The Washington herald., 1909-06-13
Funds for Public Education
Treble in Ten Years.
ONE SCHOOL HOUSE EACH DAY
Ideal Before Authorities Is that
Youth of Commonwealth Mny Oh
tain I'm state Institutions Training
Equal TO Demands OF Twentieth
Century-what Has Been Done.

of activity has the progress Of Alabama
within the last decade been more nlarkei
than In that OF public education. Within
that period the funds for public schoo
support have trebled; the number o
schools and teachers more than doubled
the average length OF school term ex
tended from four and a half to sever
months. and tie efficiency of the teaching
force vastly improved by the workings
Of an examination law which insure'
teachers with good qualifications.
Not only in the common schools, but
along higher lines as well. the educa'
tional forces OF the State have reached
an excellent standard Of attainment; 81
that Alabama now stands educauonally
well toward the forefront OF the Southern
States
Prevailing conditions demand public
schools Of strength and efficiency. These
have been supplied and are being raDidly
extended and improved. In Alabama
to-day the means OF good education
free Of tuition. are open 10 every child
in the State. rich or poor; the means OF
a higher or professional education. free
OF tuition. are accessible TO every yOune
man or woman Of intellect and ambition
at an expense that seems nominal when
compared with the cost OF like facilities
IN other sections OF the United States.
The policy OF our people has been and
Is 70 raise our public Institutions OF
learning 10 a plane that would enable
the youth OF the State 10 obtain. in the
State. educational facilities equal 10 the
demands OF twentieth century American
citizenship.
Keeps Pace with wealth.
Since 1899 roughly speaking. our State
has been prosperous In agriculture. in
mining, IN manufacturing. commerce;
and. in fact. in all branches OF human
industry. our people have been rising.
The powers that be wisely resolved that
intellectual progress must keep pace with
material progress.
AS a foundation there was inserted in
the State constitution (sdopted in lsOD
p provision fixing permanently, so that no
legislature could disturb il. an annual tax
OF mills on each 81 Of property assessed
for taxation. 10 be devoted exclusively
10 support OF the public schools The
revenue thus derived has, OF course. in
creased as taxable values have increased.
The tax valuation Of the State IS to-day
s2a0 O00. 900 more than in 1901 when the
constitution was adopted. The permanent
State common school fund has reached
"a cool million year and the pros
pect Is for still more
For the first time in the history OF our
state. our constitution allows the counties
10 tax themselves for public school pur-
poses. the limit being l mill per year
frv- q ~
erty. Forty-one Of the sixty-seven coun-
ties of the state have levied this tax
which brings about 100000 per yesr for
The schools in those counties in addition
TO what they derive from the State fund.
Teachers Paid Monthly.
Five years ago the teachers were paid
only at the end Of a quarter; they are
now paid monthly. Then we were sub
tected 20 the inconvenience and unneces-
sary expense OF an indiscriminate use Of
textbooks; now we have a uniform State
textbook law in successful operation.
In 1908. the township unit plan having
been outgrown. was abolished. and under
a law recommended by the then State
superintendent and enacted by the legis-
lature Of that year. the State was laid
of into districts. for which a compre-
hensive system of school government is
provided.
These schools. nine I'm number. are To-
Gated zone in each Congressional district
al Jackson. Clarke County: Evergreen,
Conecuh County; Abbeville. Henry Coun-
": Sylacauga. Talladega County: We
tumpka, Gilmore County: Hamilton.
Marion County; Albertville. Marshall
Blountsville. Blount County Each OF
them has a school farm where agriculture
is taught in practical way. They had
last year an aggregate teaching force Of
a and about i.900 students In the agri-
cultural school course.
New SchOOIhOuse Every Day.
An appropriation of $1,000 a year for
each county, $1,000 year in all, is used
TO aid rural school districts in the erec-
ton or repair Of schooIhOuses. The in
habitants Of the district furnish al least
an equal amount with the State. The
law contains safeguards which exclude
any but substantial and UP 10 date build
ings. including the essentials Of light
heat, and ventilation.
To this benefaction Of the State. the
people have no5ly responded. For more
than year after the law became effec-
tive. they builded an average OF one new
schoolhouse per day. The good work
continues: and these houses are public
schoolhouses. not mere "shacks'' in which
school is taught They were built and
are being built on plans embodyinE neat
mess, compactness. and comfort.
A law approved about one year ago
provides for the location and maintenance
OF one high school in each county. The
town favored with the location Is re-
quired TO provide lands and buildings
not less than 5000 in value. As an
index to the interest which the people
are taking in means for educating their
children. ii may be stated that there
have already august. 1909 been located
high schools in thirty-one counties. and
lands and buildings conveyed or secured
20 the State for these schools aEHreRsr-
ing in value S475.oOO.
The State treasury furnishes e 00o ner
year 70 each school for maintenance
4 provision which. in most instances. has
oeen hborally supplemented by the COM
munities interested. Many OF these high
schools commence operations October
next. Children in Alabama will not
1ereafter have TO 90 out OF their home
counties for free high school training.
W. c. SWANSON.
OF State Department 81 Education.
Changing Conditions In Bermuda.
The quality OF the competing offerings