DOCCIBENT RESUME ED 191 -60D6 SO 012 795 TITLE' History of Education in Alabama. Bulletin 1975,-gb. 7. INSTITUTION Alabama State Dept. of Educa.Lon, Montgomery. Div. of Instructional Services.: Southern Regional Education Board, Atlanta, Ga. SPCNS AGENCY Office of Education (DREW), Washington, D.C. PUB DATE- 75 NOTE 136p.: 'Photographs may not reproduce clearly from En's in paper copy. AVAILABLE FRCM Alabama State Department of Education, 111 Coliseum Boulevard, Montgomery, AL 36109 ($2.00) EDES PPICE MF01/PC06 Plus Postage. DESCiiIPTOBS *Educational. Sistorv:_Elementary Secondary Education: Futur'es (of society): Higher Education: Public Education: *State History IDENTIFIERS *Alabama ABSTRACT Thit publication summarizes the history of education in Alabama. It is intended toenhance.the interest in and appreciation for the state's educational system and to demonstrate to Alabathians the value of bUildirg and.maintaining a strong educational. system. Education begat in Alabama With the Indians who inhabited the ,state. Alabamian Indians loved oratery and used this method to .instruct their children in the hiStory of the-widespread migrations and heroic exploits of their tribes. Each generation of Indians in Alabama also taught to each succeeding generation the various skills necessary for the survival of its primitive culture. The various European countries, interested in economic prOfits, did little to establish any educational.tystem in Alabama. Later, however, when. Alabama entered the Urn in 1819, the state strongly supported education for its-cit. ens. The War Between the States in 1861 ditrupted.an adequate educational system that was making prOgreti. DUring Reconstruction, the state government attempted to rebsildthe school system and to extend ethication to those whites and blacks who were excluded in antebellum timeS:'After Reconstruction, education in Alabama did not keep pace with the'rest*of the nation for a variety of reasons - -a poor economy, excessive rumbeis of children, a dual school system, and .a generalidisinterest in education. Currently, federal funds and more. state government emphases of education have greatly strengthened the state educational system. (Author/R/1) *********************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDPS are the best that can be'made from the original-document. ********************************************************************* AUG 141980 HISTORY OF EDUCATION IN ALApAMA U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, s EDUCATION & WELFARE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION THIS DOCUMENT HASBEEN REPRO- DUCED EXACTLY AS .RECEIVEDFROM THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATIONORIGIN- ATING IT POINTS OF VIEWOR OPINIONS STATED DO NOT NECESSARILYREPRE- W'. SENT OFFICIAL NATIONALINSTITUTE OF EDUCATION POSITION OR POLICY PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY LOrs.3/7,0, TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES O INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)." Bicentennial Intern Project Conducted by the Alabama State Department of Education gme in Cooperation with the Southern Regional Education Board BULLETIN 1975, No. 7 AUG 7 1980 2 Coordinated by Divisicb of Instruction J.C. Blair, Director William Arthur Heustess, Project Chairman a J This report was produced through the Alabama pilot project of the Bicenten- nial Intern Program in Education. The project was administered by the Alabama Department of Education in cooperation with the Southern Regional Education Board. Funds were provided by the U.S. Department of Health. Education and :Welfare, the Alabama Department of Education, and the Alabama American Revolution Bicentennial Cominission. The work presented or reported herein was performed pursuant to azmn- tract from the U.S."Office of Education, Department of Health, EducatiOn and Welfare. The opinions expressed herein, however, do not necessarily reflect the( position or policy of the U.S. Office of Education, and no official endorsement by the U.S. Office of Education sltould be implied. iii THE .BICENTEN NIAL INTERN PROGRAM IN ,4. EDUCATION The Bicentennial Intern program in EduCation is designed to contributeto public awareness and professional understanding of,the issues and oppoitunities associated with education today. Highly qualified, graduate studentsserve with state education- agencies to conduct broad studies of the roles education has playecriri states' develq5ment, to assess states' educationalprogress and circum- stances, and to identify alternative methods of dealing with isgites and problems in the-future. Under the sponsorship of the Educational Division of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, pilOt projectswere conducted during 1974 in four states Alabama, Colorado, Indiana, and Rhode Island. In Alabama Miss