The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-17

l intensive application of modern methods and for greater results, adequate super vision. for which good roads are indls- pcnsable, compulsory attendance, 8 trained teaching force, and lastly, but fundamental and coming before all tht rest to supplement- support by county and state taxation"
 Compulsory Education
 Under all circumstances there are some persons who will see that their chil, dren receive an education. Abolish tht entire public school system and there would spring up private schools, main tained by such persons. But unfortunate | iy .Alabama's illiteraey proclaims the fact that there are comparatively few persons of this type in this state. I believe that Alabama is now considered to be in the last place.
 Citing the fact that practically every negro in the state Is availing himself oi tbe advantages offered under the public school system, MT. Murphey fears that the balance of enlightenment will soon shift to the inferior race; and in referring to parents who live by the labor Of their children, rather than send them to school the distinguished educator said Able bodied, strong men are treating their chill dIen as cattle, as slaves. to struggle and toi and maintain them in idleness. Such parents are beasts, brutes monsters; yea, even worse than brutes, for not even they will feed on the bodies of their young. as does the man who lives off the s,unting, soul-starving toll of innocent. helpless children, who are gradually de- vuured, body and soul to gratify these vampires of inhuman selfshness. It is fer such as these. I say. that we need a system of compulsory education"
 Local Taxation Needed
 NO efficient system of schools can be maintained, however, on the present school fund. There is available now from the state s2.56 per annum for period of 14 years, or for the complete educational training of a child in the schools, s35.S4. Think of it. But, contrasted to what it was ten years ago, this seems munifi- cent, for it was then only s910 for the complete school training of each child. We have total appropriation of about so5 per capita for the education of each cliild in Alabama, not enough to furnish tke cigars of moderate smoker for one year.
 Alabama's Constitution Raped
 "Alabama's constitution Is far better constitution than the one it displaced. It gives the public schools more money than did the old one It further permits each county to add a mite to the mite that the constitution makes 1t necessary for the state to contribute. It saIe- guards by honest methods the political control of the state by the white peo- ple, in so long as the negro remains ignorant, and in other ways 1t Is superior to the old. But our constitution is solemn compact entered into by the peo- ple of the state to maintain our Hitter acy It is an absolute guarantee that Alabama boys and girls shall have the most meagre educational opportunities, and that they shall grow to manhood and womanhood without the opportunity Co develop their God-given powers Of mind and soul, entering upon the duties of life with little or no preparation to meet the stern and bitter competition which they must face in the world to- day.
 AS the years go by this struggle for
  The competency of today will in few years hardly enable one to live. It Is becoming harder year by year, and this means that the training must be broader and more adequate to the needs of the future, which it can never be in Ala ,,ama under the present constitution, which is a milstone about the neck of the state that must eventually sink her into the sea of ignorance. It must be amended to provide for school support
 ''Jnder existing conditions the people expect to be given an education, rather than provide one for themselves. At present CT per cent of the school funds come from the state, and the total ap- propration is only 20 cents on every Sl0O of taxable property, the lowest in the land
 "On the other hand there are counties that can maintain schools for not more than from four to seven months, paying their teachers from s30 to s60 per month. To increase the available fund in these counties s1 per pupil per annum, $2 per pupil would have to be raised, sl remain ing at home and s1 going to the county having the unexpended balance. To make 1t concrete, to increase the fund in Cal houn county by s10,0o0, we would have to raise under the present plan, roughly speaking, s15,0o0, counties that probably need no assistance getting s5010. To in- crease the educational fund of the coun- | ty by doubling the assessment would mean that for every dollar raised only about 66 cents would remain at home. Should Anniston need slo,0O0 the city would have to pay s3o.0oO in stato taxes tc get it. Under local taxation only the | amount needed would have to be raised.