The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-03
NEW HIGH SCHOOL
 OPENED YESTERDAY
Dedicatory Exercises Will be
 Held in Few Weeks
400 CHILDREN ASSEMBLE
Acoustics of the Main Auditorium Are Good, Says the Rev. pr. A. J. Dickinson-Severai
 Addresses.

The imposing new High school build ing Erected by the People of Birming- ham for the Education of Its Youth" was opened to the pupils yesterday and the classes were assigned to their re- spective rooms.
 The Board of Education has decided to hold formal dedicatory exercises so soon as the building is entirely completed. The dedication will be quite an event in educational circles in Alabama. An interesting programme will be arranged and educators from many parts of the United States will participate.
 At the opening yesterday morning about l00 pupils assembled in the main audito- rum to hear short addresses made by the Rev. Dr. John W. Stagg, the Rev. pr. A. J. Dickinson, J. NJ. Dewberry Superintendent J. H. Phillips, Principal Cunningham and all the members of the faculty
 Dr. Phillips presided and called on Dr. Dickinson to open the exercises with prayer hymn was sung by the school, followed by a prayer offered by Dr. Stagg. Dr. Phillips then called attention to the
  and what it meant for the city
 The Acoustics.
 Dr. Phillips asked Dr. Dickinson to test the acoustics of the auditorium. consider ing as he did, the pastor an authority on the subject. Dr. Dickinson said that he rejoiced with the pupils and the peo- pie of Birmingham in their magnificent 1,f- .Iyc which were spoken in a clear and dis tinct but not a loud voice, he asked how many of those in the extreme rear heard his remarks All hands in that section went up and Dr. Dickinson point ed out wherein the acoustics were good.
 Dr. Stagg was called on for few remarks and responded in an informal talk, combining humor and seriousness. In his talk he referred to fear of God as being the foundation of wisdom. |" Later in his remarks he called attention to the significance of a fact pointed out in recent editorial in The Age-Herald stating that few truly great men had died in the year just closed.
 The Truly Great.
 He said that the time was approach ing when to be truly great would be nearly impossible. The people as people are becoming elevated to such a level that few notably great men tower above the people He spoke of what Birming- ham in particular and Alabama in gen. eral had to expect from the high school pupils.
 J. M. Dewberry, well known in educa- tional circles. was present and addressed the pupils.
 After these informal talks Dr. Phil lips called on each member of the fac- ulty in turn to say a few words The only addition to the corps of teachers is Professor McNish of New York, who will be at the head of the department of history and economics and will also be instructor in athletics.
 Principal Cunningham concluded the in- formal programme by making the as- signments of the classes to the rooms. He said that visitors from other states who had visited the High school in its old quarters, had seldom failed to call attention to the poor surroundings. It has been, he said, the hope of the school for many years, to have fine structure such as the present one He then appeal ed to the pupils to help preserve the building.
 The Building.
 The new building is one of the hand somest in Birmingham, and better adapt ed for high school purposes than any building in the south. perhaps. It was erected by the city at cost of s150,000. and it has ample facilities for a city much larger than Birmingham is at present
 The building .las four floors. The ground floor will not be used for class rooms but will be in the nature of basement. The gymnasium and swimming pool are on this floor. The second floor will be used entirely for class rooms. The audi torium occupies the center wing of the second and third floors and has a seat ing capacity of 1900 It is furnished with comfortable opera chairs, and has stage sufficient for all school purposes. The structure is built of red brick and stone and is handsomely furnished. The first floor has not been completed and many finishing touches are required to make the building complete.
 The building will be heated by hot air fans with registers in each room. All the rooms are we'll ventilated and lighted. A telephone has been installed in each room in connection with the principals office. only one class room will be used on the third floor at present. and it is thought that, notwithstanding the rapid growth of the city, It will be several years before the building is taxed to its greatest capacity.
 The pupils were dismissed yesterday morning about 10.30 o'clock and allowed to inspect the building. The regular daily grind will begin today. A number of peo- pie went through the building for several hours yesterday, and the universal opin- ion was that 1t was magnificent"
 VERDICT ANNOUNCED.