The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-12
Origin of Movement.


 state of school improvement associa tions."
 Origin of Movement.
 This committee consists of Mrs. Joseph Dixon Matlock. chairman, of No. PHI Seventh avenue, Birmingham; Mrs. James L. McConaughy, secretary, of Monte vallo; Mrs. Greenwood Ligon, of 43 Spring Hill avenue. Mobile; Mrs. Edwir Craighead, of No 400 Congress street Mobile, and Mrs. J. D. Wyker, of Deca tur.
 In March the members of this commit tee met and issued ito the people of Ala bama" an ''open letter." in which are se out accurately and completely the pur poses of the Alabama School Improve ment association. After pointing out tha the school houses throughout the state are admittedly in need of improvement both in construction and in equipment the address states that Alabama's schoo houses are 'too frequently unsightiy un comfortable and insanitary in construc ton and seldom provided with the ma terials and furnishings necessary for in telligent and effective teaching such foi example as blackboards, maps, globes pictures, reference books and desks. This condition of affairs, continues the ad dress, puts a premium on ignorance by making attendance and instruction SC difficult as almost to prohibit both.'
 The Purpose Outlined.
 The women who issued this address in dulge in no senseless abuse of authorities They recognize that the state has giveI abundantly in school appropriations, an' that it cannot in reason, to quote Iron the address. 'be expected to pursue more generous policy towards the schocl s than that which it has recently, in re sponse to popular demand, adopted fo this reason the Alabama Confederation O Women's Clubs has determined Tn lt efforts to accomplish the purposes IL ha in view. "to appeal directly to the com munities immediately concerned.
 Within the last four months the special Iv appointed committee of which Mrs Mattocl is chairman, has been exceeding lv active in presenting the subject to pub lie attention, and it's efforts have every where been most cordially welcomed Tn state department of education IS giVihl the committee ardent encouragement an' substantial support. At the meeting or th state Educational association, held re cently fin Montgomery, the paper read b! Mrs Mattock on the subject of schoo ,mprovement associations in Alabami evoked hearty commendation. The s'at' press association at its meeting in Codeh endorsed the committees work unreserV edly. Besides all this, the committee nal set diligently at work to form school I'm proyement associations in every city town, village, hamlet and school distric in the state. Already a number of thes associations have been organized, ant the work in each case IS progressihs favorably.
 Mrs. Matock's Views.
 Mrs. Matlock, whose intelligent inter est in the movement has done not little in promoting It's success, talked most interestingly last night of the worl contemplated by the association.
 "The Alabama Federation of Women'i clubs.p said Mrs. Matlock, desire onl, in this matter to supplement and to sup port in every way practicable the or ganized work of public education in th' state. and we recognize conditions as they exist and have highly resolved to dc what in us lies to reckon with them wise ly and to improve them wherever I'm provement is possible. We have no in' tention of intruding upon the province oi the regularly constituted educational au' tborities. and we studiously deprecate either doing or even saying anythihe that may incite unhappy friction in edu- ca tional circles In a word 1t Is our pur' nose to do a womanly work in womanly way. keeping constantly in mind the well fare of the school children Of the state who are now reaching up into manhood and womanhood
 No Worthier Work.
 .Tt occurred to members of the Ala hama Federation of Workmen's clubs that their organization could engage IT no work worthier than that or Improving the facilities for educating the young boys and young girls of Alabama. We believe that the child is essentially the ware of the state and of society at large. We believe also that the children are the tamnles of the Holy Ghost. We are quite sure that when the Master placed a little obiId in the midst of His warning dis cinles and bade them remember that thai natbetic figure prefgured to men forever inc Kingdom of Heaven, truth ever lasting was given to the world, and one too. that needs to be kept constantly 1T mind.
 "With these views and views like these we have set at work to improve the environment of school children in Ala hama. It is quite unnecessary to dwel | upon the details of this environment. Il Ia sufficient to state that it is discourag | ing. school buildings. in equipment al well as in construction, are unsatisfac tory. Persons who travel widely in Ala hama are alike impressed and depressed w,th the fact that, while in almost ever, | community there are churches numerou and attractive, the school buildings ar as. A rule, not a little repelling. The1