The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-06-11
Better School bcuSeS
 and Surroundings # s By Mrs. J. D. Matlock.

promotion of public education in the State; Mir. Mallory. of sei- ma. offered resolution. which was adopted by the Grahu Lodge of Masons of Alabama. earnest
 iy and urgently recommending Una. the Masons throughout the state use their influence for the upbuilding oI the common schools. And last, put not least, the women have taken up the work of improving the school in- vironment of our future citizens Ana 1t Is said. I haSdly know in what spir
 1t, that when the women undertake work something Is going to De oohe.
 There are in the State already few organizations that have for their oo- ject the improvement of the schooi ln- vironment. and on the 21st of last month Mrs Erwin Craighead of Mobile organized at China. Conecuh County the first School Improvement Associa- ton under the auspices of the Ala bama Federation of Women's Clubs. Another was organized last Friday at Jonesboro, Jefferson County. The Edgewood Club of Birmingham has of fered, as an encouragement, prize or Sl0 to the school improvement asso- ciation in Jefferson County that does most during this year. We have let ters from earnest women In many parts of the State commencing our work and asking our help. One Of our County Superintendents told me he would gladly call meetings in the dit- ferent school communities in his Coun- ty for the organization of school im- | provement associations. and take an | organizer to these meetings to ad- dress them on the subject. He said he had long wished that there might be Ladies Aid Societies to work in the 1 interest of the schools.
 l Almost every church shows tho ben- eficial effects of womans work. and | the children are taught to contribute ] to the Sunday School. This is well, | but the public school should receive a | share of their attention. The child spends at most five hours per week at church. at school he spends five times seven hours. Religion Is not poured into a child ono day in the week, and secular knowledge five days. Every day he is being prepared for life and for eternity. There seems to be no difficulty in convincing parents of this, indeed, they seem already to realize 1t. and are only waiting to be shown the way to work. together for the good of their children. Even in the humblest home, the father and the mother. Enoch Arden like. wish for their chill dren "a better bringing up than his had been, or hers"
 We hope every teacher in the State will take an active interest in this work. Let us know of the success of your efforts. for our encouragement. and we will cooperate with you fin | every possible way. A young teacher in Tuscaloosa County. about eight miles from the railroad. this school year, enlarged his building, furnished it with patent desks, bought a stove. some maps. and other apparatus, and $S3 worth of books for the school li- brary. I wrote him to know how he did 1t. He replied that he and the school children gave a box supper and an oyster supper to raise part of the money, and he asked the people to contribute the rest and they did so. He added that if country people see that they are to be really benefited from a proposed improvement, they will contribute willingly and liberally. In making his first selection of books for the library he purchased such as
 would interest the parents as we'll as the children. after these books were
 read and enjoyed both were anxious for others. ~'
 The following are some of the things a School Improvement Association may do, according to the needs of tho school: Fence the school grounds. set out trees and shrubs. plant flowers. sod the yard-there Is nothing so delightful to play on as grass. and l do not know of many better uses to which grass may be put; prepare the plat used for ball and similar games so 1t will not be muddy; visit the school and see that the house is clean before the session opens; see that there are enough seats and hooks or nails for hats, wraps, and lunch baskets; ;see that there is supply of wholesome drinking water, also drinking vessels and a basin with towels and soap Supply shades for the windows. Place on the walls one or more good pictures Copies of the worlds masterpieces may be purchased at a nominal cost. Help secure a school library. Besides es- tablishing libraries, and circulating libraries, which any school may enjoy by sending s1 for transportation to Mrs. T. C. Randall. of Birmingham every school should have library oi its own consisting of an International Dictionary and as many reference books, supplementary readers, and classics as 1t can procure. To protect these there should be a book case The medical case supplied with simple remedies such as bandages, court plaster, and surgeons plaster, arnica ammonia, vasellne. turpentine. cam phor, etc. See that the school Is pro. vided with means of artificial lightning and in rural districts this means witt good lamps. It Is safe to say this vii increase the educational advantages oi the school to the community 50 pei cent Dr. Eliot. of Harvard. says The school house should be the most active social center of the neighbor.