The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-02

them and have more concern as to whether or not they are rendering good or poor service. Some people do not know the difference between the school board of the City of Bir- mingham and the County of Jef- ferson, and would have difficulty in naming the members of these boards.
 You cannot discharge your duty by limiting your obligations to paying money and voting for bond issues. You must become intelligent and re- quire your servants to have some ability for their work and an indus try to attend to it.s
 Your present board, whose work has extended over a period of less than six years, when they began. found the county without any ap- propriate school buildings There were then in the county 150 pupils attending high school. Now we have 2,320 Then there were Is teachers doing part time high school work. Now we have 65 devoting full time to high school instruction The in- vestment for high school equipment has increased from $500 to more than $50,000; high school buildings from s15.00o to s76o,000. Six years ago there was only one high school in the county; now 16, 10 of them aecred- ited by the state department. School buildings have increased from about s20o,000 to $1,940.o0o; equipment from s20,0o0 to s215,0o0. For the past four years your county board has been completing school buildings at the rate of one per month, The monthly pay roll has increased from $2200o to sS0,000; teachers salaries from s420 per annum to Sf,100 per annum; length of school term from seven months to nine months. Then about 30 teachers were training themselves by means of summer school or university extension class In the city during school term, study ing professional training or working for college degree Then only one consolidated school; now we have 30. Then the enrolment below 20.000; now 3o,000 Then 200 pupils pro- noted from seventh grade annually; in 1921 there were 1900. Then there were no night schools; this year more than 200 persons have learned to read in their illiteraey night schools
 Courses Extended
 The course of study has been en- riched and extended, making it pos sible for country boys and girls to learn cooking, sewing, manual train Ing home decoration and practical agriculture. Literary clubs, agricul- tural clubs and other vitalizing agencies have been multiplied many fold. A moderate amount of super vision has been promoted enough to increase the efficiency of the school and to professionaIjze primary teach CTS and to assist the superintendent in the economic administration with respect to teaching and equipment A very general interest has been aroused and awakened among the rural population, which effect is mo- ticed in the character of the improve ments and general appearance con tiguous to the. new school buildings.
 Jefferson county is now attracting the attention of educators not only throughout the state. but even be- wound it's borders. All this is to have a reflex influence on the cities, and if extended throughout the state, as 1t surely will be, then Alabama will do much to remove the shame Of leading the country in 4illiteracy, and ere long we will rejoice when we have done something to change these con ditions for the better
 If you are to practice the doctrine Of service, find out who represents you on the boards of education and see If they represent your views, if they are putting earnest and con
 
 they are going right, encourage them If not, find some others who will, and thus you will have rendered your city, county and state a great service Here is an opportunity to do con structive work that will have a last ing and beneficial effect upon your future citizens and upon the govern ment. These boys and girls leaving the high schools of our county will many of them. enter university and Auburn and become the leaders in government and business. Parents in other parts of the state who take notice of the school advantages of Jefferson county are seeking resi- dence here where the schools are operated nine months, while in other counties from to- months which tends to enhance our values of land. Our schools are supplementing the work of the parents and the homes, and if neglected. you have suffered lasting injury to your future citl- zens.
 Importance of Teacher
 There are many things that need to be done, but none more important than to be careful as to the character of the teacher, who has much to do with tic life of the child
 While your school board has done what they could with the means in hand, there is yet great work to be done. The teachers are yet poorly paid. though much better than for merly.
 Your attention is thus directed to where you may devote some cereful thought and do some constructive service.
 The county has been divided into IT school districts. In addition to the towns which are also school districts The constitutional limit is now being leavied that is 3 mills for the county at large and mills for each school district except in Jefferson and have an additional l F mills not enjoyed by other counties which was passed between the framing of the present school law, known as the Henry Tax This gives Jefferson 7ls mills of which all Is for schools in this county.
 The county school board have been using the mill district tax for the erection of school buildings.