The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-12-21

put the education of our children upon
an equal footing with these other in
terests?
Ranks At Bottom
I'VE should remember, too, that while
we were making the splendid record not
ed above. Alabama stood very near the
bottom of the list of states, and she Is
still there, for while we were moving
forward. the other states were moving
also, some more rapidly and some less :;
hence, our relative position is about the
same as it was a generation ago. Note
the following facts, taken from the most
recent and reliable sources of informa-
ton available: Alabama ranks lowest
in per capita income. lowest in per cap
it;0srxpenditures, lowest in ratio of ex-
penditureS to income. and lowest in ra-
ito of taxes to income. She ranks for
tieth in ratio of educational expendi-
lures to income forty fifth in per cap
tia expenditures for educa ton; and for
ty-sixth in illiteracy. Only 10 per cent
of her teachers have had anything like
adequate professional training. and her
schools are open for only 1858 days as
compared with an average of 1919 days
throughout the country. For buildings
and equipment only four states spent
less in 1920 than Alabama, with the re-
suit that practically every school build
ing in the state is overcrowded, and still
1916 per cent of her children are out of
school. The state is sadly lacking in the
three essentials of an efficient school
system. vi, a trained teaching force,
reasonable school terms. and adequate
physical equipment Is she able to pro-
vide them? Let us see.
THE Blue Book of Southern Prog
ress for 1924 prepared by the Manu-
facturers Record, says, There is proba-
bly, no other state in the union, if
there is any other equal area in the
world. which concentrates in itself as
many natural advantages for material
development as Alabama Mr.. Roger
Babson. perhaps Americas foremost
Statistician. recently gave expression to
the same opinion; and these merely con-
firm our own knowledge of the natural
wealth of our state. Alabama, poten-
italy the richest state in the union, is
really one of the poorest. Why? To
use the reason is clear. Throughout the
worlds history. ignorance and poverty
have been inseparable companions, and
=
rule She must educate her children, or
she must accept the inevitable and I'M
enviable position at the foot of the sis
terhood of states. Which shall she do?
4 Joint Responsibility
"Men and women of Alabama, this is
our joint responsibility. and we cannot
evade it without forcing upon our chill
dren very unjust handicap in their
contest with others who have better adj
vantages The sooner we recognize the
fact that education is the business of all
the people instead of the teachers alone
the sooner will the question of Ala
hama's educational status be established
upon more satisfactory basis. We ap-
peal to all citizens-eSpeCinlly to moth
prs and fathers-to unite with the Ala
bama Education association and other
friendly organizations in an effort to
"uise our educational standard, to the
md that our children may be given OPP
lortunities for training equal to the av
rrnge for the United States. That was
promised, and the friends of education
should not he content with less. In
ruth, Alabama'S natural advantages
warrant them in demanding "A great deal
more. The same spirit that animated
he old Greek hero when he urged his
and to strike for their affairs and their
Tres. should he ours in this fight to
give our children fair opportunity
with others i'll the battle of life