The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-14

"ho PrcSioco ana delivered a stirrln
 Both the assembly room of the Southern club and the corridors were filled to over-flowing and many were turned away at the morning session, which consisted of the address from governor, presentation of the pur- poses and expectations of the con ference by Rev. P. P Claxton, pro- vost or the university, and addresses from Dr. John w Abercrombie. state superintendent of education, and a general discussion of the financial problem before the state in meeting the new demands for more and better trained teachers, longer school terms and additional equipment
 Enthusiasm Manifest.
 In the beginning, Governor kilby spoke of his deep gratitude for the creditable att&ndance and enthusi- asm manifested at the meeting. and expressed desire that the response would enable the purpose for which the conference was called to be ac- complished. namely. to consider the general school situation in Alabama and to discuss means by which this situation may be met, as we find it.. .6tf Answers Tax attacks. n fa The executive answered the at tacks made upon the tax equilization board. and declared that with the tax limit reached, the only hope for additional school funds was through the operation of this board.
 The state has made a good begin ming in tax equalization, and if the machinery is not disturbed by the strong demogagic enemies. which it inevitably has, the assessments now levied will bring adequate funds for the educational program stated the governor, who cautioned his hearers of the importance of sending wise counsel to the next legislature, lest the enemies make counter attack to destroy, and cause to crumble the objective.
 Reference was made to the Ala bama school code adopted by the leg islature of 1919-20. as a result of an investigation of the school situation by the state commission of educa- ton, appointed by himself, acting with national educators, and in this connection the speaker added that Alabama needed new constitution, which brought warm applause. s'Concern of People," The schools are primarily the concern of the whole people, of the state who pay for them, and it IS up to them who are friends of edu- cation to furnish the defense against the menace brought about to threat en the educational interests of Ala | bama," declared the governor em- phatically.
 Very timely reference was made to the abundance of natural resources in Alabama, and it was urged that education was needed to develop them.
 | Governor Kilby. after charging the
 conferees that Ignorance was the most costly possession in the state" making it imperative for public opin-
 ion and action to become aroused. en- tered a plea for the people to sup port candidates to the next, legisla-
 ture, who favor broad educational policies.
 l Claxton on Program | pr. P. P. Claxton, chairman of the
 committee appointed to arrange the
 program of the conference to be held in conjunction with the A. E. A. con vention, outlined the purposes of such a meeting. said in brief, that educa-
 ton and good citizenship went hand
 in hand, and that if the necessary schools are to be provided, the inn provement must be demanded by the people and secured through them. The step forward and upward must come from those who pay taxes, and who think in larger terms than the teach
 CTS, who are concerned with their own immediate work"
 Abercrombie Speaks | Dr. Abercrombie outlined the edu
 cational system for the past 25 years, showing how far the state had gone and gave a review of the three or
 four state and county mill taxes, de-
 claring that We were full grown
 unless the tax assessments were raised.
 | He also urged the election of legis-
 lators who will favor more appropria- ton for the public school system, for i in his opinion. taxation is necessity l for a progreSsive civilization.
 R. E. Tidwell, assistant state su- perintendent of education, outlined
 the present condition in the elemen- 1 tary schools. from which it was re- vealed that 165 are supplied by the state for the preparation of each student for citizenship; that. 50 per cent of the students were not sup piled with text books; and that the 1 terms of rural schools averaged so 1 days per annum. and the city schools I 133 days. The requirements for | moreland. Allen Drennen, Jack La piece, Bill Rushton, Tom Estes, Bry- | son Aird, Bill Elliot, George Brewer