The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-28

most progressive of which are 'local taxa ton, Compulsory attendance" and laws providing better school supervision. ENDLESS CHAIN OF INFLUENCE
 Much of Superintendent Feagn's state ment in presenting his report to the gov ernor deals with what he regards as an
 endless chain of influences that have opened up new possibilities for Alabama" These influences, whose effect have been chiefly felt in the removal of anticipated machinery" were secured through ''the continuation of cumulative efforts that have gradually though slowly worked themselves out into a healthy public sentiment which has finally taken hold of our lawmakers and made them re- sponsive to those needs which our edu- cators have so long recognized as essen- tial to any great forward movement"
 In referring to the former educational laws, the superintendent of education said:
 "So antiquated have been some of our laws and so hidebound our constitution, that Alabama has been referred to very generally by those living without the state, as the most backward common wealth in the union. The tabulations of the Russell Sage foundation seem to have confirmed this unenviable characterize tion; but be that as it may, powerful though silent forces have done their work, and today the most powerful educa- tors in the nation are declaring that probably no general assembly at any one session ever passed more constructive legislation than was written upon the Alabama statute books in 1915"
 EDUCATIONAL LAWS
 In calling attention specifically to this Constructive legislation" Superintendent Feagin mentions 15 educational laws passed at the recent session of the legis- lature. The more important of these may be enumerated as follows:
 "To authorize women to serve on boards of education of counties, cities and towns.
 "To provide for the creation of commission for the removal of adult illiteracy.
 To authorize the state board of ex- aminers to issue first grade certificates to graduates of certain institutions of higher learning of this and other states
 ITO prohibit the employment of pub lie school teachers of less than IT years of age.
 ITO submit to the qualified electors of the state at the next general elec- tion an amendment to the constitution for the purpose of authorizing the counties of the state to levy and col lect a special school tax.
 ITO provide for the election of the county boards of education.
 ITO compell attendance at school of children within certain ages.
 ITO provide for the holding of teach ers' institutes in the state.
 Each of these laws is discussed in detail by Superintendent Feagin. And while none of the measures Is ideal, in his opinion, they all mark forward step in the educational progress of the state. 'fWhen we consider intelli- gently and in the spirit of fairness the machinery we had when the re- port Of year ago was written and the machinery that has now been pro- vided, we must admit that, potentially modern school code. which, if made effective through wide and timely &C., tion, will bring untold good" the su- perintendent declares
 COST OF SCHOOLS
 The annual expenditure of the depart ment of education for the year now closed was s4,467,412, an increase of approximately s21,000 over the ex- penditures of the preceding year. The counties, through local taxation. con- tributed in addition to the disburse- ments out of the state treasury, $639,- 397, representing an increase of about $40, 900 over the preceding year. The per capita for each child of school age for the coming year shows an increase of 3 cents over the year 1914-15, or $2.7S
 In discussing the enrolment in the schools for white children during the past year, Superintendent Feagin de- clares the number enrolled was 12,490; in colored schools, 144,071. These fig ures, however, represent a decrease over the enrolment of the preceding year of approximately 21a per cent for both white and colored children. This decrease brought the percentage of en- rollment of all white children of school age down to 72 per cent and the col ored children down to AZ per cent Ac- cording to Superintendent Feagin, one-