The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-04-16
THE TEACHERS or ALABAmA.

THE TEACHERS or ALABAMA. To the Alabama teachers assembled in Montgomery, a welcome especially warm and cordial is extended. Mont gomery feels an especial pleasure in entertaining those laborers who have buiided so splendidly for Alabama's greatness.
 To this class of workers who have heretofore been proverbially underpaid and overworked. Alabama owes debt of gratitude. A great educational era is opening for the State. the founda- ton of future greatness has been laid and the teacher in the ranks is most responsible for 1t. They are now com ing into their own-these teachers and the State Is willing that they should receive the honors that justly belong to them.
 In the past twelve years teaching in Alabama has been lifted from a hit or miss occupation resorted to in desperation to earn a few dollars. to an honored and recognized profession. It was not So long ago when the man who went to teaching was pitiful to one who has no capacity for the real affairs of life. Tn that time a well known Alabama educator used to speak of his profession and it's stand ing with some bitterness.
 Teaching" he would say, 'is the last resort of the failure in life who is not smart enough to sell sewing machines and who is too lazy to go to work on the farm"
 But that time is gone and it will never return. Those people who were refused recognition, but were devoted to their work despite It's niggardly re- turns labored earnestly and zealously. Tn the light the new day has dawned. a tribute is due the memory of those who labored zealously. hopefully, in hard places and on apparently barren ground. The pity is, that some never lived to see the gathering of the har- vest they had sown.
 The teacher of today lives honored. respected and is much better paid than his predecessors. As great as has been the improvement of the teachers condition in Alabama much greater has been the improvement of the con ditions of the schools of Alabama. If the people of Alabama are determined on any one thing it is that the States public school shall be lifted to and maintained upon a high standard. On other questions they may divide. Up- on this question there is no division. The State will take no backward step in education. The man who would rise and propose it would be driven into obscurity.
 A great revolution has been worked. The teachers did it. The press of Ala bama is not without credit. A due mead of praise should be given the papers of Alabama. daily and weekly which help cd the teachers in the great forward movement. No State of the Union in recent years has advanced so rapidly in education. in the improvement of the schools as Alabama No campaign in Alabama has ever been so success full as that campaign started and push ed forward by the lily paid teachers, who saw the light as they labored. And there is where the credit belongs ito the faithful teacher in the trenches.
 And yet what has been accomplish ed is only a new promise for a great CT future. If the next twelve years witnesses the same advance as the past twelve, then Alabama's school system will be wonderfully efficient.
 The Advertiser with all right think ing citizens of the State rejoices that teaching is now honored and recognize ed among the learned profession. We hope that 1t will continue to attract our brightest and best young people. The members of the convention which assemblies today are honored and res- pected. Their work is rewarded. Their influence is felt and Montgomery has no apology for the pride she feels in entertaining them.
 The Advertiser trusts that this will be the largest and the most profitable, gathering of teachers in the history of the State.