The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-07-09
MRS. GOODWIN WRITES
 OF ANNEX AT UNIVERSITY.

The statement has bean made and many times reiterated that in the list of States Alabama ranks third in illite:- acy.
 This may be true. If it is so, the fact Is not due to any lack of natural ability, nor to mental inertia. Nor If true will 1t long remain so, for this fair State, like Rudyard Kipling's ship. is fast find ing herself and learning her possibilities. She sees her best means of development in the accomplished educators, men and women, who hold her interests dear, who walk perseveringly in the light Of great purpose" and before whom ''diffi- culties shall disappear as the horizon re- cedes before the advancing step"
 Good Meeting.
 The recent meeting in Birmingham of the Alabama Educational Association was the most gratifying in the history of that body. The work fin the last four years of the State Superintendent of Edu cation has produced marked results. Educational standards have been raised; county superintendents have been put to their mettle to keep apace with new and better methods, and teachers have been moved to a zeal unknown to their past.
 Alabama took long step forward when a State examination was required as test of the ability of her teachers, and another. when the constitutional conven- ton authorized local taxation for school purposes. When an educational qualifica- tion equal. at least, to that of a first grade teacher shall be required of our county superintendents, then surely the stigma of third in illiteracy" will be eradicated from the State.
 Julia Tutwiler Annex.
 To show how brave an effort Is being 1,I I1I, Ca irY1a tY, m nm has but to point to our University an- nex, the Julia Tutwiler Annex, named in compliment to and largely due to the in fluence of one who has endeared herself to the people of Alabama through her lifelong consecration to the education and reform interests of the State.
 The University was first opened to girls In 1896. Since then the attendance has increased yearly until in 1901-1902 thirty seven girls were received as regular stu dents In 1s9S-'9 fourteen girls won highest honors. Among these, however, were many who applied themselves not to the regular course but only to one or two subjects Since 1899 only those who are regular students pursuing yearly course may compete for highest honors.
 An item of interest for those who have not investigated for themselves the work of the University Annex, is the fact that in 1900 four girls from among the twenty who were then University students re- ceived highest honors, that Is they had obtained "an average grade of 95 per cent or more in all studies they had pursued during the year."
 The same year from the complement number of one hundred and seventy-six university boys, confronting like copdi. tions as students only two received high est honors. On the catalogue list for this year the names of the girls are given priority. Whether this Is only co compliment to the sex-ladies f1rst-is not recorded. therefore one is at liberty to judge that the average of each young lady was better than that of each young man. However this may be, these girls deserve the compliment of having their names recorded in connection with any written or spoken word touching tha curriculum work of the University in 1900. They were Rosa Lanhon, Mary de Bardeleben, Fannie Ingerson and Lila McMahOn.
 Miss Lila McMahon of Livingston. one of the four young ladies, who in lsOO re ceived highest honors. received in 1g2 the degree of Master of Arts.
 The Young Men.
 With the desire to give honor where t Is due the writer thinks it only fair to add the names of the two young men who out of one hundred and seventy-six elected to keep pace with the girls. They were Fred George Moore and George Herbert Jones. In 1901 two girls, out of full attendance of twenty-seven, re- ceived highest honors-Miss de Bardele- ben again was one of these, Miss Eleanor McCorvey the other. In 19O2 Miss Anna Hunter carried the palm alone. This ap- parent gradual falling of in excellence is due possible to a gradual advance in educational standards.
 Object Desired.
 But the object of this writing Is not, primarily, to consider educational condi- tions at the annex, but to draw attention to the physical environment of the girls during the eight months of their schol- astic year This is not so well under stood as it should be and the gist of the matter is that physical environmet has much to do with the making or mar ring of results in education and charac- ter, which Emerson tells us is better than intellect.
 One of our prominent educators. man who exerted a positive influence in open ing the doors of the university to girls, one who has thoroughly investigated and understands conditions pertaining to the annex. has recently said that the situation resolves itself to this Either the State should make an appropriation for the annex or close the doors of the university to young ladies. This Is a strong statement. and one the young ladies themselves would hardly endorse. They long for more cheerful conditions in their school life and they know the value of outdoor exercise and indoor rest, but rather than forego the larger intellectual gain the university affords, they are willing to endure hardness" The State should and doubtless will make an appropriation for the Julia Tutwiler anneX-the very name deserves a sub stantial recognition for it. but the doors must never be closed while Alabama girls can, in spite of physical discom- forts and lack of cheer. work their way so Vaiantly to the front. Six of them have already received the degree of mas ter of arts Alabama owes it to her fu- tUre welfare to foster zealously every educational advance. We, the people who love the State, do not hope to reach ideal conditions along any lines, but we want MnnT TNF rnN NTTVy