The age-herald., 1900-08-12
BIRMINGHAM AS AN EDUCATIONAL CENTER
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The educational facilities of Birmingham hold a conspicuous place among the num- erous factors which have contributed to the city's remarkable growth and progress The story of Birmingham, when completely un- folded, will disclose the fact that her fame is not entirely due to her iron and coal, her furnaces and her factories. These, of course, constitute the basis of her wealth; the physical must always underlie the men, tai and the spiritual Side by side with her great industrial and mercantile es- tablishments, Birmingham has fostered her educational institutions, and today the city is known far and wide, not only as the great industrial center of the south, but as an educational center as well.
 To begin with, her public schools need no commendation. They stand in the front rank of this class of schools in the United States, and their work has received the highest mead of praise from critics and experts who have carefully examined their methods and tested their results. Under the management of non-partisan and. non- sectarian board of education, the schools of the city have been entirely free from the baneful influences that have marred the efficiency of the schools of many older cities. The elementary course comprises seven years of tuition in the ordinary branches of English education including vocal music and drawing. After complet- ing this course the pupil may enter the high school, where are offered several par allel courses, covering period of four years, for young men and women. These courses are so arranged that the student may be prepared to enter any of the lead ing colleges of the country. The High School of the city justly enjoys an en- yiable reputation on account of the h1gh standing 1t maintains and the thorough ness of the work in all departments.
 The elementary school buildings of the ci,y are regarded models. Three of these have cost the city upwards of $5O,OO0 each; they are entirely modern in construction and equipment, and are provided with the most modern conveniences, both for the comfort and the instruction of the pupils. The school rooms are models of neatness and during the past year, under the direc- ton of the teachers, much progress was made in the line of school decoration. over $500 worth of pictures were placed in the several schools, many of them copies or the works of the great masters in art These pictures are so arranged ana claSSl- fed as to form a graded and connected course of instruction, correlated with other work of the classes. About 1000 pupils were in attendance last year and addi- tional accommoda tions will soon be re- Quired. The Board of Education will erect at once three additional brick school build ingS to cost aggregate of $5O,O00. The sites for these buildings have already been secured, one at Jonesville one near Lake view and one in the vicinity of the rolling mill and it is expected that the buildings will be ready for occupancy by January l. A movement has also been inaugurated locking to the erection of an elegant high school building.
 In addition to her public school system, Birmingham boasts of some of the best pri- Nate schools in the south. Among her educational workers number of strong men-men who combine high mental cul- ture with practical business acumen, who are devoting their lives to the training Of young men for colleges and universities Prominent among these may be mentioned such we'll known educators as Profs. w. F. Taylor, J. J. White, J. c. DuBose and s. L. Robertson.
 Birmingham has also a number of eX- cellent schools for young ladies'. The Pol lock-Stephens Institute is the oldest and one of the most fourishing schools of this class in the city. It has a well deserved reputation training school for young ladies. Another popular and prosperous school of this class is the Birmingham Seminary. This institution since it's tablishment has met with phenomenal suc- cess. The East Lake Atheneum is another popular institution for young ladies. This school established by the late Dr. Solomon Palmer who gave it reputa- tion for thoroughness that has been ad- nirably maintained by his successors. No city in the south can boast of any better advantages in the way of educational facili- ties for young ladies.
 In this enumeration we must not omit to mention Birmingham's superior facilities for the higher education ol;young men. In her suburbs are located two excellent in stitQtions of college grade-Howard College at East Lake and the North Alabama Con- ference College at Owenton. Both of these institutions are equipped win strong facul- ties, are well patruniZed and are in a prosperous condition.
 There are also two large parochial schools maintained by the Catholic Church, two fiourishing business colleges, two conserva- tories of music of high grade, a medical and dental college.
 From this list it will be seen that Birm- ingham is bent upon keeping in the van of progress, not only in the usual lines of prescribed literary training, but also in facilities for aesthetic culture and busi- ness and professional education
 The Free Kindergarten Association of the kindergarten schools were maintained through the efforts of the association and training school for the preparation of