The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-02

nal schools. and the bill providing for local taxation.
 Superintendent Feag:n was absent the greater part of last week in attendance upon the annual meeting of the depart
 nent of superintendents of the National Educational association, which was held at Cincinnati.
 His interview follows:
 Whatever we may think about the bills enacted during the recent session of the legislature, we must admit that those on education, as a rule, will have an im- pertant effect on the improvement of the conditions throughout the state. Five measures of importance have already be- come laws. One allowing women to serve on county and city and town boards of education will make it possible for these stanch friends of schools throughout the ste tc, as evidenced by their work in school improvement associations and otherwise. to directly assist in the government an5 control of the schools. a practice which experience in other states has shown to be conducive to healthy activity.
 Another fixes the minimum age limit of teachers in the public schools at r years, thereby relieving the schools of a few immature teachers who through the influence of friends have heretofore been given positions. This bill does not pre- vent the certification of persons under thiE age, but does prohibit any board of euucation from entering into contract YtL such persons
 Another popular measure Is the one which authorizes the state board of ex- aminers to issue first grade certificates to the graduates of the class A normal schools in Alabama and of. other institu- tions of higher learning in this and other ctt t,rla.. ,I.tn tx..l an cunt of professional study, to holders of certificates in other states for the ulexpired terms of such certificates. and the further authority to extend the terms of first, second and third grade certifi- cates of such teachers as have pursued a. prescribed course of professional study for six weeks during the year next pre- ceding the one for which the extension of certificate is sought.
 By far the most important educational bill before the legislature, and the one fer which the friends of the schools in the state have been striving for a quar- ter of a century, is the one which au- thorizes the submission of an amendment n the constitution to the voters of the state. This amendment, if voted favor ably, will make it possible for any county by a majority vote to adopt a tax for educational purposes, to the amount of three mills and when the county has voted as much as three-mill tax, any SC hool district in the county, approved by the county board of education, includ- ing incorporated cities and towns, will also be permitted to levy a district tax not to exceed three mills. There is every reason to believe that this, amendment will be voted favorably by the people of the state, thereby considerably increas- ing the school term and the educational opportunities of our children. If in addi- ton to the above measure, provision shall be made for using a reasonable portion of the additional funds so derived for incidental and other necessary expenses, it will be possible to do away altogether with the collection of incidental fees and supplements which cause so much trouble throughout the state, and at the same time provide schools that are really free, comfortably housed, and satisfactorily eauipped.'