The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-30
The Peoples Forum
Examine Superintendent

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 Kindly permit me to offer an amendment to your suggestions ex- pressed in the editorial column of Fridays Age-Herald. I concur in your opinion that it is well to elect school boards by the people, whose duty it is to choose county superin- tendents of education, but you do not go far enough to cure all the evil which is so common throughout the state. For instance, 1 know a sixty-dollar per month rural school teacher, who, by political tricks and trades" committed four candidates, before they even became candidates, and before they were elected, to vote for him as cGInty superintend- ent of education. He was elected by the board of education at a salary of forty-fcur hundred dollars, a raise from sixty dollars per month as teacher to three hundred and sixty-six and 66-100 dollars per month. He was forced to resign. The powers for development of the mental and moral attributes of char acter must descend from the righ- est inteilects, from the best trained minds, from professional educators, from men of moral stanlina down to humble, undeveloped minds and hearts of the common people. The ignorant cannot instruct the wise as to the methods of developing the mind and heart. That much must be left to experts in that line of work-Education. Now, 1 am not a preacher, am not an educator, I am a simple dirt farmer" but I have sense enough to know that this law affects only rural education county superintendents. This is not all, 1 know the only hope for this republican form of government, for the stability. the peace and happi- ness of our people depends upon the education of it's rural citizen ship. A few years ago, before the law was passed, which is now on the statute books creating the board of education for each county in the state, the County Farmers Union called a meeting during the legisla- tive recess, and as chairman of the legislative committee of the County Farmers Union, offered reso- lution which was passed. The reso- lution was sent to our representa- tives at Montgomery, and was in- tended to counteract the evil influ- ence, which has since grown out of the working of this law. This is my amendment to your suggestion. l will give you an abstract of the resolution, to-wit: That board of examiners be created without pay to examine applicants for county sup. erintendents of education. This board to be composed of the presi- dents of the three state institutions University, Auburn and Monte vallo. This board to meet once a year during the summer months
 and oftener if necessary. That a clerk be elected Iy the members of the board whose full time shall be required and whose salary shall be fixed by the board; whose ability to arrange the details and hold the examinations for the applicants shall be but little less than the members of the board; but, that all final pa pers of the applicants as to intel lectual and moral qualifications shall be graded and passed upon by the members of this board; that a license shall be issued to the sue cessful applicants; that an applicant licensed may serve as county super intendent in any county of the state of Alabama; provided. said appli- cant is chosen by the county board of examiners of county supeirn- become a county superintendent of education who has not received . license to serve as such. I am sure the presidents of these institutions would be glad to serve as board of examiners of county superin
 tendents. The clerk would assume the laborious duties of the board ano relieve them of all except the pass. ing upon of the intellectual qualifi
 cations and the moral character of the applicants. This board coult not be prejudiced or biased in thei, decisions. They would realize as we realize, that the control and di
 rection of mental and moral devel
 opment must come from the highes. of intellectual attainment, descend
 ing upon the less fortunate. These men who occupy these high positions