The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-03-25
DR.. DOWEL[ OPENS
TEACHER CONCLAVE,
THOUSANDS ATTEND
Auburn President Makes Earn
est Appeal for Constitutional
Convention and Urges
Educators to Help
BY FRED H. GoRMLEY
Montgomery Bureau, The Age-Her
221-2 First National Bank Build

Montgomery, March 24.-(Special.>
DR.. Sprigkt Dowell, president of the
Alabama Polytechnic institute and
former state superintendent of educa-
ton, told the Alabama Educational
association at the opening session of
the seventeenth annual convention
Thursday afternoon that the next big
step in the educational programme of
the state must be taken by a consti-
tutional convention which will write
into the states organic law definite
policy toward education, a policy
which will be. fair to all institutions
and classes of education and which
VIII provide for an equal distribution
OF all public funds after taking due
account of the funds obtained by va
rlous institutions from sources other
than the public treasury.
IL is estimated that 5000 persons are
mere for the annual convention which
began Wednesday afternoon and will
continue through Saturday morning. Fol-
lowing the afternoon session of the as
ISOLATION the assembly which is now
the Legislative body of the association,
held its first session and made plans
Tor the work of the association during
the next year. The final session of the
assembly, which is composed of repre-
sentatives of the various counties of
the state, will be held Saturday morning
when Officers will be named and final
and definite plans for the next year will
be completed
DIR. DOWELL SPEAKS
Dr Dowell was the first speaker at
the opening. session, which was held at
the Grand theatre. The general theme
for all discussions will be "reorganiza-
ton and each speaker is expected to
emphasize particular phase of the re-
organization plan which was perfected
by the associations committee during
the year. The address of the Auburn
president was on the subject of The
Craft Spirit Among Teachers and he
emphasized that the greatest success will
come to education in this state when all
jealousy is put aside and when all edu-
Fcational interests work in harmony with
the one end in view of educating the
youth of the state and of making the
state a better place in which to live
The sure cure for our internal dis
sensions and jealousies is new consttu-
ton in which two fundamental princi-
pals shall be embodied said DIR. Dow
lell. In the first place, the state board
of education and the state council of
education must be merged under the
direction of a small group of our most
successful business men who, in turn,
will be guided in all their plans by the
best experts they can find anywhere
and with no time limitations on the Pc
rod of employment. In the second place,
all schools and classes Of schools must
share on a FAIR and equitable milage
or percentage basis the funds provided
by the public due account beGing taken
OF those that must depend soey on the
state treasury as compared with those
that receive local support.
"A constitutional convention is the
next great step in our educational pro-
gramme, a step which we will do well
to take under the leadership of our pres
ent worthy chief, the state supernten-
dent of education, while all true crafts
men cooperate by keeping those aims
in mind constantly in their teaching
TEACHERS WILL HELP
Until the constitutional convention has
acted for the promotion of education, the
teachers can do much toward the ac-
complishment of the end now sought by
cCltivating the feeling of the oneness of
the whole field of education, discounte-
nancing every manifestation of any sell
fish or anti-social conduct, by taboong
, al. questionable and insidious propaganda
and by ostracising and banshing. if nee
essary, any persistent and wilful va
RANT from type, according to DR.. Dow
ell.
After showing what craft spirit should
!, do for the advancement of education,
! Dr. Dowell defined this spirit as fol-
lows: ut is the spirit which grows
out of genuine and constantly increas-
!, ing appreciation of the meaning of edu-
cation in democracy, of the function of
the school in society, of the opportunities
: of education, of the NADIA of instruction,
, of the science and technique of teach
!, ing and with it all an ever charging
. appreciation of the significance of one $
, daily task and of bringing to it the full
! est measure of truth and the freshest
and greatest skill that one can acquire,
1.-The manifestation of the craft spirit
: are unmistakable Under its magic touch
the normal school becomes an opportu-
/ nity. the teachers college a privilege
| or OCCASIONAL reading a pleasure the sum-
rner school delight. the teachers meet
ing a necessity team work privilege.
and craftsmanship an accomplished
| fact"
The county school superintendent.
/ in annual session today in connection
with the Alabama Educational ASST
citation, passed resolutions urging the
+ placing of normal training in the
county high schools of the state. The
| reason given for the resolution were
inadequate facilities in the few Normal
+ schools of the state for the prope-
+ training of large number of pros
+ recteve teachers. The resolution will
be submitted to the state board 81
education.