The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-17
PUPILS IN SCHOOL DOUBLE |NNUMBER
 IN TWELVE YEARS
One Teacher for Average of Thirty-Four Children. S35.35 Spent Per
 Child in 1921-22

There is an average of 34 pupils actually attending the public schools of Birmingham to every teacher, according to board of edu- cation statistics obtained Saturday from Dr. C. B. Glenn, superinten- dent of schools. If all the pupils who enrolled during the past year had continued in school, there would have been A pupils to every teacher, and if all the children of school age in Birmingham were in the schools there would be 5l for every teacher. Of coursey there would then be more teachers.
 The number of children actually attending school has practically doubled in the 12 years since Greater Birmingham was created. There were in 1911 15.517 pupils in actual attendance and today there is a young army of 30.923. There were 547 teachers in 1911, and today there are 894, an increase of 63 per cent.
 The number of pupils enrolled in the schools at various times during the year has inerease 75 per cent since 1912. There were at that tune 22,36S. while today there are 39.3fS. The school census, or population of children of school age. has increased only S1 per cent since 1910, or less than the actual population of the city. In 1910, there were 39.536 ehtl- dren of school age, and there are now 51,S11.
 High schools Make Strides
 It is significant that the increase in enrolment in the high schools is three times that in the elementary schools, and that the increase in high school graduates is nearly twice that of high school enrolment.
 Moreover, figures recently com piled show that during the period from 1917 to 1922, 4f per cent of the high school graduates entered colleges. Figures are not available on this point prior to 1917. It Is also shown that during the five year period, 27 per cent of gradu- ates of negro high schools entered institutions of higher learning.
 Increase in enrolment of night schools from 1910 to 1922 was oui of proportion to other increases Night schools at that time were ir an embryonic stage, and there were only 147 enrolled. Today. there are 1.473 attending these night sessions
 Birmingham spends practically Slt more on each school child now than 1t did 12 years ago. In 1910, the op-
 4 or s20.43 per capita. The sessior 1921-1922 lost the board of edu- cation sl.sS7,044.5f. or s35.35 per capita. The increase is partially ac- counted for by increased tax levies made possible by enactments since 1910. The cost of operation has in- creased on an average of ss4,554.70 g year.
 During the 12-year period. approxi- mately s1,250.000 was spent in build ing and equipping schools. With this money, six grammar schools and one high school, that at Woodlawn were built. and an addition to one school was made. A portion of ths new Phillips High school has also been financed from this amount.
 From revenue obtained by recent sale of s1,000,000 of school bonds the school board now has under construction three schools which with equipment, will cost approxi- mately s50o,000. These are the John Herbert Phillips High school, partly financed. and the Norwood and North Birmingham schools. Bids are being received for three other schools that will cost approximately s50O.000. These are the Glen Iris and the Ensley schools, and the In- dustrial school for negroes.