The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-06-08
REORG ANIMATION ORDERED


 Acting on the recommendation of the educational survey commission. which made study of the entire system of public education of Alabama last year, the board ordered that the administra- tive work be completely organized on the plan suggested by the commission. This will mean the creation of three units of work, resident teaching, extension teach ing and research, and a director will be
 appointed for each unit.
 President Dowell was instructed to se- lect the director for each unit, deans ot the various divisions, heads of depart ments. members of the faculty and cleri- cal assistants subject to the approval of the board.
 In order that further time may be had for the working out of details of the plan about to be inaugurated, the board ad- journed until June 21, when the work for the next collegiate year will be out lined
 MT. Dowell. who becomes head ot the institution, for several years has held a prominent position among the educators of the United States. He was superintendent of schools at East Lake prior to coming to Montgomery as director of teachers institutes. When William F. Feagin resigned as state superintendent of education to become superintendent of education of Montgomery county in 1917, Governor Henderson appointed MT. Dowell as his successor. He was elected for 8 four-year term without opposition in 1918.
 His retirement will mean the ap- pointment of another state superin- tendent of education by Governor Kill by The governor today stated that he would not be ready to announce the appointment for some time. It has been the custom to promote persons who have been connected with the states educational system. PERIOD OF GROWTH The period of MT. Dowell's incumb- ency of the office of state superin- tendent has been marked by the most rapid growth in it's educational de- velopment He was instrumental In bringing to Alabama a group of edu- cational experts of national reputa- tion, who made study of conditions
 under the direction of survey com
 m:ttee appointed by the governor. Under his leadership the educational
 work of the state has been reorgan-
 ;zed. distinctive features of which are
 the creation of a state board of educa-
 ton and the enlargement of the state
 department of education, which is now
 ranked by leading educators as one
 Of the first in the union.
 The following from the Journal ot
 Education, Boston, Mass, is typical Of
 a number of articles that have ap-
 peared in leading journals of the coun- try:
 "State Superintendent Spr
 Dowell is certainly seeing great changes in the educational activities of the state The legislature of last year was the most distinctly educa- tional legislature that the state has ever known The new code is one or the best in the country and as code based on the county organization 1t is by far the best in the south. If Alabama keeps the pace struck this year, it's progress will carry her speedily upward"
 The new school code was prepared
 under the personal direction of pr.
 Dowell. It unifies the educational machinery and is considered a model
 for the country. Dr. Dowell is emi-
 nently fitted by training and natura!
 ability for carrying forward the great
 work of Dr. Thach. He is possessed
 of initiative energy and leadership and
 has demonstrated the executive abil'
 ity required for handling the large af-
 fairs that dissolve upon the executive
 head of 8 great institution.