At the start of the 1900s, many people in Alabama knew that schools needed to improve. Not all children had the chance to go to school, and many schools didn’t have enough teachers or supplies. During this time, different leaders, groups, and new laws helped give more Alabama children the opportunity to learn.
Helping Rural Schools
One way education improved was through the Anna T. Jeanes Fund. This fund gave money to help train teachers in small, rural schools, especially schools for Black children. The fund helped bring better teachers and more resources to communities that needed them.
Another leader, Booker T. Washington, worked hard to build more schools for Black students. He partnered with Julius Rosenwald, a businessman, to create Rosenwald Schools across the South. These schools gave thousands of Black children a chance to get an education when public schools did not provide equal opportunities.
Growing Colleges
At the same time, more colleges were created for Black students. Schools like Tuskegee Institute and other historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) grew, giving Black Alabamians more options to study and prepare for careers. These schools helped students become teachers, business leaders, and other professionals in their communities.
New Laws for Education
In Alabama, leaders also worked to make school required for more children. Governor Braxton Bragg Comer supported compulsory education laws, which meant that children had to attend school for a certain number of days each year. Before these laws, many children stayed home to work on farms or help at home. The new rules made sure more children got a chance to learn.
Education for Young Children
Not all education happened in big schools. In 1898, Maud Lindsay started Alabama’s first free kindergarten in Tuscumbia. She believed that even very young children deserved a place to learn and grow. Her work helped start more early childhood programs across the state.
A Time of Growth
The early 1900s were a time of growth for education in Alabama. Leaders, groups, and new laws worked together to give more children a chance to go to school. Although not all schools were equal, these efforts helped expand opportunities for many students and opened doors for learning that had not been there before.