The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-17
FIFTH D|WSIONIN
SUPREME COURT
Cases From Southeast Sec
ton of State Come Up in
Supreme Court

Montgomery, November 16.-(Special.) y
The call OF the Fifth judicial division
will be taken up next week by the SUI
preme court. That division comprises
the counties of Chambers, Coosa, Chill
ton, Gilmore, Lee, Macon, Talladega and
Russell. The second call of that division
during the present term of court will
be on April IL.
The sup. enc court was engaged this
week on the call OF the First division.
and adjourned over from last Thursday
until Monday, November II, when Fifth
division cases will be taken up
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to reflect this growing public senti-
ment. it is my opinion that such a law
viii be popular and greatly beneficial"
Average Attendance
The average length of termn of the
white schools In the state last year
showed an increase from 1877 days, for
the preceding year, TO 1872 days. which
made the term two days more than six
and one-half months The term for the
negro schools was also heightened, ac-
cording to superintendent willing
HAMS report.
Superintendent Willinghaifi believes
that the most apparent need In the
public schools of the state is local tax
alton. He believes 1t is folly to de-
pend wholly upon subscription or tut
tion fees for the maintenance of the
school system.
IF the money could be obtained in
that way" he declares in his report,
ut would be wholly unfair, because, in
the very nature of things, IL enough
money were raised in this way to sup
plem tho term TO desirable length
few individuals in each community
would have the supplement TO pay and
they would in a few instances repre-
sent those who We're most able to pay
lit If public education is a public duty
and one of the functions of state gov
eminent the only fair and equitable
means of raising a supplemental fund
for our public schools is through some
method of taxation. so that each dol
lar of property might be required to
bear Its full proportion of this nee
essary expense of public education"
Other Facts in Report
superintendent willingham's report
contains number of other Interesting
facts. Some OF them are these: The
number of public schools maintained
during the year just closed was 1895
for the white children, and 1897 for
the colored children, making an in
crease OF / per cent In each class OF
schools over the number existing dur
ing the preceding year.
The total OF salaries paid grade
teachers and supervisors of munich
palities last year was $1,1S2,469, as
compared with 1858, 459 for the previous
year. an increase of approximately one
third of a million dollars.
During the past year there was
marked progress made in the county
high schools the agricultural and the
normal schools The teachers ipsti-
tutes were more largely attended than
In 1911. and the county boards and
local trustees showed a more whole
some interest in the ec'-sational adj
vance of their respective communities.
In closing his report, Superintend
ent Willingham takes occasion to COM
ment on the efficiency of his office
| force, and pays "a fine compliment TO
w. Il. Feagin. his chief clerk
The public service of a superintend-
ent of education, he declares in con-
clusion," Is made valuable only by the
most cordial cooperation and efficient
qualifications of all those upon WHOM,
he must depend. 1t Is my good fortune
to be thus surrounded, and in addition
to have the benefit of the most gen.
erous sympathy and cordial co-opera-
tion of the public at large"