The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-19
INDICTMENT Of
SOUTH'S EDUCATION
GROWS APPALLING
VIM. H. Skaggs, Former Talla-
dega Man, Presents Some
Gruesome Facts
SEES DARK AHEAD FOR
OUR WHITE CHILREN
Says Educational Conditions Among
Southern White People Are the
Most Dcplorable in the
Civilized World


nent citizen of Alabama. but now of
Chicago, has written to The Age-Herald
an appalling Indictment of the south's
educational conditions That 1t may be
known that there is no sectional preju-
dice in what Mr.. Skaggs writes, 1t should
be stated that he was born and reared
in Talladega and was three times mayor
of that city before taking up his resi-
dence in Chicago. He writes as follows:
To the Editor of the Age-Herald:
From an editorial in the Age-Herald
of several weeks ago, I take the follow
ing: About one-third of the children
of school age in this state go to school
and two thirds do not" This
puts Alabama on the Russian basis An
editorial in a subsequent issue says, 1t
is safe to say that one-half of the 7oO,-
000 of the children of today are not sent
to school and are, therefore, growing up
without a public school education. 1t Is
also safe to say that the school accom-
modations of this state are not ample
enough to care for one-ha1f of the states
children.
The antithesis of your views Is ex-
pressed in the leading editorial of The
Birmingham News of the 10Th inst. The
News takes the following from The
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle:
1.-The south has all the advantages of
climate, SOIL nearness to markets and
wide range of products. Its backward
ness in educational facilities, coupled with
its race antipathies, its inherited preju-
dices and it's political loyalty to past
era, more than offset its natural adyan-
tages.''
Commenting on the statement of the
Rochester paper, The News says:
1.-THE first II words of this extract are
true. The remainder is poppycock, being
a mere emulation of the general ignor-
ance. The same may be said
of the references to the educational facil-
tiles of Alabama. The people of this
state are not only providing for the edu-
cation of their children and the chill
dren of thos far-sighted individuals who
come here from other quarters, but they
stand ready to join In any movement
that may result in enlightening the dear,
deluded citizens of the north
Whether The News is grossly ignorant
or speaks facetiously, 1t is difficult to
determine. The charitable view is that
the editorial in The News was conceived
under abnormal conditions and should be
treated as a peculiar, but none the less
dangerous, style of yelled humor. The
Rochester paper, however, has one ad-
vantage of The News. It's editorial con-
tains seventeen words that are true
while the article in The News, as I shall
show. does not contain one word that
is true. In short, the editorials in late
issues of The Age-Herald, from which l
have quoted, tell. in a few plain words,
the story of the distressing lack of edu-
cational facilities In this state.
1 shall submit, In detail, actual facts
gathered from the highest authorities.
My only purpose is to contribute to an
agitation for better educational facilities
in the south. am not citizen of this
state, but / was born and brought up
in Alabama, and resided here until
few years ago. During many years
have given a great deal of thought and
attention to economic, social and civic
conditions in the south and I ought to
KNOW q lew ldSto toutuihB thCSC QucS-
tons. My continuing interest in the peo-
pie and institutions of my native state
is sufficient excuse, if any be needed. for
taking part in this discussion.
A very interesting paper was read be-
fore the Twelfth Conference for Edu-
cation in the South by Professor Coon
of North Carolina. Speaking of the II
southern states, Professor Coon said:
1.-THE latest reports of the several de-
partments of education indicate that
these eleven states are now spending
about $32, o6s 1851 for elementary and Sec
ondary education. This sum represents
every item of expense, and is just slight
" more than Pennsylvania spends an
nually for the same purpose. This sum is
s21 COO, 900 less than New York stete spent
for public education in 1907, and not quite
twice as much as Massachusetts, spent In
1906. The wealth Of these eleven south
ern states is approximately $D. 1000, 100000,
while New York has property worth s15-
900 ,00O, 900, Massachusetts, $1,000. 000C COO. and
Pennsylvania 81, SOC, 900, o00." With aggre-
gate taxable values nearly three times as
much as the state Of Pennsylvania. the
eleven southern states spend annually
for educational purposes 'Just slightly
nm DACE I'M