The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-29
EDUCATION BOARD. BEGINS CAMPAIGN F0R SCHOOL BONDS
Home- Coming Sunday To Be Observed At Methodist
 Church May 9th
BESSEMER BUREAU THE AGE-HERALD Hessemer Ala April 2H

'N' VII UNJ WI
 BEssEMER BUREAU
 THE AGE-HERALD Bessemer. Ala. April 2S
 The Bessemer board of education held a meeting the past week, when plans for giving publicity to the $lo0,000 bond issue and three-m ill tax, to be used for the schools, was discussed. The board decided to car " out publicity campaign based on official statements, showing the condition of Bessemer schools and the need of improvement. The bond issue and three tax will be voted on at special election. called for Tuesday. May 29 and the boards statement follows:
 During the past 10 years, the school enrolment has increased in white schools 143 per cent; in colored schols 94 per cent. The number of teachers employed 123 per cent in- time only one school for whites Vance school, with eight rooms and one four-room building for negroes, Fourth avenue and Nineteenth street. have been built. Some few rooms added to Clarendon avenue school. and Roberts school during this period.
 We have under construction high school building. In order to stay within the limit of funds in hand, had to cut down in size by about seven or eight rooms. It Is absolutely necessary to add these rooms in order to adequately care say nothing of the future growth.
 ITO take care of cost of these ex- tra rooms. to care for extras on pres ent foundation, and to furnish this building properly, the board of edu- cation asked the city council to call an election for bond issue of s150,- 900. This call has been made, and the board of education wishes to thank the city council for the unani- nous vote in calling this election The three mill election called for the same date as bond issue, May 29, 1923. is for the purpose Of creating fund sufficient to pay interest on these bonds and retire same at ma turity and to meet in part the added expense of the board in maintaining the schools.
 Care For Increase
 "The most vitally important thing this city can do is to make it's school system not only adequate for present needs. but capable of taking care or the annually increasing number or children knocking at the doors of it's schools, yes, pleading for the right to be taught.
 "No city can thrive as it ought that does not adequately meet the needs of It's growing population, es- pecially as concerns it's school pro gram. No individual would hesitate to go In debt in order to educate hls child No city should hesitate to go fin debt to educate it's children. Equal opportunity for all must be pro vided. The children of the poor, mid dle class, and rich alike must nave the advantage of an education, 1T our future citizenship Is to be what II ought to be; and the only avenue for that Is our public school system. Our children must he propertly housed, and properly taught. The bonds are necessary in order that we properly house the children.
 "The three-mill tax is necessary, since half of the proceeds Is to pay interest and maintain sinking fund for the bonds, and the other half or which Is to go to maintenance or the enlarged and expanded school system. It would be utter folly 10 build new school houses and not provide funds for enough teachers to man them, and to provide for their upkeep and maintenance.
 "Every dollar put into taxes for schools will be returned tenfold in the years to come. Every dollar in vested in public school education will bring rich dividends to every citizen. When we drive ignorance from our midst, poverty. disease crime and other earthly ills will be forced to go. The public school is the weapon with which to fight ig- norance.
 Bring New People.
 "Our public school system adver- tises Bessemer as a desirable plaee to live, the best place to rear chil- dren. Our schools will bring new neople by the thousands to live here. Every interest is going to prosper as result. Every mans property will be worth more than before. Every merchants business will be better. Every church will thrive as never before. Every industry will be on a higher plane.
 "Our boys and girls deserve noth- ing short of the best. Nature has favored us far above many of our sister cities, now let's do the pig thing, the only sane thing, and make it 100 per cent for bond issue and three mill tax on May 29th, ls23. Let's not permit a selfish thought to enter into this great enterprise, but let's get together. One for all. all for one to the end that Bessemer may at this time take this forward step on it's march 10 greater future. Let every man and woman, Who loves childhood. E-ho has any vision of the future of Bessemer fall in line on May 29 and march to the vot- iny place and cast your vote for tho progress of yodr beloved city.
 "Bessemer Board of Education"
 HOME COMING SUNDAY
 Interesting lans are being made "Hom ecoming Sunday" which Is to held at the First I-ethodist church Sunday, May 6. The church officials and other lay members are co-operat- ing to make this occasion valuable from both social and financial point of view and are arranging for special services and collection of pledges on this date.
 Sunday will be the ninth anniver- sary of the dedication of the church building, and the first week in May is also the ending of the first six months iof the fiscal church year. church officials are planning to have the membership pay up their pledges to all causes to this date on this Home Coming Sunday, and in this way pay the church obligations l up to da.e. Inc church pald it's con- ference duec up to date .ix months ago and when the collections are made Sunday, this will pay every obliga tion to May i.
 Collection of the pledges will be made by committee of 100, which will meet Thursday evening at the church to plan the canvass This committee Is composed of active church workers and will be divided into ten teams of ten members each. Lr R Riicls will act general chair-