The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-02-07
NEGROES ARE
 GRATEFUL For State Aid of Past
 Year. SUMMER PLANS DISCUSSED Vegroes Working for More Efficient Teachers. h.ssr.s state re.sher. Association of Aiabama Fouewing in steps ef
 . reople a Closely As
 Possible.

Q08U been given them by the state during the past school year.
 The letter, which is signed by the Dresident and other officers of the sColored State Teachers Association of Alabama, sets forth the fact that the school team has been heightened. in- volying much larger state appropria- ixion for the education of negroes in Alabama; and the fact that every negro Teacher of the state is urged to att tend the sessions of the state associa- aion's meeting to be held in Montgom- ery during April on full pay.
 Plans for the running of an indepen- dent summer normal school are dis cussed in the following letter:
 February 5. 1909. Hon. H. c. GunneIs. Superintendent of
 Education for the State of Alabama,
 Montgomery, Ala.
 Honorable Sir:-We.F committee representing the ColoreA state Teachers Association of Alabama. wish to ex- press our deep gratitude to you, your co-workers, and the good white people of Alabama for the kindly considera- ton which Is being shown us as a race in the work of education. This of course, is not new, but we feel we do have an extra occasion to express this gratitude.
 l. You have this year made the school term of the negro schools throughout the state one month longer than in former years. This itself is an action for which we feel under great obligations. It means, all considered, many thousand dollars more appropria- tion this year than in the years past, and much more advantage in the school room for every child who will attend. We wish to express the feeling and hope that many communities will of thetr own accord raise money to extend fheir school terms longer. then the encouragement which has been given them by what you have done. Already many communities have begun this movement. and will have this wear peven or eight months school.
 Z. We are. as Q committee of the ptate Teachers Association particular " gratified at the encoura cement which you yourself. are giving our State Teachers Association by urging svery negro teacher in the state to at- lend, and by permitting the days in at- ksnoance to be counted as days taught. Tnls will very greatly increase our at. sehdance and enable us to make tha state association what we SO much aa. pre- source of education and real petp 10 the entire teaching force oY th. etate or Aabama. If we can rna1ro tLe ssOciation such gathering; our xrati. suue VIII De shown by a more e1- kba kbn. . torcs of teachers throushout
 It would be unfair to von .., $ snouId be unworthy of what va,y aro 1olhg' and for what the oonI s.,,s4e peOple or the State have done sor ,,s u we were not inspired witf da,s-. so oo even more than we have dons. to csa'. stronger and much more efl- hsa AVISe or teachers than we have orA course, there are some hIndr.neoa Whlcn cause us not to have so sfron, seaching force as we ought to hove Tn many school districts. as indieatsd Dy the report of the Board of Fdnca- = tion' the teachers receive very snnaiI gay, gay, ana nave to spend much of their tine supplementing their salaries atc which should be spent in doing erfect' i've service for the children at school ana Tor the communities in which fhev i've. In many counties we note fhaf tne average pay of colored teachers in tne rural districts Is as low as SIS per montn; Few have an average of as high s sso' sSe' according to the report of 1s05- 1906 The standard of pay has heen raised somewhat by you and your co- workers during the past two wears and we feel perfectly sure that f,7Et as soon as funds will allow 1t, you will increase the pay for teachers so they Will be able to do what they should in order to be examples in home life for the communities in which they five
 Because of the low salaries. we find It almost impossible to have the best teachers of the race go into the conn try districts. just where they are need ed: and as result, many of our ,coun. try people. who ought to remain in the country. push themselves in town in or1er that they may get their children where the best teachers are found. As stated above. we feel sure. from your past interest, that you will keep a pur- pose to change these conditions. and have in the course of time the teachers in the country as good and as weu paid. as those in the cities
 Watching the progress of the good white people in the State, and trying always to profit by their example it has been our desire to do something fin the way of improving ourselves as teachers. aside from the State Teachers' Association gatherings.
 We are making an effort this year 10 run an independent summer normal for, at least four weeks. This undertaking is made practically without a dollar and without the assurance of a dollar from anywhere except what the teach CTS may be able to give out of the meagre salaries which they receive
 We believe with such normal with
  structors who will show the teachers who are in attendance how to bring school life in connection with the conn munity life. and how to interest tbe country boy in country surroundfugs etc., will do vast good for the I,n- provement in the conditions fin tI,e state Of Alabama. It is our earues, plea. and we know you want to heed this plea that as soon as possible the state may be able to strengthen this summer normal enort by making some appropriation for it's support If we can nave lew. or even one summer Insti- tute: to which large number of our Heaehers may go for a few weeks each year. we believe that the colored teach Sn gforce Of Alabama will be strength ened as it has never been before ana that the white people will he bannje, hecause of the results of the nropar kind of teaching ythe properly train. ed teacher.
 Virginia spends over 5000 for her colored teachers in summer schools. South Carolina. $1 200 for colored teachers; Louisiana 1000. and Tennes- see $500.
 { From what you have done in the mast we are led to believe and know that wa have as Rooda citizenship and as true friends among the white people. as ara found anywhere in the South; and we Assire as representatives of the eoIored teachers of the State of Alabama. fo axprsss the belief that in the near f,,- kure, our beloved State will do even more than any other Southern State Is ,uAiIlnR to do for the summer training s1sf fAe colored teacher.