The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-01
The Peoples Forum
As to Teachers, Fitness

10 the Editor ot The Age-Herald:
 Permit a word please touching the much mooted questionable election of county superintendents of education by the people. It is not alone the capacity and fitness of the superintendent, and not alone the capacity or fitness of the teach CT sent to any certain school dis triet. The idea of the school pat rons being forced to accept any teacher sent, whether the teacher suits them or not, the pay coming indirectly out of their own pockets, is repugnant to the liberties of q free people. Sometimes the salary of the teacher is higher than they consider commensurate with the work done. They feel that they could take the same money and get better results-a better teacher, or a longer school, and, in fact, in some instances they are right. On the other hand, the teacher, realiz- ing that he or she holds the place at the will of the superintendent alone, and by his favor, fails, it may be, to make any special effort to meet the wishes of the people they serve; and possibly take little or no part in the church work, or social activities of the community they serve. They are in the community, but not of it. The remedy? Well, one remedy is, that the teacher should hold con tract from the trustees of the school, and should be amenable to them, in part at least, if not wholly so. The money should be apportioned to each school, by the county board; and the trustees of the school should say to what regularly licensed teacher it should be paid and how long the school should run. This can be done without violence to the constitution, and if something of the kind is not done, further trouble and dissatisfaction will follow. As matters now stand, the superintend- ent has too much power, and there is not sufficient coordination and cooperation; and worse still, the people are not getting value re- turned for the money they are spending on the schools. The profits shown on paper are not always real ized on at par.
 ED. D. HAMMER
 Attalla, Ala, Jan. 30, 1923.
 Training of Teachers
 To the Editor of The Age Herald:
 l want to thank you for your strong editorial the other day com mending teacher-training in Ala bama in the normal schools, the ln- stitutions which devote themselves exclusively to the training of teach CTS for the public schools-the ele- mentary schools. Teacher-training in Alabama is the very heart of our system of public education. You have your finger on the center of pulsation. Such editorials would render the highest possible public service to all the children in Ala hama, children under high school age, those living and those who arc to come after them. Public senti- ment in Alabama is today more wholesome on this subject than ever before in the states history. There was a time, not many years ago, when the average citizen looked for ward to the amount of money appor- toned to the school district without considering seriously the quality of teacher to be employed. That day has passed. The public have come to know that children don't get any money in school. They either get the services of a good teacher or they get nothing. Our fathers and erand-fathers said that teachers were born. Some people may and doubtless do possess the quality nec- essary in good teachers, but every body knows now that teachers have to be specially trained for their work if they are to succeed. They may get this training through years of experience at the expense of the children and at the expense of the public. It is found cheaper finan- cially and much better for the chil- dren to have them trained before they begin. You are rendering the highest quality of service to Ala bama when you emphasize, as you did in your editorial, the necessity of more abundant supply of teach CTS for our public schools.
 HENRY J. WILLINGHAM.
 President State Normal School.
 Florence Ala, Jan. 30, 1923.