The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-15
FEATURES OF THE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS OF BIRMINGHAM
eY JAMES A. mcknight.

and nearly all denounced 1t as mean"
unfair" dishonest etc. One or two
had heard their parents say that 1t was
all right" because 1t was an act of
war. and that all things are fair in war
But the disapproval or the class was
practically unanimous and magnihed.
The kindness, courtesy and forbearanee
of the principals and teachers engender
these qualities in the children There is
no getting into ruts or grooves. no chan
nelizing. The variety of work in each
grade and class keeps the mind of every
child alert There Is always something
DOING. and that something is interesting,
vital, inspiring. A splendid corps spirit
is manifest throughout the organization
which gives enthusiasm to the work No
listless, time-service, but energized de-
votion to lofty purpose which has its
fruition every day in concrete results.
Training in Music.
The smallest tot who enters the first
grade begins at once to learn music, and
the course Is continued with guarded pro-
gress. BY the time they reach the third
or fourth grade, they read the notes read
lily at sight, and are able to read from
the sign manual, or hand notes." which
are produced before them by the teacher
in manner similar to the deaf mute
manual. They sing the note indicated by
the teachers hand Just as well as if IL
was written on the board or in their books.
This involves strict attention, keen per-
ception, and a lively interest. 1t would
be difficult to overestmate the value of
such training.
With some 5000 school children in the
city acquiring a practical knowledge of
music, it is certain that Birmingham will
. soon achieve distinction as a musical CEN
ter. The taste for music developed by
the school course, will lead many to take
a higher course in instrumental or vocal
music, and, with a little encoura cement
from parents, there should soon be the
refining influence of music IN every home.
Thanksgiving Exercises.
The custom of having suitable exercises
on the morning of Thanksgiving Day In
the public schools, originated in Birming-
ham some fifteen years ago and has now
become pretty generally observed all over
the country. Each child brings some
small offering for the charity fund. In
the lower grades, fruits, flowers, and
articles of food or apparel are accepted
and in the higher small gifts of money
The funds thus contributed are given to
the United Charities the Boys Industrial
School, Crech, kindergarten, and Mercy
Home Whatever is realized on that day
from the colored schools is given to the
"Old Folks Home"
small fund is retained from this
source to provide books and clothing for
needy children who would not be able to
attend school except for the aid thus
given. No one ever knows who the re-
cipients of this largess are, but 1t is the
testimony that they have been among
the most deserving and ambitious schol-
ars and have well repaid their benefac-
tors for helping them through
Birmingham really has much to be
proud of in connection with her public
schools, and the time will soon come
when further advancement will be made.
A magnificent high school will be built
in time on site where a handsome little
park can be grown around it. and the
high school Will become entirely free like
the other schools
In many other states all the school
books are provided at public expense, and
this also will come In Birmingham, and
perhaps throughout Alabama. The pro-
gress being made, while much slower
than the true friends of education would
like, is safe and sure and along the
right lines. On the whole, the outlook is
decidedly encouraging for the free edu-
cational system of Birmingham. OF all
her treasures it is the most valuable the
| most to be cherished, the most to be fos-
| tered
If space would permit thousand inter-
esting and suggestive things might be
said about the work now going on In
these schools l will close with single
incident which is indicative of the spirit
which prevails throughout teacher
! noticed that her class was showing SOME
signs of fatigue, and breaking off the
lesson, she thus addressed them: Now
we are all going to take a little rest
Each pupil will fold his arms on his
desk and lay his head upon them and
take little nap. And while they sleep
each sleeper will dream a pretty Dream
At the tap of the bell all suited their
action to the teachers word, and the
teacher soliloquized for a moment on the
dreams which they were to tell when
they awoke at the next tap of the bell
All the dreams related were brief, but
showed the beginning of a faculty of inn
agination, without which life is seen o.
only one side.
Finally, a small boy commanded at
tention by saying that his dream was
about the teacher. Yes, Miss Lulu-I
dreamed about you'll thought you were
invited to a party"
The teacher expressed her pleasure
and the rest of the story happened out OF
| school. The mother of the gallant little
dreamer was about to give an entertain
ment at her house. and on his arrival
from school that day, the boy demanded
an invitation for his teacher The moth
er said she would certainly send It; but
the boy insisted on taking 1t himself He
handed the card to his teacher next
morning with great glee saying: There
MISS Lulu-you see my dream has come
true"
Let all the children dream that Biz
mingham has a new high school, and
may that dream most speedily come true