DIGESTS OF STATE SCHOOL REPORTS.

ALABAMA.

[From Report for 1887-88 of State Superintendent Solomon Palmer.]

GENERAL STATEMENTS.

Superintendent Palmer states that during the year 1887-88 he visited twenty-one Counties of the State for the purpose of inspecting the schools and organizing teachers' institutes, and that he found the schools in a reasonably good condition, that officers and teachers were making great efforts to make the schools as successful as possible with the small amount of funds at their disposal, and that the public schools are so increasing in popularity that every one now admits that they are indispensable to the prosperity and happiness of the people.

"Notwithstanding the difficulties that our public schools have had to encounter in the past, they have accomplished much good in giving the rudiments of an education to thousands who, without them, would have grown up in ignorance to swell the already long list of illiterates that are a blot on the fair name of our State. Many who have received in these public schools all the instruction that they have ever received or will ever receive, will grow up to noble manhood and lovely womanhood, to honor the State and to bless their race, indebted to our public school system for all the good they accomplish in

the world."

NEED OF INCREASED FUNDS.

The great need of the schools since the establishment of the public school system has been a sufficient amount of funds; but now, when the value of property is increasing so rapidly and capital is pouring in from other States, it is absolutely necessary that the schools be placed upon a firm foot-hold. Heretofore when it has been asked that more money be appropriated for the benefit of the schools, the reply has always been that there were no funds in the treasury, and that the people could not bear a heavier burden of taxes than that already imposed; but this answer can no longer be given, for at the close of the last fiscal year there were more than half a million of dollars in the vaults of the State treasury, and the auditor recommends that the tax rate be reduced ten per cent. in order to avoid the accumulation of a surplus. The tax rate at present is only five mills on the dollar, or 50 cents on a hundred dollars' worth of taxable property, and there is no complaint of heavy taxes, but there is a strong demand from all parts of the State for mach longer school terms and a better class of teachers at good salaries. At present the schools are kept open on an average only a little more than three months, and the teachers are paid only $22 dollars per month; but if the tax rate kept at five mills, the appropriation for schools can safely be increased from one hundred and fifty thousand to two bundred thousand dollars more than the sum now appropriated.

By a comparison of statistics Superintendent Palmer shows that Alabama is not doing hear so much for public schools as the other Southern States similarly situated, and when compared with the Northern and Western States, the difference is much greater

still.

"It would be a waste of time to attempt to show the advantages arising from a good public school system. All thoughtful persons admit that in a republican form of government, such as ours, a public school system is indispensable to its perpetuity. If called on for an argument in their favor I need go no further than the constitution of our own State to show that it is the sworn duty of the General Assembly to establish, organize, and maintain a system of public schools throughout the State for the equal benefit of the children thereof between the ages of seven and twenty-one years. For the

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benefit of those who may doubt the propriety or wisdom of larger appropriations for our public schools, I will remark that every State in the Union, and every country, worthy of the name, on the globe, have organized and are now maintaining at the public expense a school system for the education of the young. The question is not whether we shall have a public school system-that is settled by our constitution, by the custom of all civilized countries--but whether we shall have a public school system equal to the demands of the times, and that will not suffer in comparison with the systems of other States."

The greatest difficulty encountered by the State commissioner of agriculture and immigration on his recent trip to the North to induce immigrants to come to the State was the poor facilities for education as compared with those of the Northern States. It is desirable to secure as immigrants those persons who value highly the educational facilities of a country, and not the ignorant and lawless who have no regard for the future welfare of their children.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

The constitution and statutes of the State expressly forbid any portion of the school money to be used to build or repair school-houses, and according to a decision of the Supreme Court no special tax can be levied for school purposes in townships or school districts, and not more than five mills can be raised in counties, cities, towns, or other municipalities for general purposes, and as all the funds thus raised are usually needed for current expenses, nothing is left for the public schools. In many of the States a large portion of the public funds is raised by local taxes. A special tax of three mills for school-houses and furniture is very badly needed, and the superintendent recommends that a constitutional amendment be submitted to the people authorizing and requiring a special tax by each county for school purposes of not less than two nor more than five mills on a dollar's worth of taxable property, and that townships and separate school districts be authorized to levy and collect a school tax not to exceed five mills on the dollar.

POLL-TAX.

Township superintendents have always had great difficulty in estimating how much money from poll-taxes would be available for school purposes during the year, and consequently some county superintendents have refused to approve contracts made with teachers, while others have approved contracts for larger amounts than were realized. To overcome this difficulty the superintendent recommends that the amount of poll-tax collected each year in each township and separate school district be made the basis of all contracts for the succeeding year.

COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS.

