The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-05-22

poorest peasant population too ignorant
to know the value and blessing of an ed
ucation and too indifferent to care to
secure it for their offspring
To Be Faced With Courage.
g. 1t behooves our people to face these
facts with their characteristic courage,
the courage that they displayed on the
battle field when the forces of the world
We're massed against Them the courage
that they displayed in the darkest hour
of the direst poverty that followed on
the heels'of bloody war and that enabled
them to repair their broken fortunes and
rebuild their blasted homes and reculti-
vate their devastated fields. They are
now beginning to have time and means
to build up their public schools.
Purpose of Statement.
A. Far be it from US any intention of
ridicule. blame or encouragement in re-
citing these facts in regard to the ed
ucational conditions of the southern
states. To those familiar with the OBJ
stacles that had to be overcome-soeial
and political revolution. destruction and
reconstruction, poverty, robbery. mis-
rule-the wonder is that these conditions
are as good as they are. For a people
that have so herocally and successfully
surmounted such obstacles and made pos
SlDIc III Oflt BtHtIdliOH d HtW anu 6lpl-
ious era of Industrial and educational de-
velopment, we have only admiration,
gratitude, commendation
We would remind this generation of
southerners, however. that some sacrifice
FOR their children Is necessary and that
with half the sacrifice their fathers and
mothers made southern children can be
given such educational facilities as will
enable them to begin the work of man
hood and womanhood without handicap
as compared with the children of other
sections of our common country
2. Remedies. Realizing the defects of
the public schools of the south. we beg
to suggest out of our experience and OBJ
servation some remedies;
Necessary Physical Equipment.
]. At the foundation of every success
full school system lies the practical prob
lem of necessary physical equipment in
houses, furniture and grounds. This
question of the character of a public
school house is far more serious one
than it seems to the minimizing. Nobody
has any respect for anything that is not
respectable A respectable school house
with respectable equipment and decent
surroundings Is necessary for conducting
successfully the business OF public educa-
ton and is essential for commanding the
respect to the community for that BUSH
ness. Men judge the character Of bus
mess by the character of the place of
business.
Surely, then, the house in which this
sacred work OF training the children of
the republic for citizenship and social
service, a work that has to do with mind
and soul and body, with the moulding of
character and the creation of ideals,
should be a place worthy in all respects
of such a work, home, not howell; a
place of beauty, not place of ugliness
a place of comfort, not a place of dis
comfort; place of cleanness. not place
of uncleanness About 1t the grass should
grow green and the sun bright. the flow
ers bloom and the birds sing and the
trees wave their long arms, that the
children. while listening to the lessons
taught by man and books. may receive
also, from the potent, silent influence of
proper environment, the sweet messages
Of peace and love and culture and beau
ty.
Qualified Teachers.
2. Houses and grounds and equipment