The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-25

teAO'hN 1oNNS~-f
private schools have gone down in num-
Der. Many new school houses have been
erected. The Eaehers received more
during the year, covered by $2S6, coo, than
for the previous six months. The work
of the normals has been good and the
advances at the university and Auburn
notable. The full report follows:
Hon. Braxton B. Conner. Governor, Mont
gomery, Ala:
Sir-I am submitting, in accordance
with the provisions of the law, report
of the work of the department of edu-
cation for the scholastic year ending
September 80, 1909.
A careful study of the figures con-
tained in this report presents some facts
highly gratifying.
It is observed that the enrolment of
white children shows an increase of
3-5 per cent; of colored children, "A per
cent; while the increased attendance
among the whites reaches S1a per cent;
the colored increased attendance being
2 per cent. The number of schools taught
during the year closed September 3d. 1909,
shows an increase among the whites of
311 per cent over the previous year and
about the same percentage of increase
among the colored. However, marked
improvement is shown when We observe
that the number of graded schools among
the whites evidences an increase of So
per cent and the colored graded schools
an increase over the previous year of 43
per cent. This evidence of classifying,
grading and systematizing the work on
the part of the teachers in all the pub
lie schools is shrinking example of their
increased efficiency.
The department of education has made
earnest effort toward organizing a better
system in the classification of the work
in rural schools, realizing that the lack
of system on the part of many rural
schools was a prime cause OF their in
efficiency. The establishment of county
high schools. assuming as they did a
large part of the work in secondary ed
ucation, assisted materially in bringing
about this grading OF rural schools
The teaching force in Alabama shows
an increase among white male teachers
of per cent and of white female teach
ers an increase of IA per cent The
number of negro teachers has been in
creased during the year per cent among
the males and per cent among the fe-
males.
1t may be observed that Alabama keeps
employed in this working force educat-
ing her white children more than 1000
men and about 1900 women. The negro
teachers number little more than 2lOO
about 400 of them being women.
Efficient Teaching.
The most gratifying feature of the re-
nor xxyfth ra4a - -
selves is the evidences of earnest effort
on their part to equip themselves for
more efficient service. 1t will be noticed
that the number of white teachers hold
ing first grade and life grade certificates
shows an increase over the previous year
of IS per cent. while the number of white
teachers holding second grade certifi-
Gates shows an increase over the pre-
vious year of 20 per cent, whereas the
number of white teachers holding third
grade certificates has been reduced per
cent from the previous year, the net in
crease in the sum total of white teach
ers being per cent over the previous
year The negro teachers in line man
ner appear to be improving along similar
lines. The number of negro teachers
holding first grade and life grade certifi-
Gates was increased II per cent over the
previous year. They showed an increase
aiming llc iluHlDtT VI S6cOflQ grade te1pn
ers of 30 per cent over the previous year.
and at the same time their number af
third grade teachers has been reduced
2 per cent.
The average length of the term of The
public schools for the whites during the
year covered by this report was 12S days
as compared with 1913 days of the previous
year. The average length of term of tho
public schools for the negroes was 80 days
as compared with So days for the previn IS
year.
The average salaries paid white teach
ers. 1t will be noted. was $6063 for the
men and sS5.65 for the women, these fig
ures being an increase over the previous
year from $50 .03 and $4385, respectively.
The average salaries paid colored teach
ers were $X .1S for the men and S24 for the
women. compared with SIS % for the mer
during the previous year and $23 81 for
the women
II is interesting to note that the in
creased efficiency of the public schools re-
duces each year the apparent necessity
for private schools. The number of pri-
vats schools for white children during the
year covered by this report was reduced
20 per cent. while the number of private
schools for negro children was reduced "a
per cent
Tuition and incidentals paid by the pa
irons Of the public schools during the year
show q decrease amounting to per cent
among the whites and Is per cent among
the colored indicating an increased de-
pendence upon the state on the part of the
public in proportion as the state increases
Its expenditures for the public schools
The report shows that the items of tut
ton and inoidentals paid by the patrons
OF the white schools amounted TO $256 O37
while the negroes paid s27.1H.
Value of Property.
Special attention is called TO the fac
that the value of the public schoolhouses
10 Alabama was increased during the yeal
by the amount Of N1s, 448 for the whits
schools, while the negro schoolhouse,
were incseased In value by the amount
Of M,s6 The valuations as now re-
ported Of the schoolhouses in which tn.
common public schools arc taught is g.,
1900 for the white schools. 3s75, 600 for tn,
negroes. Thus 1t will be seen that the
values Of the public schoolhouses fol-
white children increased during the yeal
5000 for each day not counting Sun
days, while the increased values Of tn,
negro schools went forward at rate o
one-third that amount During the yea,
10 sahoolhnuAas Tor the whitas war,