The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-06-19
SCHOOLSYSTEMNEEDS
Urges Better supsrvissen Of Rural
Schools BY Changfng Present sys-
TEN 81 County superfntendents,
Local Taxatfon and Conn
pulscry Educatien.


University. June 17-(speciaL)--
Better supervision OF rural schools
BY changing the present system Of
County superintendents, local taxation
and compulsory education" These
three changes In our educational sys-
tenn were the subject Of the earnest ap-
peal of State Superintendent of Edu-
cation H. c. Gunneis In his address be-
fore the Summer School. Thursday, on
Education In Alabama
Beginning his address with conven-
tional felicitous remarks, Mr.. Gunneis
soon warmed up to vigorous discus
sion. in which he did not fail to ex-
press himself clearly and positively.
Mr.. Gunnels Interpreted his talk
with enough stories TO grace an entire
banquet program. BY means Of a group
OF them at the beginning. he explained
| that his remarks. II connected would be
so merely by accident as his clerk with
scrupulous accuracy had informed
him that the program called for his ad-
dress on July IL and that he had not
known better until this week.
Quoting George AIDE freely, Mr.. Gum
nsls found text In stay with the pro.
cession or you will never catch up" He
spoke Of how the modern methods had
displaced the old and OF the necessity
for q teachers keeping up with the
| times by constant study and attend
ance on summer schools.
When John w. Abercrombie, the
speaker said, began his administration.
ten years ago, as Superintendent OF
Education, the school term I'm Alabama
was three months and the funds for
the schools allowed a per capita Of
only IS cents. Eight years ago. he
said, less than 100 teachers in the State
were doing summer work. Now over
1000 were attending some summer
school. These facts he cited to show
Aiabama's wonderful growth edues..
tionally.
"we have a new school house for
dinner every day. and two for Sunday
sad Mr.. Gunnels.
He referred to the new county high
schools and the opportunities that these
and other schools gave for well equip
ped teachers. Louisiana is the
only State In the South whore better
salaries are paid the teachers in the
rural schools than here in Alabama, he
said. and 81 per cent OF the pupils
are In the rural schools.
With this much In our educational
conditions for encouragement. Mr.. Gun
nels next attacked the weak spots in
the system supervision of rural
schools. need OF local taxation and
compulsory education.
II am not fighting the County SUI
perintendents, but the system. You
teachers all know the trouble. At pres
emit there are no qualifications for the
County Superintendents. Many of
them could not get a third grade GER
tifcate II they were to work for 1t
whole year: they have not written a
letter IN their own handwriting to the
State Department since they have
been in Office: they have not
visited school in their coun-
ty during their whole administra-
ton. We had bill introduced In the
last Legislature to provide for Coun-
ty Boards of Education 20 select efi-
Client superintendents. just as the city
boards do. but the bill failed. / APP
peal to you to use your influence on
your husbands. your brothers, your
sweethearts. to pledge candidates to.
the Legislature to the support OF these
measures--a revision of the County
Superintendent system, local taxation,
and compulsory education"
Mr.. Gunnels closed with recounting
several stories and paying a beautiful
tribute to the work of the teacher.