The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-17

partments connected by double doors;
cost, $500.
T. Fairgrounds: One acre nicely shaded
with natural growth.
8. Furniture and equipments: Sixteen
patent desks that cost $50; 5x20 feet of
blackboard that cost 11.50; one heater,
cost SIS; teachers desk and chair cost
1875; two school bells, Soc; glass, comb
and brush, 81, bucket, dipper and pan, ST.
one map, $3.50.
The paint. which cost SIS. has just been
bought to paint this school building,
which completes the building.
Number of school improvement associa-
lions organized by the president and
treasurer of the China School associa-
ton, two.
We have visited four other school dis
tricts that have failed to organize as they
should, but they are building nice school
buildings. The treasurer gave a good talk
at each place on school work, and took
up a nice collection for each school house.
MRS. ]. E. WITHERINGTON, Pres.
I regret to report that our efforts at
some places have been barren of visible
results, but we have three county asso-
Citations, one city association and more
than twenty district associations. The
following is taken from the biennial re-
port Of the state superintendent of edu-
cation: During the past your years I
have appealed to various organizations in
the state to assist me to improve the edu-
cational conditions of the rural schools.
among the number that patriotic body of
women, the State Federation of Women's
clubs This organization came to my as
sistance with a strong committee, which
undertook the herculean task of organic
ing the counties and districts of the state
into School Improvement associations.
The work of the committee has now
AuT mNa
When the good results of such organiza-
ton were seen. appeals for organization
became so numerous that It was neces-
sary to have a lady devote her entire
time to the work. l was enabled to sup
ply this need by the Peabody board. The
services of Miss Burns an experienced
teacher, were secured to aid the commit
tee in doing this work. Any communica-
ton addressed to the committee or Miss
Batona Burns. care the department of
education. will receive prompt attention.
When the educational mel1enium dawns
in Alabama, instead of having a little
struggling school in every rural neighbor-
hood with meagre equipment and a poorly
paid teacher, we shall have the consoli-
dalton of these smaller schools into COM
plete graded schools where the children
will be instructed not only in the three
RS, but also in music, drawing, cooking,
sewing, practical agriculture, etc, and
each department and each grade will be
In charge of an expert. There will be
good roads, and free transportation for
the children who live too far from the
school to walk. The buildings will be
convenient, comfortable, sanitary and at
tractive, equipped with all needed appara-
tus, libraries, ETC., adorned with pictures
and statuary, and surrounded by spa
cious and well kept grounds. The school
will be the social, literary and art CEN
ter of the community. Present conditions
are so far from this ideal we can't rea-
sonably hope for its realization in tho
near future. but If we, you and /, and
every one In the state who appreciates
the Industrial, intellectual moral and
spiritual advantages of an education, will
work for school improvement-school bet.
terment-the realization of higher ideal
than this will be the result. Crime will
be reduced TO a minimum, and, as has
been said. the Boys Industrial Farm at
East Lake will be needed merely as an
industrial school.
Alabama as 81 state contributes 80 per
cent OF its revenues derived from direct
taxation to public education, but this can
be used only for instruction and super
vision. 1t Is left to individual commune
ties to supply school houses for their chill
dren, and in order to stimulate among
the people throughout the state the keen
est and most active interest In their
schools. we recommend:
l. That each club in the several coun-
ties of the state promote the organiza-
ton of couny school Improvement as
ISOLATION in its county The purposes of
a county association are Ito arouse the
interest of the people of the county in
the Improvement of their schools" and
ITO establish a local association in every
school district in the county"
. That the women of the federation
use their influence to secure such legis-
lation as will give state aid for the build
ing and equipment of rural school build
ing, and that will require the community
receiving such aid to have the plans for
its chool buildings approved by the state
department of education and to have Its
school grounds contain at least an acre.
g. That the clubs composing the fed
Grafton contribute toward a prize to be
given to the county school improvement
association in Alabama that reports the
greatest improvement in Its rural schools
from - to - about years time,
this prize to be given IN turn by the
county association 70 the local associa-
ton in that county that has accomplish
ed best results in the specified time. We
believe that a prize of 500, or several
such prizes, will stimulate activity
throughout the state and greatly help
those who are trying most earnestly to
help themselves. Respectfully submitted,
MRS. J. d. MATLOCK, Chairman.