The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-01-12
REVISING PLANS r FOR EDUCATION IN ALABAMA, SAYS
 SPR|GHT D0WELL
State Superintendent Out lines Proposed Scheme By Which Every Pupil May
 Complete Vocational
 Training Near Home

"so that the student may complete his vocational training in the immediate vicinity of home, secondary education in Alabama is undergoing a thorough re- vision"
 On his way to an educational con ference at the University of Chattanooga, Spright Doweu superintendent of educa- tion for Alabama. as he passed through Birmingham, spoke of the change in the educational system. He continued;
 .'One of the main troubles mas been the lack of opportunity for the poy or girl to go through with work in which they had started and become interested, through lack of properly arrahgeu schooling. This is now to be corrected
 ..I cannot say too much for the value Alabama has received from the educa- tional survey conducted last spring anu summer by the state authorities, III co- operation with the staff of the Unteu States Bureau of Education. The work done by some thirty experts, led by pr. P. F. Claxton, of Washington. First of all was found the trouble that has beset educational work in Alabama Tor so many years lack of sufficient funds. The Legislature corrected that to great ex- tent. The next leading feature of the survey was this matter that IS pelhe arranged as part of the new system. WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE HOME sOne of the main reasons for thls -dis- tressing situation is that the boy or girI who has taken year or so in vocauona education, in times past, 1ouho ma. li order to continue the work, in the grea' majority of cases, they would have te leave home to continue study. The re- suit was that many dropped out Not TOT lack of ambition or continuity or pur- pose. but so many could not aIiord te go away to school. That is what We are preparing to change
 .'The course is six years in elemehtars education in our schools, three years IT ! iunior high school, in which latter vo- ] cational education is taken up, and theT three years in senior high school finish l ing this vocational work, which IS pre- paratory for college, or or sulIicleh' 1 thoroughness to enable the student ts make a living with the chosen work Thal l is the theory we are at work with rlsh' now.
 .As rapidIy as it can be arranged, tho placement of schools. in the main utlllz- l ing existing buildings. will be so ordered l that the elementary pupils will have school within walking distance or theh homes, the junior high schools al ieas within vehicle transportation distance the senior high school giving the comple- l ton of the course, within the county with more than one senior high school II 1 the county with dormitories, according tt | the enrolment This will give the re-
 suits We are after, education through th' l high school. in an unbroken line and ac cessible to the young people in every | county in Alabama.
 | This is pure pioneer educational worl
 in the south, or. so far, no southern stat | has such a system.
 "Another change that is being effected rapidly is that no teacher regardless 0 | the sort of school. will have work to d. l in connection with more than six grades This will enable the teachers to specializ i and so he cf more value-
 HIGH SCHOOL DORMITORY .'In regard to the county sel-or hig l schools having dormitories. Washingto county has already started erection of
 sia.oo dormitory for it's senior hig school.
 heretofore the high schools. in most in
 stances. have been so crowded with tn | generai> educational work there has bee little or no room for voca tional training The new arrangements will provide flo the pre-focational work in the junio high school and the completion of tn work in the senior high school.
 | "This arrangement, we believe, will lea to much higher percentage of complete courses. at least through the high schoo than has been the case before. The am
 bilious student, seeing that he can com ,plete his work. will go through with i And it has another advantage. in case
 where students have very limited mean, they will be so equipped educational through their high school work that the
 can make money enough to get throug college.
 s-The high schools are to be full eu:pped with laboratories. work shor and other parephanalia necessary. Two things are about to stress 9 never before are health and exercise. IT l survey last summer showed the impers
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