The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-30
\ F the 50 per cent of the states rev.
 enues received from direct taxation

not one cent has been used to build or equip school houses. The individual communi- ties have supplied their own school houses. Their equipment, such as it was, had to be supplied by individuals. If no one cared enough about equipment the school went along without 1t.
 In 1904 the Alabama Federation of Wom- ems clubs adopted a resolution creating school improvement committee.
 In 1907 the legislature made law appropriating S67,0O0 annually for building and repairing rural school houses. In order to secure a part of this appropria- ton community must raise as much as 1t receives from the state The federa- ton, the legislature, the School Improve ment associations of Alabama are now in line with the national movement for the beautifying and equiping of school houses. They believe that the school is entitled to the best physical surroundings, to a good working equipment and to an attractive school room.
 The systematic work of the state com mittee is honey combing Alabama with county school improvement associations. After less than two years of active work there are eleven associations and about fifty district associations.
 At Cleveland Blount county, a rural community about eight miles from rail- road, said Mrs. J. D. Matlock, state presi- dent, in address at the Pinehurst con- ference, ''the people had erected one of the best school houses in the county, but felt that they were not able at that time to finish and equip 1t. The teacher hay ing heard at the University Summer school of our plans for school improve ment, arranged to have school rally. One of the results was the Cleveland Im- proyement association. It raised $871 and spent it for finishing the building and for desks, blackboards, maps, charts, diction- ary and stand, musical instrument, broomS, buckets, dipperS and other neceS- saries.
 "rThe Pike County School Improvement association organized with membership of one hundred and has organized seven district associations
 'In order to obyiate any prejudice" says Mrs. Matlock, that might arise from fear that we would attempt to meddle with the management of schools we set forth our purpose to be to stlmu- late the people in the various school dis trcts of the state to organize school inn proyement associations, the objects of which are to bring about greater inter- est in the schools and to provide better material equipment for them, such as houses, grounds, furniture, apparatus, libraries. decoration. We believe that childhood is entitled to a comfortable, wholesome and attractive environment because environment and such exertion facilitate the awakening to the world wonder around us Now that the work is started our aim is to devote ourselves chiefly to the organization of county associations whose duty it is to organize and foster an association in every district in the country"
 Reports from different counties show how effective has been the work of the committee. Organizations at Brewton, Whistler, Citronelle have improved and beautified the grounds and refurnished the old buildings In some instances ma sorry walls have been built about the grounds, which have been well sodded and a hose installed for watering Broad cement walks have been laid and emer- gency rooms have been comfortably fur nshed Shade trees have been planted.
 In Butler county the association raised sufficient money to buy new desks and repair the building. Beginnings have been made at Plantersville, Summerfield, Minter. Marion Junction and Sardis. Ac- tive interest has been awakened in other counties The banner association of the state is at China, Conecuh county It is in the district of Mrs Erwin Graghead. There are only eight members. The num- Der of children of school age in the dis trct is about thirty. The association has B new school house. with two departments connected by double doors, and furnished at a cost of five hundred dollars. The play ground is well shaded. An temized expense account is as follows Furniture and equipments. sixteen patent desks $50; 5x20 feet of blackboard $11 50: one heater, s15; teachers desk and chair, $325; two school bells, 50 cents; glass. comb. brush, s1 bucket dipper and pan s1; one map. s25O Painting the building amounted to s25
 
 In communications from the state com mittee the county presidents are asked to secure from the county superintendent the names and addresses of the teachers of the county, to whom circulars may be sent County presidents are urged to at tend the meetings of the teachers insti ute where the work of school improve ment and school impromevent associations may be discussed. The suggestion has also been made to offer $25 to the teacher of the school who submits the best re- port of improvement during a specified time, the money to be used to defray ex- penses at one of the summer schools.
 The state department of education has at it's disposal a small sum, about $10, for each county from which expenses for stamps and stationery can be paid.
 The conditions under which the Ala bama Federation of Womens clubs have offered one hundred dollars to the school improvement aSSOcldtlOn that reports lile greatest improvement in the rural schools of it's county are as follows:
 The term improvement includes:
 a. Local taxation.
 b. Consolidation.
 c. New buildings that conform to plans approved by the state department of edu- cation.
 d. Deciding the school property in fee simple to the county board of education for the benefit of the children of the dis trict in which the building Is located, if 1t is not already so deeded.
 e. Libraries.
 f. Interior decorations.
 E. Identifying yards.
 h. Enlarging the grounds if they do not include at least one acre-they should in- clude three acres
 l. Furniture and better general equip ment
 Improvements must be made betwee Oc- tober i, 1906, and October 1, 1907.
 The county association receiving the prize must in turn award it to the local association in that county that has sub mtted the best report of work accom- plished in the specified time. Only rural schools can compete for this prize. No town or city with more than 300 popula- tion shall be eligible to the contest.
 County associations wishing to enter this contest should secure prior to Sep tember 2o names and descriptions of schools throughout the county before inn provements are made.
 All reports, descriptions. photographs and other evidences showing improve ments must be sent to the chairman of