The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-24

Superintendent Douglas Allen of the Wylam public schools, read the follow ing exhaustive paper on the County High .Schoor' before the Jefferson County Teachers association, Saturday, Novem- Der 1G.
 Alabama has long felt the want Of high school in her system of public edu- cation, articulating with the elementary school below and the college above This want seems about to be filled in the es- tablisment of the county high schools now about to take place throughout the state
 Section seven of the act creating these schools read: "A course of study for such school or schools shall be pro- vided and required by the superintend- ent of education provided, however, that said course of study shall consist of sec ondary branches of study" From sec ton five we quote: Nor will any stu dent be eligible to entrance into said high school unless said student can pass a satisfactory examination in the branches of free public institutions in the elementary schools of his or her county" They are to be real high schools.
 Section four of the act reads; Said school or schools as hereinbefore estab- Iished shall be under the direction and control of the said commission as d hoard of trustees in connection with the hoard of education in the county in which said high school is located; provid- ed further, that nothing in this act snail be so construed as to abolish any free school in any district, or the office of trustees in any district in which said high school may be located" The state high school commission, created by this act for the purpose of locating and controlling these high schools, in commenting on this section says 'The high school commission will hold that the county high school must be separate and apart in every way from the regu- lar district or local school in which are taught the primary and intermediate grades
 Nor under the terms of the act can tuition fees be charged in these new county high schools.
 Alabama is now to have, as an organic mart of her system of education, true high school. It is to be free of tuition, to be unhampered with a primary depart ment and to be free from the dominance of local influence. This means great things educationally for the state
 Let us note briefly the steps taken, up to the present time, toward the establish ing of the county high schools.
 The act was approved August T. 1907. On August 2S the governor announced that the state treasury would admit the ganization of the schools to be opened October l, 1908. Immediately following this announcement of the governor the state high school commission published inc terms on which application for the location of the schools would be con- sidered.
 Great interest and enthusiasm was soon aroused in different parts of the state, and many offers were made far above the minimum requirements. Even in commun- ities with comparatively little wealth the minimum requirements have been doubled and even quadrupled.
 During the month of October the state commission visited some of the communi- ties making offers for the scLool and examinr< in person the conditions exist Ing ;s 0,se communities. It would thus seem that both the officials and the peo- ple are interested in giving the location of the high schools most careful con sideration. In a very short time the work of location will be taken up, and ere another summer shall come more than two score high school buildings will be going up in different parts of the state, getting ready for the opening in October. 1908. Under the provisions of the law there are about 50 counties entitled to one