The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-01
fnY wfrn T. sHEEHANl

highest class, Colonel Scott, Comman- dant of the National Military Academy at West Point and Woodrow Wilson, President of Princeton University direct caustic criticism at what they term the ''smattering" methods of the public high schools of the country, shown in the lack of preparation or their grauates. when presented for ad- mission at the higher institutions or learning.
 The authority with which this double criticism came, edged It's force and 1t was the keener that two men who were prepared to speak by the card and who in their professional work had come into contact with the product of the training and prepara- tory schools. should in an unusual CO., incidence lament slip shod ways or high school instruction. which they say they have encountered.
 It is but the truth, written with some reluctance, to set forth that Alabama had so Jagged behind in edu- cational work in other years that her schools had not advanced, except m the cities, far enough to make tne strictures of present interest. Ala bama, except in plans ha snot yet gone forward to a system of hlgh schoois, D. The criticism, if we admit it's truth, IS not an indictment of the present Ala bama. except in plans has not yet gone future. Impoverished as she was py the war, with thousands of her sons upon whom she depended to strengthen and sustain her, shot to death on hundred battle fields, with her economic and industrial system so wrecked that the wreckage could not he usad as the foundation of new oroer she has, in the past few years only and after a long struggle assured eo each child of the state common school education.
 The plan of a general high school system has been conceived, made pos sfbIe and work has begun upon It, but so far as today is concerned m Alabama the problem i not how to secure efficiency for the high schools but to secure high schools in Whlch efficiency may be established. The strictures of Colonel Scott and Presi- dent Wilson apply with all their force to the richer states which have done, some years ago, what Alabama is try ing to do now.
 General Sentiment.
 The significance of the thoughtful words of two of the great college lead CTS, has its bearing on our present endeavors and what they will build in the near future. This criticism voiced at the same time by two such men, is, unfortunately the sentiment entertained by the leading college presidents of the country. This be- lief presented in a few words is this private preparatory schools are CT, CT, ficient; public high schools are not fully efficient.
 If the indictment is true it is worse than an indictment of the high schools, It Is a condemnation of democracy that we in Alabama must escape. Sc far as this criticism is true its value is in arousing the spirit of Democratic AoIa times, works doggedly and patiently for the right until error IS put De hind and the right is attained. IT IL ls true that the high schools or Amerlca and which are a part Of It's prloe' aI' slovenIy in work and poor in accom- plishments, it Is only another pFopleiN to be met and solved.
 The danger in the road has been ais covered before Alabama reached tha' stage of the journey. The menace to an affective system has been round pc fore Alabama reached that point Tn the road of progress. But that part or 1 tne road is just ahead of us. We are 9us' atarinsy IL The state is entering it, SC bier an educational stage, 1t IS too' oa SaIesslv and without a sense or re- t The Iast Legislature was open-handed xvtfh inc schools. But that LesIsIa- ture which was so liberal In the s. ma fer of providing funds, reIuseo r',;sion .O siTn
 hnl establishing expert superNisLoi II S And out how the money was spent ssba countv embellishments of today
 S their associated county onlceFs ktIa1v a horn and summoned enough Ai- fuence to put the bill away =, .,.. | There was not a man Who Itoo lHo aoor of either house who could not n.y. nJOa .ta common schools, the barefoot "a to,, and the sun-bonnet girls as cornbined topic and crate unlh he ~S1,s came home Nor was there one Srho was not willing to put his hand deen into the treasury for the WeiIale 70 of the Alabama schools. But when u came to rufiing the boys back at noiiie' oti'7 -rbo would go into the political trehches 1,ber a fight was on-wel. that was snotber matter The bill went 100 fair: it was unnecessary; 1t was acaoe- -oIc. Alabama was not ready Tor It. +hev were opposed to legislatlng men ant of office. Because or Whlch, nOl- urithstanding the immense amount Ala bam spends for her schoois, there ID mo expert supervision for them except in the cities.
 Rut 1t will come; it will come surely ,i and certainly. The movement has Ebeen scotched; not stopped. It VIII hhave to come. The welfare or the schools will depend upon It.
 
 when they go out to work reforms The fervent support given the cause of education may have been someWha IhystericaI in it's way. but behind IL las the compelling force which started fthe wave and gave IL it's impetus were rthe labors of the thoughtful and de- voted teachers who had worked in t6elds. apparently sterile and unfruit- Bful. But when the cry for better sch ools was at it's highest. when 1t was voiced by the entire State. the politi- eian had no more trouble in pushing tthe teachers off the educational band wagon than they had in taking charge of the prohibition band wagon al the heel of the session. Nevertheless, be- tween the teachers and the politicians, the State got some splendid school leg fslation, although in one vital partlcu- lar iC fell short But the future has it's own tasks and its own victories.
 Alabama, as this year closes. Is sup nortfnR her schools to the limit of her ability. There are some who would contend th at she is doing more than she is able to do Whether she is or fs not overtaxing her strength for her schools, she is doing all she can-and this applies to her agricultural schools her normal schools and her colleges as well as 10 her common schools.
 Every community is now assured of A six months school and most of them will have nine months. The wants of the agricultural and normal schools are met with liberality. The colleges of the State are not only given libera' maintenance appropriations, but they are each year given from the Seate Treasury handsome buildings funds.