The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-13
DR. BAKER MAKES GENERAL REPORT OF
 COUNTY SCHOOLS
Retardation of Pupils in Grade Promotion Shows Deplorable Conditions,
 Says Superintendent

Reports of the conditions of the schools, teachers, examinations of schools and a general report of the school system in Jefferson county oy County Superintendent of Education N. R. Baker was made to the County Board of Education. in session yester- day The board adopted the sugges- tions and improvements made by Dr.. Baker and also voted to build one room school buildings at Morgan aod Arnold's Chapel, upon conditions mace by the local boards favorable to tae county board Consideration of the Shades -Cahaba $55.0oO proposed high schoo, was deferred, awaiting the de- cision for the proper manner of issu- ing warrants.
 The principal topic of pr. Bakers report was the great retardatlon or pupils held in the same grade so long, The data was gathered after survey of 100 white schools and 50 negro schools. The white schools show retardation of 56 per cent and 70 per cent in the negro schools.
 DEPLORABLE CONDITION
 While this is possibly no worse than in any other part of the statc, this shows deplorable condition. since surveys made by other states do not show more than 20 to 20 per cent retardation. These conditions may be accounted for by the short terms and irregular attendance. which may have helped to cause pupils to remain in the same grade for longer periods. Sec- ond inadequately trained teachers, es- pecially in the primary grades, and the tendencies of some teachers to hold pupils in the same grades because of technicalities in promotion"
 pr. Baker reported that of 629 white pupils who were examined for seventh grade to be promoted to high school, that S9 per cent passed. There we're 63 negro applicants, of which 30 passed, a percentage of 79 per cent. Pupils of 6S schools were on the 100 per cent list, not having a single fail ure for the seventh grade examina- = tion.
 TRANSFER OF TEACHERS
 The following transfer of teachers was made: Miss Mary Spencer to Pin son, Miss Maude Horsley to Crocker, Miss Alma Cowden, Edgewater to Crestline; Miss Annie Knight, High land to Sayreton; Miss Beulah God frey Praco to Shady Grove; Miss Elizabeth Kirkland. Pinson to Pleas ant Hill; Miss Alice Cargo, Trafford to Gardendale; Miss Dana w. Morris. Crestline to Edgewood; Miss Annie Nj. Cherry. Pine Grove to Argo; Miss Josephine Pearce, New Hope to Jett: Mrs. G. W. Loggins. Smiths Chapel to Palmer; Miss Irene Pennington Ali ance to Republic; Miss Margaret Snow, Brookside to Adamsville; Lula Wool, Union to Crestline; Miss Lula Agee. Mineral Springs to Brookside; Mrs. T.. S. Fitzgerald, Dolomite to Brighton; Miss Carrie Fox, Trussville to Dolo- mite, and A. E. Handley, Argo to Mt. Pisgah.
 Dr. Baker stated that '3s teachers have not accepted appointments given them; four of these have been elected to positions in Birmingham schools, perhaps as many as 10 have married and others have secured positions nearer their homes, or they are asking for higher salaries
 Supplementary reports of Assistant Superintendents of Education J. c. Blackwell and E. B. Erwin were sub mitted to the board with the report of Dr. Baker.