The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-08-26

ing the present year and will loyallS
meet the small payments for incidenta
expenses that are so required, it will no
be necessary for us to have seven.
months school and it may be possibl,
TO extend our school term to the full
period of nine months. To do the latter
however, other economies must be prac.
ticed and other relief must be obtained
The small sum charged for incidental ex-
pense. If paid, will meet about one-ha. Il
of our difficulties
much to our regret, 1t will be neces
sary to suspend our kindergarten system
for the present. The teachers, howeve.
who have executed contracts for this de-
partment will be cared for by assigning
them to fill vacancies caused by resig-
nations in other departments, and thus
the expense of the kindergarten will be
saved entirely for this year without in
justice to any of the people therein EN-
ployed The harm will be to the thou
sand or more children of tender years
who have received so much valuable in
struction in these schools. We hope and
expect that the suspension of the kinder
garten system will be only for the pres
ent year.
We find it also necessary to do away
with the furnishing of supplies which have
usually gone with our free text books.
And essentially needed improvements and
repairs must be indefinitely postponed
las some compensation, however. for
this, we have decided for the present
at least not to abolish the free textbook;
system in the first four grades. We have
reached this conclusion not merely be-
cause we believe free textbooks to be
highly desirable within itself, but because
we have on hand available for the pur-
pose about one-half of the textbooks
needed for the ensuing year. 1t would
seem a criminal waste to deny to the
children the use of the books which we
have and we know not how to discrim-
mate. We might make the basis of dis
elimination by requiring a paupers oath
or its equivalent from the pupils or their
parents or guardians in such cases as
might be true. but this is a distinction
which we would hesitate to draw. More
over, 1t would still leave upon our hands
large numbers of unused books and thus
cause an economic waste.
I'VE have been assured that we would
get some additional help, we do not know
how much, nor can it be now definitely
ascertained, from the county.
I'VE have no wish to complain of any
thing that has gone before; but with
the very best that we can do, with every
possible economy in sight, we are still
short of our goal.
1--WE do not wish, nor intend at this
time nor in this connection, to revive
differences.
I'VE do not doubt nor question the en-
tire good faith of either our county or
our city authorities, but 1t seems now
that our hope for enough additional rev.
enues to complete our school term and
to pass away from us this cup of humil-
iation would be from the county. We
are assured of their friendship and that
they will 40 the best they can.
I'VE will, therefore, not announce any
diminution in our school term, but we in
tend to hope and to pray and to conten5
for such relief as that our system vii,
not be irreparably damaged.
I'VE bespeak from the patrons OF our
public school system their earnest ard
patriotic support and help in this crisis.
We assure them that as soon as proper
financial relief can be obtained, either
from an equalization of tax values, or
from an increase in the tax rate. or from
both, that we will discard this system
of a charge for incidental expense, that
We will restore the kindergarten, and tina.
we will do everything in our power to
keep our system abreast with the best
in the country Until then we can only
ask the Indulgence of our people, theft
sympathy and their support.
The schools will, therefore. be opened
at the usual time, the third Monday in
September"