The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-11
EDUCATION BOARD
 IS ADVOCATED BY
 DR. SHACKLEFOR
Introduces Resolution Rec ommending This Step by Legislature at Morn
 ing Session

Iir. E. M. Shackleford president Of the I state normal college at Troy, at the morn
 ing session of the Alabama Educational
 association yesterday introduced a resolu-
 ton recommending that the next legis- ature establish an educational commis sion, which would have direct supervi- sion of all the educational institutions
 of the state, outlining their work and classifying them.
 | Dr. Shackelford in the preamble to the
 resolution pointed out that the multipli- 1 cation of schools in tho state has been
 such that they are really forced into an unseembly scramble for members, which necessarily lowers the standards of en- trance, and also decreases the efficiency
 of the work. Not only so," said Dr Snackleford, but the schools duplicate one anothers work and thereby waste
 a great deal of the state's money. which oue Int to be saved, which could be saved.
 if there was some power in the state
 authorized to define the line of work of
 the separate classes of schools and then confine them to their legitimate field of work. The commission should be cre- ated for the purpose of systematizing
 the work. By doing that a great deal
 of money could be saved, which could
 be used in strengthening the rest of the
 system"
 Dr. Shackleford said that he thought the commission should De composed of business men and educators.
 The resolution was referred to the com- niittee resolutions which met at o'clock yesterday afternoon at the Hotel Hillman. w. J. Willingham is chairman of the committee, which will make it's report to the teachers of the state to- day. There are severaf other resolutions to be considered and it Is believed that the committee will recommend the adop- tlon of resolutions placing the associa- ton on record as favor1ng the adoption or compulsory attendance and local tax ation laws
 At the session yesterday morning there
 was good attendance, the high school auditorium being filled to capacity. J. $. Thomas of the university was one of | the speakers on the programme talking on the subject, "Curriculum Adapted to Community Needs.'' He said that the teacher should ask the pupil what he wants to learn and If the student does not know, then the tutor should make
 suggestions. Have your physics and chemistry taught in the rural schools along lines of interest to farm life" said Professor Thomas, and have these same subjects taught in the city along lines that are of interest to city life
 'It is not the business of the sey- enth grade to train a student for the high school, nor is it the mission of the fifth grade to prepare a student for the sixth. It is not the purpose of a high school to prepare student for college, but to train him to be of the most use to the comm~saity. This is a rr-tx tI,A kI-
 We should cease trying to make shoe pegs out of people. and give to the boy that which will make him a useful cit izen; that which he Is pest adapted for and which he Is most interested in"
 Dr. Alice Cynthia King Hall of the University of Cincinnati was the next speaker Mrs. Hall talked on teaching composition and made what was char aoterized as one of the best addresses of the day. She stressed the importance of having the pupil write compositions that are intended for use in a way to be made known to the child rather than writing essays to be turned over to the teacher for examination, to have him write playlets, or a symposium for use in the school publication Form is not composition. ideals are necessary" she said. Ideals are necessary to compost tion but the giving of subject matters by the teacher is not composing. It is important that subjects of interest to the writer should be selected upon which to write compositions.
 pr. George W. Brock, president of the Livingston Normal school, was the next speaker, talking on the needed reforms in the public school system of the state.
 His address was very brief. He summed up the needs of the state under three
 general heads, as follows: Abolish the third grade license and raise the stand ards of the second grade; abolish the
 one-teacher schools, consolidate the schools; build good roads so that the pupil can get to the consolidated school; l require teachers to take training courses | and law.
 He said that the lack of foundation in the students reflect the inefficiency of the schools. He said that the reason for this lack of foundation was the one teacher school system
 | Dr. F. R. Dresslar of Nashville was on the programme to speak on School Sanitation He exhibited models of l school rooms, dissecting them from the roof to the basement and showed how best to keep the conditions of schools healthy. "The greatost disinfectant is
 sunshine" he said is good for the walls, the floors and for the hearts of | men. The trusts have not been able to l corner sunshine and 1t is free to all | alike.
 "The day has passed to build one-room schools. There should be a we'll lighted
 class room and workroom for each l schoolhouse.
 | Don't forget to treat your floor right ! ----~ ~-- mingham; songs by first grade chill