The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-09
ILLITERACY MUST BE FOUGHT BY
RURAL SCHOOLS

facilities mean to the nation. The Age-Herald reproduces elsewhere on this page today an ed- torial from the Anniston Star, which calls at tention to the progress of education in Ala bama.
 One of the most striking discoveries made during the World war was the appalling illit- eracy among young men of draft age. Ala bama contributed a large number of men to the first draft, which showed ,000 between the ages of 21 and 31 who were not able to read or write
 The Star goes to the root of the matter in saying that the rural schools need a larger quota of trained teachers. The higher institu- tions of learning in Alabama and ether states can provide educational facilities for only small number of the boys and girls who can go to college. So long as inefficient teachers are intrusted with the task of instructing the youth of this country in the rural districts where the foundations of education are laid, there will be half-educated men and women who will be compelled to fight the battles of life under handicap.
 The American people seem to have an idea that it is waste of money to pay school teacher decent salary. For that reason thousands of teachers who want to devote their lives to educational work are compelled to abandon the school room because they cannot earn enough to support themselves and their families. This is a reflection on the intelli- genee of the nation. No work is more inn portant than that of teaching, yet it is still the poorest paid profession in the country.
 Just as long school teachers, most of them women, regard teaching as stepping stone to something else, matrimony, business or profession which pays better, there will be in- efficient schools in America.
 The American Legion can do no more meri- torious service to the country than to emphasize the need of better educational facilities and particularly to call attention to the short sighted policy which results in teachers in rural schools being paid less than day laborer.
 Health Commissioner Copeland of New York told Dr. Lorenz not to be disturbed by the type ol clIlzenS we call damn 1oolS. The advice is good, but how can anyone keep from being pestered when they are so damned nu- merous?
 Having witnessed the Battle of the Century" at a private exhibition, we can truthfully say that the film portraying MT. Dempsey and MT. Carpenter in action is not half demorazing as the "sex stuff" shown on the screen.
 
 The Irish Free State will have an army and everything. No wonder the Irish patriots as proud grandfather used to be when he got pair of new red-topped boots.
 An expert contributes article to current magazine on "The Future of Poison Cas- After reading only paragraph were convinced that it's future is awful
 A Chicago woman, 45 years old, is charged with "vamping" another womans husband. There must be some rejuvenating quality in Lake Michigans famous breeze.
 We have learned from MT. Tumulty what we suspected before, that there was time when Joseph and Dr. Grayson thought they were run ming this country.
 we regret tO dHnouHCe IHdC the Prince Ol Wales visit to India is not having a tranquil izing effect on somewhat turbulent popula- tion.
 
 The press seems to think Babe Ruth needed lesson and got it. A slight reduction in the size of his head is confidently expected
 The doctors are being asked to say what they think of alcohol as therapeutic agency. Isn't it about time to let the doctors alone?
 The dsgusted motorist in New Jersey who gave his car to an undertaken will no doubt do his travelling henceforth in Pullman.
 Seismograph instruments failed to record any tremors of the earths surface when the Pres- dent of Guatemala overthrown. Showing that discretion which is the better part of vaor, Marshal Foch chose to walk rather than ride a burro in Arizona.
 People who mail letters trains should, as far as possible, keep eye on the letter slot and the other on the marine.
 According to the gossip heard in smoking compartments, synthetic liquor is beginning to fill long-felt want
 It would be difficult to classify reports that former Kaiser Wilhelm is going to marry again as propapanda