The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-16

by the census taken in 1903 was TOT, ,269. Under the plan formulated by the su- perintendent of education requiring the name, age, color, sex, parent or guardian, and address of each child, the census of 1904 showed 679,051, a decrease of 2S,2lS. The census of 1906 taken under the same plan shows 697,465 children of school age in the state. The present method of taking the census is very unsatisfactory. As the funds are apportioned to the coun- ties on a per capita basis the counties should be required to take the census and pay for the same, and a severe pen atty should be imposed on any officer who In any way made fraudulent returns. This could be done with little expense to the counties if the law relieving trus- tees of poll tax, jury and road duty were repealed As a result of special laws. many separate districts are not required to take the census in the same year in which the counties in which they are located take it, and one or two counties are not required to take the census at the time that other counties take It. It is the opinion of the superintendent of edu- cation that a general law should be passed requiring all counties and dis tricts to take the census the same year.
 Examination Law.
 There has never been put on the statute books law which has done more to raise the standard of the teaching force of the state and which has had a more important influence in awakening an ed ucational interest than the law for the examination of teachers. So successfully has been the workings of the law and so pronounced has been it's effect upon our public school system that other states are patterning laws after fl. The law as a whole is a good one and with few changes relating to the administration would be almost perfect.
 School Houses.
 One of the greatest impediments to edu- cational progress in Alabama is poor school houses. The average school house in the rural sections of Alabama is a disgrace to the district, the county and the state. The farmers horses, the far mers cattle are frequently better housed than the farmers children while attend ing school. Deserted negro cabins, aban- doned old churches are considered suffl- eiently good. No attention whatever is given to the importance of heat, light, comfort and ventilation. The laws of health are utterly ignored Although the practicable problem of physical equipment in houses, furniture and grounds lies at the foundation of every successful edu- catlonal system, the state of Alabama has heretofore ignored the subject Men do not respect that which is not re- speetable Business men know that peo- pie judge the character of their business by their place of business The great business of education Is measured by tho same standard. A respectable school house well equipped with well kept grounds commands the respect of the community and is absolutely essential to the sacred work of training the children of the state for citizenship and for social service. The state would demand of the school districts d respectable place in which the great business of education may be car ried on If the district be too poor to provide such a place. the county or state should render assistance. I have dem onstrated the fact that with little as- sistance to the district, good school houses can be built in Alabama. With funds secured from the Peabody board I offered a bonus of $100 to one district in the first ten counties applying for the same that would build a school house to cost not less than $500 from plans and specifications furnished by the department of education. the building and grounds to be deeded to the county board and their successors for the benefit of the children of the district building the house. Applications for the bonus came in apld- lX, in one instance by wire, and the fund was soon exhausted. l trust that the next legislature will pass law providing assistance under certain conditions and regulations to aid in building and repair ing school houses, and that every new school house in the state must be built from plans approved by the department of education. Other states have this re- quirement, and Alabama should not hesi- tate to demand sanitary buildings for her children During the past four years l have appealed to various organizations In the state to assist me to improve the educational conditions of the rural schools among the number that patriotic body of women the State Federation of Wo- mems clubs. This organization came to my assistance with strong committee which undertook the herculean task of n.nnnlzil1n. thn counties and dlelrlnis nf