The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-06
RURAL LIFE MUST
SATISFY LONGING
OF HUMAN SOULS
WILLIAM f. FEAGIN
State Superintendent of Ed
ucatiOn Delivers Address
at Montgomery
READS SOME FIGURES
THAT ARE STARTLING
School Will Be Negligible Factor So
Long as Alabama Depends More
Upon State Taxes Than
Any Other State

Montgomery, January 5-(Special)
Community organization as Alabama $
fundamental need was the keynote of a
mastery address delivered here today by
Superintendent of Education William r.
Feagin before the numerous county SUI
perintendents of education. who convened
at the capitol this morning for a two
days session.
The whole subject of Superintendent
Feagin's address dealt with the Develop
ment and enlargement of country life. In
bringing about this organization, the SUI
perintendent of education called attention
to the need of unity and cooperation
among all classes.
''It must be so enlarged in outlook
he said "and so attractive in potentiality
as to satisfy the deepest longings of the
human sou-it must be laboratory, work
shop, storehouse, experiment station, club
room and assembly hall for every healthy
activity and every worthy endeavor'
Reads Startling Figures
Superintendent Feagin read some start
ling figures from recent census reports
of the government-figures which showed
that during the past decade the popula-
ton of cereals has increased only IL per
cent. During the decade production of
corn in the United States decreased 43
per cent, in Alabama 124 per cent. The
production of wheat in the United States
Increased 3.S per cent, and in Alabama
decreased 50 per cent. The value of farm
lands in the United States increased lis
per cent and in Alabama 116 per cent.
tion of cereals has increased 3S per cent,
and in Alabama decreased 50 per cent
The value of farm lands in the United
States increased lis per cent and in Ala
bama 116 per cent.
Superintendent Feagin took these fig
ures as indicating the paramount need
for community organization, and declared
that the only agency that can meet these
requirements is the school-a country
school,"
Can Meet Rural Need
ut is the only permanent democratic
organization that can do the work at ALL"
he said. THAT it is weak is all too true
but it can be made strong enough and
resourceful enough to meet the challenge
of rural need
The superintendent of education de-
clared that present conditions will con-
tinue so long as. Alabama depends more
on state taxes than does any other state
In the union, so long as good rural schools
and competent teachers are not pro-
vided.
Education was represented by Superin-
tendent Feagn as being the chief fac
tor in enlarging and improving the econ
omic conditions which confront the rural
communities today. 1T must tend to keep
sturdy class of people on our farms
rather than lure them away to the cities
and towns" he said
Superintendent Feagin produced chart
of a systematic arrangement of an or
eanized community. This chart. repre-
sented four clubs revolving about the
common community interests. the school
and church. The farmers club, the wom-
ems club, the boys club and the girls
club. according to the superintendent
should revolve about the two common
interests.
Community Organizations Purpose
The purpose of community organization
declared Superintendent Feagin, is to in
crease production through various meth
DDS of cultivation and diversified farm
Ing; to Increase income through Coop
erative methods and to enlarge life hy