The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-16
SEEKS FUNDS FOR
 COMMON SCHOOLS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE s1

were in the strenuous times in which they were uttered
 It is the part of wisdom and of states , nanshir to anticipate the future. In a republic the best interest of the majority must be conserved Therefore 1t behooves the people of Alabama to look well to the care of the common schools, especial ly the rural schools. Whatever builds up these schools builds up the state. The ty knows this and by means of this ,hunicpa, government provides good schools for it's children. The county knows 1t also but by reason of the inhibition of local taxation by districts, the sparse population, the large territory, the bad roads, it's schools can not be provided for at this time by the districts them selves. Between 80 per cent and 90 per cent of the population of Alabama is rural. The great masses of people then, must depend on the rural schools for . lucation. The rural schools therefore are the straGetic point in the educational system of the state True the state is developing rapidly in manufacturing true, her mineral resources are almost ineXhaustible, true her forests for lum- Lering are extensive, but equally true farming is still and will long continue der most important industry. The pre- servaton and improvement of Alabama's greatest industry, farming, depends upon iLe development and improvement of her rural schools. These schools are poorly equipped in every respect and have q school term varying in length from five to seven months. Quite frequently il Is ne cessary for the parent to supplement the fund in order to have a five months term with a third grade teacher. Unless these schools can be approximately equal la merit to the best public schools in the towns and cities and adapted to train the farmers children for farm life. rather than away from farm life, many of the Lest people will continue to leave the farm. This disastrous drain upon the best Hood of the rural sections will be kept up until there may be left on the farm cnly the poorest peasant population, too ignorant to know the value and bless ing of an education. and too indffer- ent to care to secure it for their off, spring.
 beg leave to submit for your con sideration the following recommendations
 1. That a general law be passed classify ing the schools of the state so that a correlation and articulation of edu- eational work may obtain from the ele- nlentary through the secondary or high school to the superior schools.
 Recommendations
 Z. Tha, a system of high or secondary schools be established, with at least one il each county, and that an adequate appropriation be made to maintain said schools.
 Since the funds for public education are entirely inadequate to meet the needs of the common schools, especially the rural schools, that an appropriation or not less than $30O.0O0 be made annually to the common school fund.
 1. Since the people are denied the privi- lege of taxing themselves to build school hcuses, that an appropriation be made of not less than s50,000 per year for four years, of s2O0,O00 in all to- aid in building and improving school houses under such rules and regulations as the legislature may provide.
 5. Ina. the legislature submit an amend ment to the constitution to the people allowing school districts to tax them se.ves for school purposes.
 (. That an appropriation be made to equip the scientific and industrial depart ments of the Girls Industrial school at Montevallo.
 In the conclusion of this report. gov ernor. permit me to thank you Tor the uniform courtesy which you have even extended to the department of education.
 I desire also to bear testimony to the efficiency and faithfulness of my or flee force. No man was ever surrounded ty a more loyal, efficient and panstak- ing body of workers. Very respectfully
 I. w. HILL,
 Superintendent of Education.