The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-14

Almost all of the public schools OF
Alabama will begin the new term DUR
ing September. That means that nearly
everybody is now thinking of school,
for there are very few people who have
no connection with some school and
with some person who is either pupil
or teacher. 1t is an unfortunate fact
that the majority of people are ignorant
or unfamiliar with many phases of
teaching. This makes school work
more trying than 1t need be and often
makes results less satisfactory and sue
cess more difficult to obtain.
Lack of cooperation with tie school
ON the part of patrons and other citi
zens Is perhaps the greatest hinderance
TO school officials. Certainly it is the
thing which teachers most often meet
and most generally dread.
The formality and systematic ar
rangement of the public schools of a
city are, in themselves, protection to
the teachers; but in the small towns
and in the country there is much to fall
on his shoulders besides teaching. and
II it We're not for an unusual power of
endurance. or sometimes saving sense
OF humor, few would survive.
Cooperation and Loyalty
In the first place. the large majority
of narents seem not to understand that
their cooperation and loyalty are of
material importance to the school; and
they seem. too, to be remarkably in
different to certain rules and require
ments and qualifications which the
teacher must meet and concerning
Which he has no authority to dictate.
One of these is the matter of the courses
OF study and the text books. The law
requires that certain specified branches
be taught and that the state adopted
text books be used. but the teacher is
often confronted with the problem of
parent who frankly says that he
sees no use in his child's studying this
or that subject, and declines to buy
one or more OF the required text books
The teacher explains that it is Il matter
over which he has no jurisdiction, that
the state law requires him TO teacn
given subjects in given grades and to
use adopted books. The parent COM
plies with more or less grace, or he fatty
refuses 10 purchase the books, some
times adding that the teacher merely
wants to show his authority in enforce
ing a regulation of his own.
The teacher takes the matter sadly to
heart or else is experienced enough to-
let the matter drop, and does the best
he can to reconcile law and fact. An
other disturbing element is school fl
nances. The Alabama law allows. not
more than $1,000 to each county an
nually for the building of school houses.
There is no state appropriation for cur
rent expenses. Jefferson county pays
not more than s10o per school month
to each of the men principals of the
public schools, and, usually $50 per
school month to lady assistants. Lady
principals are usually paid between $50
to 500 per school month. 1t is not easy
to find competent man to take
the principalship of a school for sal
airy of 500 or $500 year; and in many
small towns or country villages the To-
cal board agrees to supplement their
salary. Now besides their supplement-
the school must have coal scuttles,
shovels brooms.- crayon, erasers, report
cards. an axe, hammer and nails. oil or
other floor preparation, stovepipe,
shades, blackboard, kindling, and large
supply of coal. These have to be. sup
piled and resupplied as they wear out.
while at least one order of stoves. desks
charts and maps must be bought. All
OF these are actual necessities and do
not include additional furnishings such