The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-24
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
OF WHITE CHILDREN
SHOWS AN INCREASE
White Schools Badly Crowd
ed, But School Officials
Are Meeting Situation
EXODUS OF NEGROES
REDUCES ATTENDANCE
Cooperation of School Patrons Is APP
preciated by School Authorities
and Plans for Relief Are
Under Consideration



The increase in attendance of the
public schools in Birmingham for the
past week totaled 906. The total en-
rollment for white children up to date
is 5000.
A decrease of 444 negro children as
compared with the figures at the end
of the first week of school last year
is shown. The present negro enroll
ment is 5S06 as against $3.50 last year
One hundred and eighty of the new
children registered were crowded into
TIE Central and Ensley High schools.
At the present time there is total
of 1877 children in the Central High
school and 447 in the Paul Hayne
school Those in the Paul Hayne school
are the ones who were promoted this
year from the elementary department
to the high school.
Despite the fact there is an appre-
ciable decrease in the negro attend
ance this year the total number of
school children this year is 416 in ex-
cess of the number last year. The pres
ent enrolment, whites and negroes, is
.21715 as against 21,299 last year at
the same time.
Much comment as to the cause OF
the negro decrease is being INDUCED
in by school officials as well as ctti-
ems Dr. D. II. Philips, superintendent
of education, stated last night that he
did not think the exodus of negroes
from the city had a great deal to do
with the decrease of negro children
attending school. He stated that most
of the negroes who had families We're
still in the city and had no intention
of leaving.
s.While it is true that great many
have left the city for other
states, am not of the opinion that
the decrease is due entirely to this
cause. 1 suppose some of the negroes
with families have moved elsewhere,
but these are in the minority. Tne ma
jority of those who have left are the.
kind that like to float from one city
to another" said DR.. Philips.
II am inclined to believe the rumor
TO the effect that all those who at
tended school would have to be vac
cinated caused many of the children to
fail to attend school this year. NO vac
| C:nnation for any disease except small
pox Is compulsory ana tnls iasts Aoi
seven years"
Conditions at the Central High school
owing to the overcrowding is causing
school officials much trouble Every
bit of the available space in the build
ing Is being used at the present Time
Never before in the history Oh the
Central High school have conditions as
to crowding been so bad. The gymna-'
sum has been converted into class
room. The balcony surrounding the
gymnasium floor Is being used Tor
Glasses Every. room is packed and
1anmed In many instances 1T Is I'M
possible to accommodate all the stu
dents of one subject in one room.
with less teachers. more Pupils and
less money to operate on, the PROB
lem of the public school system in
Birmingham is becoming more serious
| each day. The attendance will increase,
officials state steadily each week from
| now until the first of December. When
the January term begins many new
children will enroll. The average num-
Der of pupils to each teacher should
not exceed 80 or 35, according to DR..
Phillips. Many teachers have SO, 60
+ and as high as 70 children in a class.
1--WE are doing all within our power
to cope with the situation" said DR..
Phillips. IT am daily interceding
with parents to allow their children to
be transferred from one school to an
other SO as to try to equalize the over
crowding. I am grateful for the CO.
operation of the parents in our pres
emit circumstances and we hope to have
matters adjusted to suit conditions
shortly
NO RELIEF IN SIGHT
Statements are made that no relief
from the present situation is in sight
ut the present time. The commission
ers are helpless to alleviate conditions.
With the budget now being considered
and in view Of the fact the city's rev.
enue this year is much lower than last,
y.