The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-09-04
SCHOOL PROGRESS
 FROM 1913 ID 1921
 SHOWN IN REPORT
Terms Longer, Attendance Better, Superintendents Re- moved From Politics, But
 Need For Finances

Montgomery, September s.-(Spe-
 tional system of Alabama during the
 three year period from 1918 to 1921
 was nearly three-fourths as great as the advancement during the 2s year
 period from 1890 to 1918. according to a statistical study of education in
 Alabama from 1890 to 1921 which was
 made public by the state department of education Saturday.
 The percentage of progress was
 measured by the Ayres index number
 for state school systems. system
 which has been accepted as the most
 scientific the mind of man has been
 able to devise in rating the efficiency
 of public education.
 This phsnormal progress should
 undoubtedly be attributed to the tremendous growth in public intrest In education brought about by the war; to the law which established the country unit of school adminis- tration with a county superintendent appointed by the county board of education; to the constitutional
 amendment which permitted the levying of county and district three
 
 code enacted by the legislature of
 1919 following the careful study of Alabama's school system made by representatives of the federal bureau of education under the direction of the Alabama education commi ssioE,"
 said the study.
 The study went into details regard, | ing the progress of education in Ala bama during the three year period nd \. ~ 4I chapter devoted to this progress 1t
 was said: Tt was possible to main tain progress in the period from 1918
 to ls21. in spite of growing costs, in s large measure because of the sac- | rifice of the teachers who were will | ing to accept inadequate salaries. Efficiency Greater The per cent of gain in such items as length of term. attendance, etc. since 1890 has been twice as great as the per cent of increase in the pur- l chasing power Of the schools, as measured by the number of points gained in the several components of the Ayres' index number The county | board law under which tho office of
 the county superintendent was re- | moved from politics and the 1919
 school code, which throughout the United Sates has received recognition as model for school organization, have resulted in increased efficiency 1 in she investment of the school funds which in considerable measure Is re- sponsibie for this greater educational return.
 Before the average for the United States can be reached, and certainly this standard Is too low for the peo- pie of Alabama. terms must be heightened. better teachers secured through tho payment of larger sal aries and better buildings substituted for the inadequate structures in which the majority of the rural children are at present housed"
 More liberal provision must be
 made for the financing of the public
 school system If Alabama Is to main tain even its present position of fourth from the last of the AS states, according to the study of the states educational progress.
 The per cent of tho total state
 revenue for all purposes expended
 for public elemsntry and high schools
 to s0.3 per cent in 1s21," the study
 continued. Between 1913 and 1921 while the state was increasing its funds for the support of elementary and high schools by 70.6 per cent, the local communities were increasing their support of these schools by 330.6 | per cent
 "Fifty-three per cent of each dollar of school revenue were derived from | state sources In 1917. Thirty-four cents of each dollar of school revenue were derived from state sources in | 1921.
 Increased EnroIemen< 'The constitutional limit on school taxation in Alabama is lower than
 the limit in other southern states. More liberal provisions for the fi- l nancing of the public schools in many of these states indicate the danger that Alabama may fall to a | lower rank than that assigned her in | 1918. At that time the rank assigned her was fourth from last among the AS states"
 Amazing increases in tho enroll ment of public schools during the perid. Though elementary school enrollments wero slightly smaller in
 1920-21 than in 1s19-20. more regular attendance resulted in an Increase in average daily attendance for the
 same period" the study continued High school enrollment and attend ance for 1s20-21 showed amazing in-
 creases over 1s19-2o.
 One white boy or girl out of II attending rural schools was in the high school. One out of six attend
 ing city schools was in high school.
 The average white boy or girl attending rural elementary schools
 was present only 79 days out of the school year. The average white boy or girl attending city schools was present 133 days out of the school year.
 Approximately 60 per cent of all white boys or girls attending rural schools attend one or two-teacher schools.
 Four-ffths of all rural com munities served by six-teacher or pened? Harryw she exclaimed. He's
 not worse. Is he? Oh, John, do not