The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-03-25

work and efforts of all the teachers and | superintendents of the state in it's pub l lie and private schools, together with l the co-operation of the patrons of all the schools and that of almost every other citizen in the commonwealth It is my | good fortune to have the honor to preside l lust at this important springtide Of It's existence. I appreciate the honor and 1 trust I may discharge the duties prop erly.
 SuggestiQps for Improvement .Some suggestions have been made for l improving the association and the work l thereof which I wish to consider. These I suggestions have been made by most able and well mentioned members of the as- I sociation, and made in the best Of spirit, and yet speaking from close range or | observat ton I cannot indorse them First a change in the method or se- | lectine the officers has been proposed by creating a nominating committee con sisting of one from each county, to be selected by the members or delegates from the respective counties This arrange ment would call for complement of 6l
 committee rooms and the multitudinous announcements incident thereto. Besides 1 if is not free from the possibility of semi l political log rolling If such were possible
 among teachers.
 q was so fortunate. as I look upon it,
 as to be born a democrat. l have always
 been a democrat and shall always remain one I refer not especially to party af- 1 fliations but to the cast of mind which
 believes in submitting governmental prop
 ositions directly to those who must abide by their settlement, at least when such I constituency is made up of educated and intelligent citizenship, such IS is found
 in our own association
 | 'J say therefore, let the association continue to elect it's officials from the floor. where no one member has more vot- ing power or influence than another.
 "Another change l cannot conscientious l Iv indorse is the proposition to secure permanent home for the association. Aia- ma is a great state with at least three great cities and with others glo"tns lidlv. A large percentage Of the teachers | who can attend is necessarily from the county in which the meeting is held ana from adjoining counties. It IS only iai, that different sections Of the state shouiu at different times receive the benents ol the bodily presence of the associa,lon. II has been the history of nearly all assoeia.
 ,ions nermanently located, except in small
 st.tes that eventually interest decreases land numbers fail for obvious reasons not necessarily here to enumerate.
 ..uowever. the establishment of a nome
 office and the employment or saiarieo
 secretary to do the combined ciericai "o.N tf
 sxecutive committee is coming neces' | civ According to present arrangemen'
 1bese officers answer thousands Of ln'
 u,iries send out ten Of thousands or iet' ters and circulars thread all the lhtri'
 eacies of programme building ana ed'' and mail the proceedings now pooh o'
 several hundred pages.
 Advance Enrolment
 eve may learn something from the ex
 nerience of other ASSOCIATIONS eaiilor'
 nia colorado and many other states have
 sacretaries. It should also be borne 1T noi,,d that ours Is not an association fol .,,iio school teachers only, but for al
 schools and all people and embracing ev r ar,. nhase of educational work, and TUT , tbern,ore that it is not simply teachers
 association but an educational associa t;nr .eekffIg the advice and active as sistance and participation of all friends O } "yyhen considering the subjects prope f dtscussiou in this address those O
 manifest importance arose before me II src, manifold numbers that l conciuoes ! to discuss only few, as anything hks l f,,l discussion of all would prolonE fh t aa nor -beyond propriety of time and place } p.!I therefore, pass reluctantly such liv' r ,a important topics as school improve t ment. normal training. psychological eau . cation. pragmatism, scientific equipment secondary education. co-eoucatioh' as'l : culture school music. school room hy l ssene teachers reading circle, and tn Kindergarten. .. . "T even omit the seemingly more i'm 7 ,,oyta mt subjects of vocational education t ,,,edical inspection. school libraries, con 8 solidation Of schools and transportatio ? of pupils have thought 1t best to men y lion hut few at some length. The frs
 of these is
 Teacbers' Salaries
 z "Notwithstanding the importance o : pd fte anounf nf urnrk donl