The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-07
J efferson County
 and Its Schools


 Jefferson County
 and Its Schools
 JEFFERSON COUNTY is fortunate O in having an excellent school board of broad-visioned and earnest citizens -J. D. Moore, chairman; Lieut.. Gov. N. L. Miller, State Senator Charles R. West, L. w. Minor and Mrs. c. H. IOhme-and an exceptionally well |eQuipped superintendent in Dr. R N. Baker. Greater progress has been made in the school year just closed than in any previous year in the county's history. The policy of those i in charge of the work is distinctly Iconstructive and enthusiasm pervades the entire personnel, from chairman to the great teaching body of 602 souls.
 With the means at the boards dis posal wonders have been accomplished, but more must be done, which is to say that larger revenue must be created. The county is growing rapidly. There lare now five thousand more persons of school age in Jefferson, outside of Birmingham and Bessemer, than there were two years ago; and yet with limited financial resources the addi- tional children have been accommo- dated.
 The people of the county are more keenly alive to the importance of a public school education than ever be- fore. They are eager for county high schools so distributed as to afford every bright and aspiring boy and girl an opportunity of attending such school within easy reach of home. The Shades Cahaba district, which voted an additional three-mill tax for the purpose of erecting and equipping high school building, has set an ex- ample that will be followed by two other districts this month-one in the northern part of the county, with Morris as the center, which will hold an election on June 23, and the other at Leeds, which will hold an election June 30. It may be assumed that each of these districts will declare for the special three-mill levy by an over- whelming majority.
 With the high cost of building as compared with the cost of three years ago a new point is raised that will call for initiative on the part of the Jefferson county board and boards ot other counties. The additional three mill tax that district is authorized to vote will go long way in improv. ing conditions, but it will not take care of the elementary grades ano build high schools, too.
 What is needed is legislation that will authorize the people to vote fol still another three-mill levy, and this specifically for the erection of higt school edifice.
 Such law will require an amend ment to the constitution. A bill should be introduced in the legislature this summer submitting such an amend ment. With the zeal manifested by the public for better educational ia cilities the legislature should not hesi tate to adopt such a measure. Il should be ready for submission to tht people of the state for ratification a | the general election in November o1 l1920.
 It was hard to get the three-mil policy started, but now that it is seer to be largely worth while and ex tremely popular, another three-mil tax for the purpose stated would bt readily acceptable.
 Let one of our educational leader. in the legislature prepare the bill ane public sentiment will insure it's pas Isage.
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 Promise of Large
 Food Production
 I1N HE excessive rainfall in May ant