The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-22
County School Child Re-
ceives More Public Money
Than City Student
REPEAL OF THE LAW
is RECOMMENDED
President Parker in His Report Urges
Bond Issue of 81 500, 900 for Build
ing ard Equipping New
School Buildings

Emphasis of the fact that the county
school child is receiving much more pub
lie money for his education than the city
school child. while on the other hand the
city schools, under the law, are COM
PEELED to carry the burden of many nom
resident pupils who live outside the city,
but inside the county, is the main feature
of the annual report of the Birmingham
public schools. The report was made
public yesterday by DR. j. II. Phillips
superintendent of education.
The report of President John l.. Parker
of the board of education requests the
city commission for school bond issue
of S1,5O0,000. The same request was made
last year
Steady Increase Shown
The child of the county receives 81 96
per year more per capita than the city
child. And the alarming feature of this
phase of DR.. Phillips report is that the
percentage OF difference in favor of the
county school child has been steadily
increasing in the last three years. in 1911
it being only G1 cents per capita
The methods of apportonment employed
in giving out the state and county funds
to the public schools of the city and
county have been responsible in the past
three years for a clear loss to the schools
of Birmingham of $56S60, according to DR..
Phillips report.
In this regard Dr. Phillips makes no di-
rect recommendation, but in regard to
the state law by which nonresidents are
permitted to send their children to the
city schools free by reason Of their own
ership in a piece of real estate valued
at $500, DIR. Phillips recommends that it
be repealed at the earliest possible mo-
ment.
According to the report there We're 49,
$50 school children in Birmingham in 1912,
% 1888 white and 81 ,S26 negroes,
OF this number there We're 25.S20 regis
tered In the public schools as pupils. 1850
white and 1860 negroes.
OF this number the average membership
was 1886 pupils.
And of this number the average daily
attendance was 1876. 1856 white and 5i2o
negroes. The average daily attendance in
19il-12 was 1886.
Parker Wants Bond Issue
President Parker's report in part is az
follows:
"In my last annual report ! submitted
to your honorable body the recommended
tion of the board of education as to the
necessity of bond issue of $i.5o0,000 for
the purpose of erecting and equipping
new school buildings for the city. This
estimate was made over one year ago.
1.-The school population Is increasing at
the rate of 2O0O per year. TO continue
to provide for this annual increase. as
we have this summer. by an expenditure
of $4,000 year for temporary structures,
is an unsound and wasteful policy. Me-
cessity though it may be- for the present.
in view of the citys lack of revenues, the
calm business sense of community
will hesitate to indorse the continuation
of such "A policy,
ut Is urgent that something must be
done, and that Immediately, not only to
enable the city to pursue wise and eco
nomic method Of providing school build
ings and equipment for our increasing
population. but also to provide for the
increasing cost of maintenance. ON be-
half of the board of education, there
fore | cannot do otherwise than to re-
new the accommodation made last year.
AS early as your honorable body deems
question of bond issue for school pur-
it wise and practicable. we urge that the
poses be submitted to the people.
'.It Is to be hoped that the next ses
sion of the legislature will authorize
an amendment to the state constitu-
lion providing for local taxation for
education. Such tax for Birmin gham's
needs should be not less than five mills.
This wonld afford the immediate relief
needed and would enable the city to
take care of an increased indebted
ness for permanent school improve
ments. as well as for the increasing
cost of maintenance.
"To remedy many of the evils af-
constitution is imperative. Cities of the
class of Birmingham should be made
independent school districts. as is the
case in other states. 1t is unthinkable
that q city Of nearly 100000 population
should be reduced to the condition of
small country village. and be re-
quired to restrict its educational pro-
grnlnme to constitutional requirements
and legal enactments which shall meet
the needs of rural community"
DIR. Phillips Report
Dr. Phillips report in part is as fol-
lows:
"To the Honorable Board of Education:
'Gentlemen--I have the honor and
the privilege to submit for your con-
sideratitn n my annual report of the pub
lie schools of the city of Birmingham
for the scholastic year ending June 80.
1918.
"a review of the salient lines of pro-
gress and achievement during the year
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