The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-15

of the other branches of the public
school system, but which does not
reach the full measure of its worth
except within the walls of the Alabama
Girls Technical institute.
The Alabama Girls Technical insti-
ute is strictly school of and for the
people of Alabama. 1t is a part of the
state public school system and is
maintained by money from the state
treasury Next to the University of
Alabama at Tuscaloosa, 1t is probably
the most important single Institution.
that goes to make up Alabamas grow
ing and improving public school sys-
tenn.
Governor O'Nears Words
In a recent commencement address,
Governor O'Neal among other state
ments made the following observations
on schools in Alabama and the south:
1.-THE state of Alabama today pays
more from her state treasury for the
support of elementary and high schools
than any other state in the union. 1t
has been estimated that we expend over
20 per cent, whereas tho states that
have made most advancement and pro-
gress in elementary education con-
tribute not over or 10 per cent for
this purpose. Yet, while leading all
the states in the union in the amount
of state appropriations for the common
schools, the percentage of revenue de-
rived from local taxation Is less in Ala
bama than any of the states of tho
union with the exception of Louisiana
and Mississippi. The necessary result
of this policy is that appropriations
now made for the maintenance of our
elementary and high schools constitute
such a severe drain upon our state
treasury as to make it impossible to
provide adequate equipment for our
normal schools and higher institutions
of learning. 1t is only In those states
where local taxation is relied upon
as the chief source of revenue for ele-
mentary and high schools do we find
the highest educational development
and progress. The remedy then is to
amend the constitution so as to au-
thorize local taxation for the support
of our elementary schools and relieve
the state treasury of the enormous drain
upon it's resources. which our present
system entails.
Cannot Contribute Locally
"The people of Alabama, under the
system which now exists. are denied
the privilege of contributing locally to
the support of elementary schools Such
a system tends to prevent local ef-
fort and lessen local interest and is
contrary to the principles of local self
s,t,
are based. Local taxation will give more
adequate equipment, better schools and
better teachers, will stimulate local
pride, will create that feeling of self
reliance, independence and cooperation
that constant and vlgilant interest.
without which the highest educational
development of the state is impossible.
1T will secure larger attendance in
our elementary schools and enable ev-
cry man to give his children the ad-
vantage of a high school education
at home, without the expense of send
ing them away to a boarding school, or
denying them the influence of home
life and environment. The present in
hibitio of our constitution against local
district taxes for schools decreases ef-
sible for a community by its own eff
fort to raise it's school above the min
imum requirements. 1t has been truly
said that every elementary school to
be successful must spring from the
life of the community which it serves.
Remove the constitutional barrier that
now checks the progress of our ele-
mentary and high schools and the
growing interest in the cause of edu-
cation will increase in intensity until
Alabama takes her proper rank along
side the most advanced states of the
union. With the proper system of local
taxation, the 5000 or $500 which the
state now voluntarily appropriates. i'll
by the constitution, could be used to
advance the interests of our higher
institutions of learning.
I'VE can make no proper progress
in Alabama until our entire educa-
tional system is reorganized, both in
the interest of efficiency and economy.
All of our educational institutions
should. as far as possible, be brought
together into one educational system
and organized so as to prevent dupli-
cation of effort, of plant and of energy.
We should divorce our common schools
and higher institutions of learning from
the baneful influence of politics, and by
securing legislation to make the ap-
preparations for our higher institu-
tions uniform and permanent, we could
prevent the lobbying, log rolling and
political activity which, under the pres
ent system, is now required of every
official of every higher institution of
learning In the state. We can make no
real or lasting educational progress
and development in Alabama until we
recognize the fundamental fact con-
clusively shown by the experience of
those states where elementary educa