The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-22

the public schools of the city amounted to
only S1540.S1. Nearly all of this amount
was collected from nonresidents whose
parents live outside the state. The law
governing in this matter is section 1856,
article IS, of the general public school laws
of Alabama, and reads as follows;
Any parent or guardian residing with
in the state, who shall pay a local or
special tax on real estate valued at $500
or more, in any city or school district,
shall be entitled to the privileges and
benefits of the public schools in such city
or school district. 70 rtheir children. the
same as parents and guardians resident
therein. The provision of the charter of
any municipality or separate school dis
trict, in conflict herewith are expressly re-
pealed.'
''Under the provisions of this act 1t is
comparatively easy for any resident of
the county having children to educate to
send them to the city elementary schools,
even though the county may provide a
school in his own district. Inasmuch as
there is no county high school, it is con-
venient to send to one of the city high
schools. Transportation facilities are
good, and it is not difficult to acquire
property to the value of $500 within the
limits of greater Birmingham. Nonresi-
dent tuition rates in our city high schools
amount to s45 year, and if man has
several children to educate. it will pay
him to buy small piece of property
Law Is Evaded
"There are several instances reported
where lot has been purchased for
500 or $150, and promptly assessed at
the required $500, in order to comply
with the law comforting school privi-
leges upon non-residents. During the
year, about coo county pupils attended
IL iii.
Fairfield, North Ensley and other see
tions adjoining the city, such por-
tions of the Pratt and Gate City dis
tricts, We're provided with schools upon
the pledge of the county board to make
extra appropriations for the additional
teachers required These extra appro-
priations are supposed to be included
in the annual apportionment to the city.
This law is unjust and undemocratic
because ii bases school privileges upon
the taxpaying ability of the non-resi-
dent, rather than upon his actual resi-
dence. 1t discriminates against the poor
in favor of the rich. In many instances
district schools in the county have been
decimated by the Withdrawal OF the
better class of pupils to assert their
right to the city schools 1t is an in
justice to the city that is required to
provide the buildings. equipment, and
extra teachers for its already crowded
schools. This law as ii stands works an
injustice upon the district schools of
the county as we'll as upon those of the
city
- Submits Recommendations
81. l urgently recommend that the law
authorizing non-residents living within
the state to enjoy the benefits of the
public schools of any city or district
in which they may own property valued
at $500 be repealed, and that any city
or district contributing to the main
tenanee of it's own schools in addition
TO the state and county funds received
shall have the privilege of excluding
non-resldents when they cannot be ac-
commodated without discommodng res
ident pupils.
80. The constitutional provision for
the distribution of state and county
funds should be so modified as to au-
thorize cities and special school dis
tricts to receive their proportion of
these funds upon a per capital basis
direct from the state department In
other words, the cities of the frs: class
In the state should be made independ-
ent school districts, and should bear
the same relation to the state as the
county unit.
"3. An amendment to the state con-
stitution authorizing the cities and
school districts of the state to levy a
local tax for educational purposes The
present inhibition upon cities in the
matter of local taxation for schools is
indefensible. 1t prevents local Initia-
tive and bars the path of progress.
-. A state law requiring attendance
upon some school of all children be-
tween the ages of s and r. for the full
term of the public school, unless legal
ly excused, is very much needed. Even
if such law at first leaves the matter
of compulsory school attendance op-
tional with the cities and school dis
tricts of the state. 1t would prove an
important forward step.
"5. If the uniform state text book
law is to continue in force as at pres
ent, including the cities and special
school districts Of the state, I think
it but simple justice to modify this
law, so that cities furnishing free text
books for their schools shall have the
privilege of purchasing text books at
the prices sold by the publishers to Che
state dispensaries established by the
state textbook commission