The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-03-29


 it's support whatever this might be- would be more than doubled Tn efficiency Graduate work in academic, technical and professional courses would be pursued, and ,ns tendency to discourage secondary SC 4ools would give place to a solicitude fo. their highest success. The robber baron would thus become an indulgent. patronizing over-lord to all subordinate se-ools, public or private.
 Thorough Training. The very thorough training now given for tile professions might be susceptible of improvement, it's scope broadened and it's graduates accorded the same recogni- ton now justlygiven to those who earn the degree of bachelor of laws. Under such an engagement, all university work could be obtained at home and it would be unnecessary for our young men to seek elsewhere the distinction and pres tige conferred by a doctors degree. It is not an essential part of such a plan of consolidation that the strictly ! professional school have identical loca- ton with the university proper, but ad mission to these departments should be definitely fixed by the central institution and should be rigidly enforced. Much that Is urged above in support | of the union of all university work can | be applied with even more emphasis | to the plea froc nsoidating our schools 1 for normal training. The money now | expended in our four normal colleges | is most faithfully, effectively and econom- , ically administered under existing con l ditons. but a like fund, if localized on l one teachers college would produce greater results with far greater economy. | It is far from my purpose to say that | the state is giving to this branch of l education out of proportion to it's value. l The tenth part of the graduates each year from these institutions have more than justified every dollar of expenditure l for every year of their training The l contention is that the present method of l separation has not the economy nor the | potentalities of a single magnificent in- | stitutior with an equal revenue. | There is one other consideration, in l connection with the states attitude to l these colleges which is so significant | that it seems to deserve passing mention. I refer to the plan of equal appropriation l to each, now crystalizing into a policy. Letsus assume that the four colleges are l on exact parity today and that to ap- l proprfate to one more than to another l would be an unfair discrimination, yet. l can the legislative mind assure itself that even during the fou.s years con l templated in it's schedule. this equaliza- 1 tion will be sustained? Even though it l should not, we will all eoncede that not one of it's benefciaries has received dollar in excess of its needs
 We. who know so well the honorable and distinguished heads of these inni- tutions, know how impossible it would be | for any one of them to do aught but his very best under any and all circum- stances; and yet the time must come | when other hands must be called to take the helm. It may be that their successors will perpetuate the honesty, the upright ness. and the integrity of our present eX- | ecutiVes-but can we foresee that none | of oil n Nio fo I1p ,tu tion to sham and pretense, which such a policy of equal, perhaps ndiscriminate, appropriation must inevitably foster?
 Profosslonalzing Teaching.
 Apart from these considerations, is an- other which makes consolidation desira- ble-the oportunity such a course would offer for prosessionalizng teaching-in It. self great desideratum.
 Throw into one that is. under one con trol, all our state institutions classed | as finishing schools. Consolidate our nor nal schools into a great teachers col 1 lece whose restricted sphere shall be the adequate training of those. and only those prepared at the time of matricula- ton foi the professional courses offered.
 Nor should we stay our hand till every county in Alabama has, within it's Dor ders publis high school, each fully equipped for thorough secondary instruc- ton in departments of work offered in the best high schools of the land stress ing above the rest the important subject of the manual arts-ample equipment for which should be provided to each of these high schools.
 In dsmissng this subject, before turn ing to the next, which Is the last topic permit me to ask your forgiveness for having merely stated. as it were, this great problem. Its elucidation must wait for other times and for one more worthy ,.T, I.,,4 touched the great crcumference-other will fully explore the circle. I have, feeb- ly enough presented only one side, well knowing that a more masterful hand may turn my premises into scorn and my conclusions in derision. So let 1t be- the good or i'll of a thing depends on the way we view it.
 New Policies Recommended.
 One topic more and l shall give place to our worthy superintendent, who has so auspici0usly begun his great work and whose address will amply reward you for your patient waiting.
 It has seemed to me that our associa- ton has yet other fields for its activities upon which it should prepare to enter.
 In order that it may undertake the new policies 1 now submit, It will be necessary that the association be incorporated anc be vested with ample rights and powers for it's enlarged operations. It should be given the immunties granted to 44ieno senary corporations, and yet be endowed with many of the important powers be slowed on those of a purely business na ture.
 l must leave you to imagine some o the benefits which such reorganization would offer, and shall connne myself tt the chief and necessarily inadequate pre- sentation of one.
 In many states of the union-not a. state but chiefly as local enterprise teachers endowment organizations have | been established.
 There are, I am informed, about .si, thousand white teachers in Alabama Many of thees will perpetualy remain fail and young, but in the nature of thing. | a large number of their less fortunate conferers will become old in the barnes' and will perferce be called on to lay dowr the burdens of actual work Visions o approaching semility have time and agaii | caused the hearts of the elders of thu profession to bleed with solicitude for th' younger and hopeful brothers Just enter ing a field s ofull of burdens and s' empty of rewards. Some such sentimen prompted the following advice: Say what you can each year till yo ucan bu, farm to sustain the coming years o shadow and rain" A few years passed and the youngest teacher reported to hi elder that, by exercising strictes | economy, he had been able to buy thu coveted farm. A few more years rolled by and the farm was sold at sacrifice The reason assigned for the sale wa that 1t required rare financiring skill t support farm and a family with onl. teachers salary.
 The Teachers Life. The teachers life is one of sacrifice T.