The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-15
INSTRUCTIONS ID
 SCHOOL BOARDS Superintendent GunneIS Sends
 a Letter to Voters MUST ELECT GOOD MEN Importance of Educational Work Is Emphasized and Voters Are Urged To Place Competent Men In
 Charge of Affairs.
MUST ELECT GOOD MEN

Montgomery, June 14.-(Special.)- Recognizing the importance of getting the best men possible for school boards in the several counties Superintendent of Education H. c. Gunnels is sending out letter to the voters urging them to exercise the greatest caution in selecting trustees and memb bers of the boards. By recent acts these have ex- tended control over the schools and do pretty much as they see fit in the management. Trustees are elected on July 4, of this year; these in 10 days choose chairmen, which, at a meeting at the county seat on August must choose the county boards.
 The letter follows
 To tn People of Alabama.
 I wish to remind the people of the education will be elected in the vari- ous counties of the state on the second Saturday in August August 3D. for a term of four years.
 These county boards have entire con trol of the public schools within their 
 to make rules and regulations for the government of the county schools and the right in the name of the county 70 acquire, purchase, lease, receive, hold transmit and convey the title to real and personal property for school pur- poses. They also have the power to fix the length of the school term and Il, a,.f ous districts of the state in accord ance with section 256 of the constitu- tion and section 1765 of the code.
 While the district trustees have the right to nominate teachers, all public school teachers must be elected by the tracts must be made with the county board of education.
 In accordance with section 1863 of the code the county high schools of Alabama are controlled and governed by the high school commission in con nection with the county boards of edu cation of the several counties of the state.
 You will thus see the importance Of giving most careful consideration o the selection of competent men to serve on the county board of education.
 The county superintendent of educa - tion is ex-officio a member of the county board and under the law Is the executive officer of the board.
 These county boards are indirectly elected by the qualified electors of the various counties of the state as fol- lows:
 On the first Saturday in July, 1908. (July 4), the qualified electors of every public school district must meet at the district sch ool house, or some other place previously designated by the county superintendent of education and shall elect from among the free holders and house holders, who can who must reside in the district in which they are elected. Within 10 days after their election these trustees mus meet and organize by electing one of their number chairman and another secretary. The chairmeN. of the boards of district trustees will meet iA the court house of their respective coun ties on the second Saturday in August. 1908 August 3D. and elect four mem bers of the county board of educc.ion who with the county superintendent. (making five in alb will serve as tn e county board of education for the next four years.