The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-23
TO ATTEND INSTITUTES

Montgomery, February 22--(SpeciaI.) To the end that he may stimulate statewide interest in the selection Of suitable boards of education for the various counties, Superintendent of Ed ucation William F. Feagin has adopt ed the plan Of visiting the several teachers institute of the state. These institutes have been in progress since the beginning of the present scholastic year and Superintendent Feagin has att tended every one of them. The insti- tute this week is being held at Iuverne for the teachers of Crenshaw county and Superintendent Feagin will deliver an address at the institute tomorrow.
 Tn the opinion of the state superin- tendent of education, the most import ant issue before the people of Alabama at this time is the selection of county boards of education. The members of these county boards are to be voted for in the primary on May and Su perintendent Feagin believes that too much emphasis cannot be laid upon the type of men to be chosen.
 These members are to represent the entire county and are to assume much of the responsibility which has heretofore devolved upon the county superintendent of education, not only relieving him of much responsibility but removing from him the necessity of running for office,
 
 to the professional demands of his work, !" said Superintendent Feagin.
 Regarding the qualifications of board members, Superintendent Feagin said;
 "The law requires that all members of county boards shall be persons of good moral character, with at least fair ele- mentary education, of good standing in their respective communities, and known for their honesty, business ability, pub lie spirit and interest in the good of pub lie education. Women are eligible to membership on these boards"
 TEACHERS NOT SUITABLE
 Superintendent Feagin does not believe persons engaged in teaching would make suitable members.
 Under no condition should a person engaged in teaching be chosen for such position'' he said. "The very fact that teacher would seek such an of flee would be prima facie evidence that ne was disqualified. In the first place, he would probably not possess sufficient ex- perience, and in the second place, it would be inconsistent for him to serve on the board which had the authority to elect him, to fix his salary and to pass upon his work. It cannot be too strong Iy emphasized that the members of a county board of education under the new law should be the biggest broadest and the strongest men that it is possible to se- cure in the county"
 In commenting upon the benefits to be obtained from the proper operation of the new county board law, the superintendent of education declared that it will pro- duce ian effective and business-like ad- niriistration of the schools of the coun- ty;" better supervision of schools ''by professionally trained county supern- tendent of education elected by the board;" better teaching force, and the consolidation of small rural schools into graded central schools with better clas- sified work.
 If the people will only do their duty ir 1 the selection of. these boards that the | boys and girls in rural Alabama, well as those in our cities and towns, vii /; each and all have the opportunity to se- cure just the kind and degree of educa- l tion they will most need to fit them fol Intelligent and productive citizenship | there is no doubt but that Alabama vii i quickly take her proper place in the sis ! terhood of states in educational pro gress," concluded Superintendent Feagin