The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-18

ucational conditions meant years of
 toll when the hands will long for rest,
 and rest must be denied, and hours when the brains will cry out for sleep. when it
 still must plan and work. Many of us
 could hardly do 1t for just the cause of
 education; but because we have children
 of our own we can take 1t up eagerly, anN@ously, for the hungry cry of their | little brains must stir an uneasy thought
 of those thousands of other Alabama
 children whose minds are starving with
 in easy reach of food. The mother was the first protector that nature gave to
 the child, and when we women of Ala bama demand for the children of the
 state their birthright so long withheld,
 VIC will find that now, as never before, the voice of motherhood is answered" Here followed specific suggestions lengthening the school term, which would of course call for more expense, but
 ould double and redouble the profits, as the outlay is apt to do in any business; local taxation, which would go a long way toward developing in the schools a training that really meets the needs Of all classes; introducing special classes for special needs, and removing such pug zing inconsruities Latin in an agri- cultural school and china painting in a normal.
 .sThe first thing we should do,' con- tinued Mrs. Reed lis to stop deceiving ourselves. When reminded of the fact that among all the states Alabama IS third from the bottom in illiteracy, we have answered that it is due to our ne- gro population. Few are not startltd at the discovery that one white man in every seven in Alabama is unable to read or write. No state ever progresses far beyond the average of its citizenship, yet Alabama has dared to allow this propor- ton to remain practically unchanged for years. No adult population goes much beyond the education 1t received in child hood, and unless Alabama bestirs her self she will produce another generation of these illlterates. When we realize that there were last year S7,oo0 white school children who did not enroll in any school for single day, when we note the additional average absence of ll,ao among those enrolled, we cannot be nope ful of decreasing illiteracy unless we reg ulate our schooling. More than 49 states have some form of compulsory education law. The only serious argument against it in Alabama is the presence of the ne- gro but six other southern states nave found some way to make the adjustment, and surely we can do as well.
 "When we look closely at our manage ment of school funds we cannot quite forgive ourselves for our appalling lack or business method. No business man would erect a s6000,00o building and keep 1t open only 127 days in the year. Yet that Is the value of the Alabama schools and that the length of her average school term. Still less would he hf willing to pay SS.000.000 running expenses for these 127 days and have 1t actually occupied by tenants for only 80. Yet that is the cost of running, our public schools. and that the average attendance Of the chil- dren enrolled. For the d7 days which they throw away the state wastes prac- tically Si,O0o,000.
 Tn taking up the vexed question of our college standards l am indeed on danger ous ground unless you will return earn estness for oarnestness and fairness Tor fairness There is no other love in the orld quite like that which makes our heartstrings jingle at the mere mention of our Alma Mater. Whatever her stand ard be adjudged by the world, we feel that she has given HIS the best that sho had, Verify we should not give back to her less than the best of our love. But to be blind to her faults is not love; to de- fend them is siabi:ing her possibilities, 10 cover up her weaknesses is but adding to theu and to persuade ourselves that she Is something she is not will react upon her like Il drug Tbree years ago there was in Alabama only one college Tor women requiring as much as seven units for entrance, trough the lowest of the standard colleges require IA. Another re- aulred just shade over four, and third frankly admitted two years of it's