The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-12-21
Alabama Education Ass0-
citation To Garry Facts
To Public
OFFICES OPENED
AT MONTGOMERY
Better Education Com
mittee' Being Organized
For Campaign
FIGURE PLACE STATE
AT BOTTOM OF LIST
Something Should Be Done And
That Quickly, Says
Official
Estate Capital Bureau.)

lJt6tb tdpItth4
MONTGOMERY, Ala, Dec. 20.-De-
claring that a crisis has been reached
in public education in Alabama, DIR.
E. M. Shackelford, president Of the Ala
bama Education association, in state
ment today called on citizens of the
state to unite in an effort to raise the
states educational standard.
DR.. sShackelford's statement was is
sued on the authority of the Better
Education Committee" embracing not
only the Alabama Education association,
but the heads of many professional, civic
and fraternal organizations of Alabama,
who endorsed the appeal made by Presi-
dent Shackelford. The Better Educa-
ton Committee" is still in process OF
organization and will work with the
Alabama Education association in the
program for educational improvement.
DR.. Shackelford called attention to
the low rating of Alabama in the edu-
cational scale, and urged that children
of the state should be given opportuni-
ties for training equal to the average
for the United States.
The better education committee,
which gave its endorsement to the state
ment of DR.. Shackelford, already en-
braces many prominent leaders in vari-
Gus fields of activity in Alabama. A
material enlargement of the list of these
leaders cooperating with the Alabama
Education association is expected. Those
members who have already definitely
given their endorsement and assurances
of cooperation in the campaign for bet
ter educational facilities are:
Mrs. L. p. Hays, president Alabama
Congress Of Parents and Teachers.
Mrs. Mary Andrus Mix, Alabama Fed
GRAFTON of Business and Professional
Women's Clubs.
DR.. J. e. billiard, president Alabama
Council Christian Education.
DR.. Guy f. Snaveley, president Bir-
mingham-Southern college.
DR.. w. d. Agnew, president Wom-
ans college,
Capt. Matt H. Murphy, American
Legion.
DR.. ]. D. Heacock, president Alabama
Medical association.
Frank E. Leslie, president Travellers
Julius Merritt, president Rural Mail
Carriers.
H. Frank Williamson, district COVER
nor Kiwanis clubs.
Herman Turner, district governor Ro-
tary clubs.
L. N. Duncan, director agricultural
extension.
Edward A. O'Neal, president Alabama
Farm Bureau association.
Mrs. J. Brevard Jones, State Fedora
ton of Women's clubs.
DIR. s. W. Welch, state health officer
and chairman of the state board of CEN
sors of the Alabama Medical association.
DIR. William G. Mcdowell, bishop CO.
adjutor, diocese of Alabama, Birming-
ham.
Bowling Leads Bureau
The statement of DIR. Shackelford to
''the people of Alabama" follows:
THE Alabama Education association
believes that a crisis has been reached
in public education in the state, and it
feels that it owes it to you and your
children to acquaint you with the facts.
For that purpose it has established its
headquarters at Montgomery and has
put Fl. G. Bowling, its secretary, in
charge. AS president of the associa-
lion, appeal for your earnest co-opera-
ton in this work of getting the facts
to the people. A number Of other or
CARNATIONS throughout the state have
but we wish to extend this invitation to
the individual citizen to have n part in
this great undertaking. Mr.. Bowling
will welcome information and sugses-
tons from every source.
Fellow Alabamians, we have a great
people and a great state. Many great
names and brilliant events adorn the
pages of our history. Great progress
has been made in every line of human
andeavor, Even in education much has
been accomplished, as the following
facts will show: In 1856, the first
year of my teaching experience, the total
amount of the public school appropria-
ton by the state was $40, 949.35; in
l924-5, it is SO, 500, S05.32 and this does
not include the amounts for secondary
and higher education. In 1855, the
per capita apportionment was $0.73; in
l924-5, it is $436. In 1856, the length
Of the school term was 81 days; in 1922
B., it was 1855 days. In 1856, the
average salary of public school teach
PRS was SIP per annum; in 1920-1, it
was $4S2 plus. The census of 1880
showed the percentage of illiterates
above 10 years to be 500; in 1920, it
lad been reduced to 16.1. Granting that
he figures for the earlier dates are not
rs complete or as accurate as those for
more recent years progress in our edu-
'ational development has been rapid in
spite of many adverse conditions Really
We have done well under the circum-
stances; we have done remarkably well
Turing the past few years-since the
adoption of the constitutional amend
nent permitting local taxation for school
purposes.
Dilapidated Schools Found
"And yet, notwithstanding out prog
-ess, the legislative investigating com
nittee of 1923 (page II of its report)
said. In number of the counties Wis
ted buildings were seen in use for school
purposes that were originally dwellings,
churches or abandoned storehouses.
Continued On Page TwO.)