Adelaide Kilgrow and Mr. Eugene M. Thomaswere selected-for the nine-month internships with-the Alabama Department of Educa- tion. Miss Kilgrow is a doctoral students in educational administrationat 'The University of Alabama. and Mr. Thomas is a doctoral student in historyat. Auburn University. Theinterns documented Alabama's educational progress' during the past two centuries, and their study is the basis for statewide Bicenten- nig] plans .for 1975 and 1976. A movie highlighting the study is being prepared by the Alabama Department of Education and the Alabama American Revolution :Bicentennial Commission, with assistaw from the interns. A text supplement for. secondary:teachers in social studie will facilitate discussion of theimpor- tance of education. A Bicentennial ne..wspaper with many ideas for student Bi- centennial:projects will be 'sent to all Alabama schOols in 1975. The Alabama education project serves as a demonstrati8n Bicentennial proj- ect for Other Alabama public agendies, for agencies in other States, and for DHEW's Education Division. It is a model for Bicentennial activities thatare professionally productive, educational for the participants, and interestingto the public:. With the other three pilot projects, it helps show the variety ofways in which an -institution can identify its contributions to life in the United States. Harlan T. Cooper - Southern Regional EcrucAion Board 5 iv -,ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Grateful acknowledgement is made fo. all who contributed-go this work. Many:people-assisted the, author, and thanks are due to the folloWing persons. especially: M.C. McMillan. Andrew MfWeaver. Truman M2Piere ofAbburn University: Paul Orr. John F. Ramsey. MatthaW_Tack. and Patricia W. Seymour of The UniYersity Of Alabama: William F: .Barnard of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education: C.B. Smith. formerly of Troy State University: and J.C. Blair and W,A,,Heifstess of the Alabama State*Department -of Education. ;Thanks ale also due for the cooperation extended by the State Department of Education: the. Southern Regional Education .Board: the. State Department .of .:Atchives and 'History: the 'Alabama Council on the-Arts and Humanities: the Southern RegiOrial Council: the U.S. Office, of Health, Education and Welfare: the Catholic Schools. Diocese of North Alaloama: the Andalusia City SchOol System: the Monroe County School System: the LamarCounty. School System: the Henry County SchoOl System: the Florence City School System: the Madison County School System: and the Decatur City School System. Many friends, both specialists and secretaries in the Basic Sciences Section-. Division of Instruction. State Department of Education. have assisted through dis- cussion of ideas: encouraging ,words, and. constructive criticism. Finally, thanks go. to our families. who have sustained our efforts through a period of concen- trated yeork. 2 Adelaide Kilgrow Eugene Marvin Thomas. The University of Alabama Auburn Uniyersity 7 FOREWORD History is a fascinating subject which giveS an account of theAccomplish-: ments made by thehuman family during thevast.It gives a foundation for unde'r- standing the present and guidance forus as'we make diic- Isions which havean impact on/the future. This histor.of education in Alabarria is, I beliciVe, a iignifi-. cant contribution to the record ofaccomplishments in public education 4ri the' State of Alabarria." There was indeeda need for this history to be written. It can be used by all citizens of the state andparticularly by the school boys andgirls in the early years of their, education. ITcan also 136 used as a source of information and inspiration for education studentsat all level's: It can be used for the-general citizenry to gain a better insight into theprogress of education in Alabama and the direction in which it shouldgo in the future. The authors of this historyare to be commended for their diligence and for their dedication in seeking authenticinformation to present in this document. I also commend the Bicentennial Corrimissibn,the Southern Regionl Education ,Board. the State. Department of.Educationkifficials; and all interestedpersons who made a contribution to the success of thieptiblication. It has been asource of . satisfaction and pleasure to work with e.t;who have successfully written this volume, and the people of Alabaina nee' tad to those who contributed to this effort.,._ LeRoy Brown. State Superintendent of Education PREFACE People in Alabama today say that, ecru cation is important forthemselves and the state: however, when asked why. they don't know.It is anticipated that this '. summary of Alabama. education will not only erihance theinterest-in and ap- preciation for the slate's_ educational sys'te'm: but, by emphasizing'the-effects education has had onthe state and its people.