The present law making it the duty of the State superintendent to appoint the county superintendents was enacted in 1877, but there has always been some dissatisfaction with it, and special acts have been passed from time to time permitting the superintendents of different counties to be elected by the people, until now we find twenty-three coun. ties electing their superintendents who qualify at different times, thus causing much confusion and irregularity in the administration of the schools. It is very desirable that a uniform system be adopted, either requiring all to be appointed or all to be elected at the same time.

Superintendent Palmer thinks that it would prove for the best interests of the schools and give more general satisfaction to the people if the county superintendents were elected directly by the people, and any law to deprive the people of their right to elect their county superintendents in the counties now having this privilege would meet with strong opposition. If a law were enacted for the election of all the county superintendents by the people of their respective counties it would have several advantages over the present method. In the first place it would secure a uniformity which is very much needed and which can scarcely be brought about in any other way; and secondly, it would make the people more directly responsible for the success or failure of the schools, and thus make them to become better acquainted with and to take a greater interest in them. As all the county officers are elected for four years, the county superintendent should be elected for the same length of time.

He also urges upon the Legislature the propriety of paying the county superintendents better salaries. "No other officers, save perhaps township superintendents, are so poorly paid. Their duties are onerous, responsible, and often harassing, and their faithful performance of the greatest importance to the success of our public schools. I believe it would advance the school interest of the State to pay them salaries sufficient to enable them to devote all their time to the duties of their offices, and to require them to visit every public school in their counties at least once during its session. The Legislature enacted a special law for Jefferson requiring this, and providing that the county

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superintendent should be paid $65 per month, over and above the regular compensation of county superintendents, out of the county treasury, and I am informed that the people of the county are well pleased with the law."

APPEALS FROM DECISIONS OF TOWNSHIP SUPERINTENDENTS OR TRUSTEES.

Under the present laws appeals from the decisions of township superintendents and trustees are restricted to the transactions of the meeting of parents and guardians the last week in October, and an appeal can then be taken to the county superintendent only. The right of appeal is liable to abuse and should not be enlarged too much, but at the same time every provision should be made against the liability of an injustice being done. Hence it is advised that appeals from decisions be not limited to any particular meetings, and that appeals may be taken from the county superintendent to the educational board of the county.

SALARIES OF TEACHERS.

Under the present regulations there is no great inducement to teachers to make efforts for first-grade certificates, as the holder of a third-grade certificate may be paid as much as one who holds a certificate of the first grade. The superintendent recommends that a law be passed making salaries of third-grade teachers from ten to twenty dollars per month; those of second-grade teachers from twenty to thirty-five dollars per month; and that teachers of the first grade shall not be paid less than thirty-five dollars per month. if there are sufficient funds for a three months' session at that rate, nor more than fifty dollars unless there are sufficient funds to run the schools six months or more at that rate, or where the patrons supplement the salary of the teacher.

RENT OF SCHOOL LANDS.

In many townships of the State the sixteenth sections of school lands have never been sold, but are leased as provided by law, and the money received from them is reported to the county superintendent, but the law requires no report of it to be made to the State superintendent, so that it might be deducted from the apportionment to such townships. A law should be passed requiring the county superintendents to notify the State superintendent of all money received as rent from school lands.

TEACHERS' EXAMINATIONS.

The law prescribes upon what branches and by whom teachers shall be examined, and that correct answers shall be given to 70 per cent. of the questions in order to obtain a license. The questions are prepared by the boards of examiners in the different counties, and there is a great difference in the character of the questions asked. In some Counties questions are asked candidates for third-grade certificates that only the most thorough scholars could answer, while in other counties only the simplest questions are given candidates for certificates of the first grade. Frequently "catch questions" are given, or such as require a retentive memory only. The superintendent thinks that it should be the duty of the State superintendent, assisted by two experienced teachers, to prepare different series of questions to be sent out together with rules for conducting the examinations, to the different boards of examiners. This plan has been adopted in many of the States and gives very general satisfaction.

RECOMMENDATIONS.

Superintendent Palmer recommends: That an appropriation for the benefit of the public schools of not less than $100,000 be made in addition to the regular annual appropriation.

That the State constitution be so amended as to authorize and require the levy and collection of a tax not exceeding five mills on the dollar, in counties, cities, towns, townships, or other school districts, to be used for building and furnishing school-houses, or for other school purposes.

That all county superintendents be elected by the people, that their salaries be increased from $75 to $150 per annum, and that they be required to visit every school in their respective counties, for which they shall receive compensation out of the county treasuries. That provision be made by law for securing a complete enumeration of all persons within the school age.

That the pay of teachers be graded according to their certificates.

That the scholarship required for a third-grade license embrace such a fair knowledge of English grammar as will enable the applicant to speak and write the language with reasonable correctness, and that all applicants for a teacher's license be required to pay 50 cents before being examined.

That the poll-taxes collected each year from each race be made the basis for teachers' contracts and payments the succeeding year.