The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-04-26
MANY DISTRICTS
 WANT THE MONEY Desire to Erect Better School
 Buildings BETTER SUPERIh TENDENCE Harry c. Gunnells Believes That His Measure Pending In the Legisla-
 ture Will Pass at the Sum- mer Session.
BETTER SUPERINT NTENDENCE

country districts or the state are waking up to the advantage of the aid that may be had for rural school houses from the state treasury and are sending in applications for the money, the county of Randolph with four being the first in. Coffee has also been heard from, and re- ports from the county boards indicate th.. there are many demands that have not yet been sent to the state superin- tendent of education, who must make final approval.
 As an indication of the interest that is taken it is noted that of the 500 blank applications printed by the state super intendent's office, all have been sent out on request. If every county takes up the fund and gets what it may there will be at least 5000 new country school houses in the next four years All who have shown desire for the aid have been written and they will have every op- portunity to get the money when they meet the conditions.
 The way by which a district may se- cure this state aid is this: The trustees make request of the county board, with a showing that the lot has been given and the balance of the money for house after plan that will be furnished by the state superintendent in hand. This, with the deed in fee simple for the lot, made ou. to the state, Is sent, with approval of the board, Co the state superintendent. If he approves the house plans he draws the warrant to the county superintendent W. ) is authorized to hold it until work is vel enough along on the building to in sure completion.
 Want Good Houses.
 It is the hope of the school friends in tLe state that these houses be of the best that the districts are able to build. The state will give $2O0 for the same amount raised by the district, but it is hoped that this will not be all. It is not thought that as good a house as Alabama rurcl districts should have can be erected for s4O0. Hence, the state superintendent is doing all he can to encourage good hor5es and to have them erected on plans furnished by his office, to the end that the pupils be comfortable and placed in hycienic surroundings that are conducive to good health and mental and physical growth
 1t has been ruled recently by the at torney general that this law is now in IL, receive the aid, but others which were begun before the bill passed. It is' also held that the deeds to the lots must be made ir fee simple to the state for all time and be kept at the office of the state superintendent
 Better Superlntendence. State Superintendent of Education Harry G. Gunnells gives it as his opinion that the county superintendence bill now pending in the legislature, is the most important piece of legislation that has heen or will be introduced at the pres ent session Every state superintendent with whom he has discussed the matter has agreed with him and enthusiastically endorse the idea, hoping 1t will speedily become law.
 While some of the county superintend- ents do not fall in with the law Tn every respect, many of them do' 1t seem ino to nromise relief from conditions that have for years been detrimental to the schools of the rural districts, which are no receiving more attention than ever before. There are many strong letters on file in the office of MT. Gunnells ap- proving the plan
 This bill provides that the county su- nerIntendents shall be elected by the coun- tv boards. who shall provide for their salaries and put in all their time In school work They shall have first or life grade certificates and shall be able to do prac- tical school work from experience and knowledge. As 1t is now many county superintendents are business men who do little more than distribute the school fund and take over their per cent there for working not month all together In the whole year. In at least one coun- ivy of the state the city by Its large number of votes elects the county su- perintendent and he has nothing what ever to do with the city schools. that business being looked after by the city superintendent
 The need for this change, the school officers say, is found in the fact that the country territory is the field for the new teacher They go out with certificates for first service in the country and they teach any old way in many cases. It is often the case that many of the teachers in the same>county use different methods and not infrequently the case that they have no good methods at all. It is hoped by the new law to give the country child as good administration as the city child, thus making 1t possible for the maximum of good to result from every dollar the state appropriates.
 There are many who believe that the state TOW has all the money for schools it can use to advantage with the present machinery and leaders have been heard to say that the superintendence bill is of greater importance than those which carry appropriations
 Gordon Is Pardoned. The governor has pardoned Louis Cor don of Cherokee county, convicted in 1905 of manslaughter and sentenced to five years. It was shown. that the prisoner was only IS years of age when he killed the man; that the latter was very much larger than he, and that he had threat ened to take his life when he met, and that meeting he shot with the view that he had to do so to save his life He Is given a full pardon with restoration of political rights
 Justices of the peace have been named | by the governor as follows: G. R. Hard wick, Pel City; B. M. Sowell. Athens; J. G. B. Watson Beat IA, Houston county; G. M. Richards, Beat 8, Etowah county; J. w. Kirkland, Littleville; J. J. Carter, Truitt G. w. Johnson at Elkmont and E.. M Mearse at Pc Rige have been named notaries public and ex-officio jus tices of the peace.
 These have been named as commercial | notaries: R. L. Huddleston, Spegners; B. l H. Jack, Russellville.
 | Constables have been named as follows | w. P. Vandergrift, Branchville; c. A.. Hardin. Meltonville: R. E. Lee, Beat N I port; Charles Womble, Frankfort; B. A. Northam, Fayette; B. NJ. Edmondson, Boaz; J. A. Speer, Rockford; R. w.. | Riddle, Ashland.
 Work for Schools. | Commercial club committee, whose of- | flee it has been to raise the s20oo0 inde-