The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-16

of graded schools among the whites and forty-three per cent among the negroes This evidence of classifying. grading and systematizing of the work on the part or the teachers is a striking example or their increased efficiency.
 "A gratifying fact is found in an in- crease of fifteen per cent over the year previous in first and life grade certifi- cates and twenty per cent increase in the holders of seeond-grade certificates. The negro teachers appear to be improving along similar lines. The average length of the term of public schools for white children during the year covered by this report, 190S-09, was 12S days, as compared with 123 days for the previous year. The average length of the term of the public schools for negroes was 9S days, as com pared with 95 days for the previous year.
 "It occurs to me that have given suf- ficient proof to show that since 1898 there has been a gradual development all along the line in our system of public schools. The teachers of the states the people of the state, in fact everybody is enthu- siastic on this great subject of the edu- cation of our boys and girls. and no one would dare to get in the way of this onward march of progress.
 Some one has said that the entire school system of Alabama is in ordinary politics. I challenge this statement. Those forces, as a rule, who have been behind the splendid progress in providing better advantages for the boys and girls or Alabama are not composed of politicians, but this army consists of the thousands of enthusiastic, earnest. intelligent men and women of the. state leading a band of consecrated, valiant. fearless, uncon- querable teachers, fighting only for the welfare of home and their native land.
 Just word in conclusion. It has been said by some historians that if the Confederate generals had followed Mc- Dowell at the first battle of Manassas to Washington, as it seems they easily could have done. history would now tell a different tale. While the educational forces, in my opinion, have in the last decade accomplished wonderful, even marvellous, results, while the people of the state have in marked degree begun to realize that their greatest asset lies in their boys and girls, and that they must be educated let us all remember from the school teacher to the farmer, the merchant, the professional man ana the manufacturer. that what has been done must be followed up. We have the enemy on the run, let's take his citadel. There are weaknesses in our line or pat tle let us strengthen them. Urged on and stirred forward by the inspiration that we are doing our duty, let us not lie down on our arms, let us be convinced that though we have won victory, though we have made progress, the weak places must be strengthened, the army must be recruited, the ammunition sup ply must be replenished, and ' 1nal charge made.
 After more than 20 years work in the public schools of the state, looking back ward and looking forward. I believe with others that the three most important items for us to consider are as follows:
 "First-Local taxation by districts Tor the benefit of the schools. The rural district must have the same right that the city has indirectly
 Second-A plan of some kind which will give to the rural child and to the rural teacher that same expert supervision which the city child enjoys. Is there any reason why 19 per cent of the children of the state should enjoy the advantages of expert supervision while more than Sl per cent who live In the country do not have 1t?
 "Third-Let us not hesitate. It must come. It must come through the infiu- ence of the teachers of the state. sur rounded as they will be by the intelli- gent. progressive earnest tax payers We must force that father who IS SD negligent of God given duty as not to send his child to school to send him.
 Let's rally around the old flag or progress. form new line Of battle with these things to conquer. buckle on the armour and begin the fight anew. vic tory is sure. Triumph will be ours.