The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-22
DOWELL INAUGURAL EXERCISES OPEN AT AUBURN INSTITUTE
Noted Educators and Visitors From All Sections of State and Nation Are In
 Attendance

Auburn February q. = Special )- With the old alumni, visitors and prominent educators from all sections of Alabama and also from New York to Florida present, the inaugural ex- ercises of pr. Spright Doweil as presi- dent of the Alabama Polytechnic in- stitute opened promptly on time at 1 o'clock Monday afternoon by lunch con at the Varsity cafe, attended by well-known representatives of every phase of educational life in Alabama and also the outside states.
 Dr. John W. Abercrombie. state su perintendent of education, presided as toastmaster and chairman and in his Introductory address made a very eloquent plea for better cooperation among the educational forces of Ala
 anna which was the main theme of
 he conference. After paying great
 ribute to the progress of the Alabama
 Polytechnic institute, under the
 eadership of Dr. c. C. Thach, who is low president emeritus, he predicted that the college is yet in it's infancy so far as its constructive good is con cerned and that under the leadership of the new president, pr. Do@ell, 1t will continue to work with the great problems and serve the needs for which it was designated.
 Referring to Dr. Dowell personally, he declared that it was a very wise action of the board of trustees to ap- point him to his present position and that the faculty student body and people of Alabama are to be con graduated on having him in this great field of service.
 MARKED PROGRESS VaTyylnR from his a In fnr a moment, Dr. Abercrombie presented a brief history of public education in Alabama, which, he said. began in 1850. but. due to the Civil war very little
 was accomplished until several years later and that the most marked prog ress had been made during the last 1 two decades and more especially the last The last Legislature of Alabama was highly praised for doing so much lcoHstructive educational work, as was the 1 state board of education, which was created during the time Dr. Dowell was state superintendent and by the | last legislature.
 l Dr. J. H. Phillips Of Birmingham l was to have discussed the historical ! background of education in Alabama,
 but WAS unable to be present and his
 assistant. Dr. c. E. Glenn, was intro
 duced to discuss this subject in his ab- | sence.
 Before dicussing his subject, Dr. Glenn reminded those present that
 Birmingham gave to Auburn her new l president because for a number of l years pr. Dowell was engaged in l teaching and supervisory work In the 1 Birmingham district where his work l attracted wide attention drew him to l the state department at Montgomery | where he was later appointed and
 elected state superintendent iron, | which position he came to Auburn.
 ROOM FOR ALL
 Responding to the subject, "The En, listment of Every Agency" Dr. J. J.
 Doster of the University of Alabama re. ferred to the present conference at Au.
 burn as remarkable gathering, similar
 to only one other, which was held | years ago, and from which sprang tht present association of Alabama colleges course of study for all state schools anc
 also an articulated educational system 1 for the state. He declared that there
 Is room enough for public. private de
 nominational and other schools, and thai | while all are struggling for existence
 there should be no antagonism, but thai there should be a real conradeshp be- tween all educators, from the highes 1 college or university president to thu most humble rural school teacher within the state The aim must be common and all should strive for the same goal
 which is that of service and the solu ton of the great problems pertaining tc Alabama, her resources and her people 1 he declared.
 I Miss Sarah E. Luther of the state de | pertinent of education discussed the prob. 1 lems of the special educational depart ] ment and made a very earnest plea fol a school system that will rehabilitate 3 1 disabled man or woman of any age. ir order that he or she may take a new ] hold on life and render real service | to themselves and to society.
 ] very enthusiastic and practical pa per was read by Supt. J. T. Mckee ol
 ,Contsnued on page ninep