The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-08
Necessity for Fundamental Training of Pupils Along Accurate Lines Is Dis cussed
STRONG PLEA MADE FOR LOCAL TAXATION
 FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES
Sentiment for Better Edu-
 cational Advantages Gre ated by Press and Teach CTS, Says Dr. Willingham

The morning session of the Alabama Educational association at the Central High school yesterday morning was one of the most important of the entire con- vention, addresses being delivered by three of the best known and ablest ed- ucators of the south Progressive Leg islation" was the theme of the session. Dr. w. s. Curroll, president of the Uni versty of South Carolina, spoke on "The Efficient Man" pr. H. J. Willing ham, president of the Alabama Normal college at Florence spoke on "Alabama's S Educational Progress and pr. J. r.. Joyner, state superintendent of educa- tion of North Carolina, addressed the meeting on "The Teacher, Citizen and Citizen Maker. Dr. C. c. Thach of Au- sided at the session.
 Dr. Curroll, in an address which was one of the features of the convention, discussed the necessity for fundamental training of pupils and students along ac- curate lines, and declared that accuracy in training is preferable to a plethora of training by imperfect and inefficient methods.
 BETTER MEMORY TRAINING
 The importance of better memory training was stressed by the speaker who declared that it was better to train the activity of the mind than to pay too much attention to acquisition. we place too much stress son the acquisition of knowledge said Dr. Curroll. Tt is not a question of how much a person knows but how much of what he knows can be use?'
 Dr. Curroll predicted the gradual elm- bining of all parts of the nation into a movement that will eventually become world wide educationally.
 The problems confronting the south in an educational way were stated as the negro the cotton mill problem and the tenant farmer. It is with these three classes that the educational forces of the south must labor most diligently in the next decade,
 The address of pr. Curroll was inter- spersed with wit and humor and he was freely applauded.
 DR. WILLINGHAM SPEAKS
 In his address to the teachers yester- day morning, Dr. H. J. Willingham, pres ident of the Alabama Normal college at Florence, and former state superinten- dent of education, made a strong plea for the constitutional amendment author izing local taxation for school purposes.
 Dr. Wlllingham reviewed the early struggles of those interested in the cause of education more than 20 years ago, when the educational awakening of the state began. This sentiment for better educational facilities and advantages was created largely through the efforts of the press and the teachers of the state, said Dr. Willingham. aided by num- Der Of far-seeing puDlc-spirited citi- zens. The legislatures of 1898 and 1900 were responsive to this awakening and passed number of laws of benefit to the educational advancement of the state. Some betterment was the result of the constitution of 1901.
 During the years from 1906 to 1910 large ly increased support was given. schools of the state, both for buildings and for instructors. This was true of the rural and elementary schools as we'll as the institutions of higher learning.
 The years beginning with 1911 and ending with 1914 saw for the first time all county superintendents relieved of their responsibility as paymasters of the teach CTS and allowed to devote their entire time to professional duties on salaries fixed by the several county boards of educa tion,' said Dr. Willingham.
 "The legislation of 1911 provided for H. braries in the rural schools and also ex- tended the system of nigh schools by making one available for every county. The legislature also authorized for the first time, an efficient system of conduct ing teachers institutes in every county in the state. A vigorous campaign was kept up, during this period, in behalf of a constitutional amendment to allow local taxation and for law on the subject of compulsory education. IMPORTANT FRAGMENTS Two of the recent enactments, the
 submission of an amendment to secure local taxation and the compulsory educa- ton law are measures of the very high est importance and mark a distinct epoch in our educational progress. Local (Continued on Page Twelve)