The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-24
O1rR PUBLIC SCHOOL NEEDS

OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL NEEDS
 Much of the popular warmth and cor diality extended to Governor Brandon on his election to the governorship was due to his pledges to maintain and improve our. school standards and our apr-opria- tions for public education in Alabama Now that Governor Brandon has so far failed to redeem these pledges regarding an institution so cherished by the people, it has become necessary for educational leaders in this state to become active lc behalf of improved educational facilities. Governors are easily forgotten, especially when they failed to leave their impress on the looking concerns of the state; but progressive acts are not forgot ten, and thus form the most enduring monument a statesman may erect
 Accordingly, the educational leaders are aroused to the need for some definite action to prevent the schools from suffer- ing further through lack of financial SUD- port In Alabama the problem is grow ing one, not only because of the increase in school population calling for expanded accommodations, but also because of the increasing percentage of attendance and the increasing proportion of pupils who remain in school through the higher grades. More room, more teachers, more facilities are demanded continually and endlessly. The school expense Is con- stant one, and one that will not diminish. The burden of maintaining the schools, however, will grow relatively lighter as the educational equipment of young men and young women begins to bear fruit in increasing prosperity. The greater our wealth the more easily do we bear the cost of governmental functions.
 Those who may be pessimistic as to the beneficial results of the schools might win some reinsurance from survey of the past forty years. In 1885 the per centage of illiteracy in Alabama was 50.9 per cent. In 1920 that percentage was 16.1 per cent. In 1924 it may well be regarded as having still further declined. That is gratifying, but it Is merely in- spiration to continue the process of edu- cational advance. Governor Brandon started in the right way when he brought about a school survey of the state by a Legislative recess committee. That com mittee made a report which deserved Legislative attention. The only attention given it was the executive proposal of a four-mill tax levy, which the judgment of the people rejected and the legislature disapproved. The money can be obtained through proper administration of the present revenues and an effective execu- tion of existing tax laws. Even such a simple solution is not now in prospect.
 The problem is not only to provide more adequate, comfortable and sanitary housing, though that Is essential. It in cludes an inevitable increase in teachers salaries, not alone because the teachers demand it, but because those best equip ped for teaching are quietly withdrawing to other employment, leaving much of the vacancy to be supplied by immature, untrained or temporary teachers. That is a silent but potent force the sig nificance of which cannot be denied or misunderstood. In order to encourage longer terms of service on the part of teachers, it Is necessary to make it worth their while. And it must be made worth their while, not only to continue in the profession, but also to equip themselves more completely with that technical nor nal training without which every teach CTS success is somewhat problematical and inevitably diminished.
 But the raising of the standard of qual- ifications for teachers imposes the obliga- tion of providing opportunity within the state for professional training. We have four teachers normals in Alabama, not one of which is adequately endowed prop erly to train even its present enrolment, to say nothing of taking care of an in creased number of students. Thus an idea of the states responsibility and the need for some prompt action is gained. The subject is complex, but there are many willing minds ready to go to work on it. What is needed is the executive impulse to give such mental effort its solid basis of practical opportunity. In other words, it is up to Governor Brandon.
 MIR. HENDRICKS SUGGESTION