The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-03

grade certificates to those who are grad
 uates of certain institutions of higher l learning and have pursued minimum
 amount of professional study, to extend I certificates for one year at time when l the holder makes satisfactory proof that
 he has pursued the required amount of ;, professional study at an institution of higher learning for six weeks. and to validate the certificates issued in other states for their unexpired terms. provided I the conditions upon which they were is
 sued are at least equal to those in Ala bama. Therefore. it becomes unneces- 1 sary to issue temporary certificates, and 1 the law authorizing them Is repealed. l 4 Prohibiting the employment of public l school teachers of less than r years of 1 age
 It frequently happens that persons who, l because of their age do not possess the
 experience and dignity required to teach
 school, are allowed through influence of | friends to assume such responsibility. 1 The law regulates this in a limited way
 by fixing the limit age a II years. l 5. Authorizing the submission of a
 local tax amendment.
 l This contemplates the removal of the
 constitutional limitation by making it
 possible for any county in the state 1 to levy and collect local county tax
 for school purposes not to exceed 5
 mills provided the majority of the 1 voters in the county desire it. When any county has voted the maximum any district in said county will be 1 allowed to levy and collect special 1 school tax of not to exceed mills, provided the majority of the voters in the county desire 1t. More money for ed- ucationaly conditions Is required for any considerable progress in our schools. and this will require counties and dis l tricts to help themselves, thereby stim- ulating local interest and initiative 6. Making local taxation effective By this supervision the machinery 1 for exercising the authority granted
 under the constitutional amendment is | made operative soon as the amend | ment shall have been voted favorably 1 Otherwise it will be necessary to wal | until another session of the legisla- ture
 Assisting the Counties
 ', Making an annual appropriation
 to any county levying and collecting
 a special codnty school tax. 'c~ In order to stimulate every count. in the state to vote such tax as 1
 may need within the limits of the law
 an appropriation of 5000 is to be giyer 1 to any county in the state so long a, l 1t levies and collects a county tax O. 1 mill This amount Is available te
 46 counties this year Beginning Octo Der 1. 1917, the amount for any coun ty levying 2-mill county tax will be $2O0O and to any county levying
 3-mill tax, 5000 annually. This meas
 ure not only encourages self-help, bu 1 it metes it out where 1t Is most need ed The poorer counties in the stat | receiving the smaller apportionment
 from the state treasury will find thei
 resources strengthened through thi
 bonus which the state holds out t them.
 8. Providing for change in tn
 method of electing boards of educa
 tion in cities of 2O00 and less tha 5000 inhabitants. and placing tn
 schools of incorporated towns wit less than 2000 population under tn
 control of the county board of educa tion.
 Hereafter all schools in towns of les than 2000 inhabitants will be under tn control of the county board of educa tion and not of the city boards as here tofore In cities of 2000 inhabitant and less than 5000 inhabitants the con trol of the schools remain in the cit
 board of education to be elected by tn town council or commission. but tn members will be so chosen that on term will expire each year, thereby SC curing a majority of experienced mem bers on the board at all times. 9. Providing for a county board ( education elected by the people froi the county at large. with power to SC lect the county superintendent of edr
 cation and to administer the publ
 schools of the county.
 This reorganizes the county school sy
 Item by providing for a representati'
 board of education elected from the coul ty at large by the qualified electors,
 have complete control of the schools, il | cluding the appointment of the count superintendent of education and the al | trict trustees. The enlarged powers the board and their direct responsibilii assure better administration and supe | vision of schools and the consolidatit l of schools and transnortation of nllpi