. and all things dying curse him." These words from Geor- gias' illustrusious patriot and states man. Benjamin H. Hill, are as true to- day as they were in the strenuous times in which they were uttered
 Tt is the part of wisdom and of