The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-09
RURAL STUDENTS
MAKE POOR SHOW
Harris Would Have Govern
ernment Lend Aid
IMPORTANT PROBLEM
Meetings of Active Members by
States Held-Will Consider Criti- :,
30
cisms of Shepard's Re- o .ou'
Mrs. Young Ind6

Chicago, July S.-Reports submitted
today to the National Educations associ-
alton which opened its fifteenth annual
convention here said that of the 2o,-
100000 public school pupils In the Unit
ed states, $4,000, 1000 were being edu-
Gated in rural schools and that only
one-third of the country boys and girls
were making satisfactory showing
Thomas H. Harris. state superintend-
ent of schools of Louisiana, declared
that the condition of the rural schools
was becoming so deplorable 1t was
time for the federal government to
provide both money and methods to
remedy the situation.
Advocates Government Aid
"The fear of federal interference with
state control of schools should be put
aside in the interest of the rising gen.
eration,' said Mr.. Harris National su-
pervision of country schools is an alb
solute necessity. Our country needs
better educated rural citizenship"
Mr. Harris left 1t to the convention
to decide what steps should be taken
to induce the federal government to
lend assistance. It is likely the rural
school problem will be one of the most
important to come before the conven-
ton A special committee appointed to
investigate the subject will urge APP
pointment of field workers to travel
over the country in the interest OF
country schools.
Other speakers at the opening ses.
sion were Jacques w. Redway, Mount
Vernon, N. Y, who traced the history
of the organization; Thomas w. Bick-
IL ID To.
wood, superintendent of schools, Kan
sas City, Mo-; Ellen c. Sabin, president
of Milwauk eel -Downer college, Milwau-
kee, and Carroll G. Pearse, president
of the association.
Despite the intense heat the auditor
ium was filled when the convention was
called to order hundreds of educators
being unable to gain admission.
Select Officers Tomorrow
Meetings of active members by states
were held today to select members of
the nomination committee, which Is 10
report to a full meeting of the active
members on Wednesday when officers
are to be selected.
The active members at that time prob
ably also will be asked to consider crit
icisms made at the directors meeting to-
day concerning the reports of Secretary
Irwin Shepard. Charges were presented
In President Pearse's annual report that
Mr. Shepard's records were not being
kept according to the bylaws.
Mr.. Shepard declared he was attempt
ing to rid the association of fake" mem
bers and prevent "stuffing'' of the rolls.
which, he said, was done at the Boston
convention two years ago when Mrs. Ella
Flagg Young of Chicago was elected presi-
dent
Mrs Young told the directors she had
been treated like a 16-year-old school
girl" and if the association adopted Mr..
Shepard's report every school teacher In
Chicago was justified in suing the as
sociation for slander."
Progressives Win
Supporters of the progressive" move
ment in the association won the first
fight at the opening of the associations
fifteenth annual convention today
The board of directors. representing
schools In every state in the country,
voted to change from summer to winter
the time for the annual meetings of the
National Council of Education.
More than 10000 educators had been en-
rolled when Carroll @. Pearse of Milwau-
kee called the conrention to order.
Earlier in the day, in his report to
the directors of the association fresi-
dent Pearse declared the policy of dis
couraging active memberships in the as
sociation was wrong.
The report was regarded as an attack
on Secretary irwin Shepard
within the past two years marked
change has been observed In the attitude
of the officers of the association to-
ward the addition of names to the active
membership list" said Mr.. Pearse. 1T
is reported on excellent authority that
persons offering to become active mem
bers have been discouraged; the solemn
nature of the act has been presented 10
them in strong terms; that practically
all the important privileges of member
ship could be enjoyed by associate mem
bers.
There should be a restoration of the
spirit of cooperation on the part of all
officers with those who desire to enroll as
active members.