The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-20
Women Interested in the
School Bond Issue.


School Bond Issue.
No subject of public interest has
ever been presented in Birmingham
| which has enlisted the sympathy of the
| women and children of this community
more than the school question. The
| recent enthusiastic meeting of the
! School Improvement association in re-
/ gard to the issuing of school bonds to
augment the number of already excel
lent Schools and thus provide adequate
accommodations and facilities for the
comfort and Improvement of the hun
dreds of children in the public sch ools,
indicates the tone of interest regarding
the situation. Representative, philan-
thropic women, with the educational
and moral development of their children
deep seated in til cir hearts and minds
evinced their enthusiasm on this occa-
sion by unanimously indorsing the new
bond issue and urging every voter who
goes to the polls on Monday to give it
! his earnest and hearty support The
members who compose this associa-
ton are an ornament and an honor to
this community. Through the medium
of the School Improvement association.
with their broadminded intelligence
and progressive spirit, these women
| have done much to promote better con-
! ditions and facilities in the schools and
! their surroundings, and they deserve
the cooperation of every voter in this
vicinity on the new bond issue.
! Birmingham has no greater pride
than her public schools, which are
! synonymous with the personality of
| that noted educator, scholar and man
of letters, DR.. j. II. Phillips, and his
cultured wife.
! Our schools are splendid as far as they
| go, but the children are crowded and
cramped In their surroundings. and the
general conditions are not conducive to
| the proper educational advancement.
! The child who is well installed in the
| sChoolroom, with comfortable and attrac-
tive surroundings will learn more in a
! day than a weeks work would do under
other conditions.
| Before the great Froebel came Pesta-
| lozzi. the Swiss, who abandoned theology
to follow teaching an occupation His
/ idea first of all was the pupil and his
! surroundings. Properly ventilated and
| we'll constructed buildings, and plenty of
| playground, arguing that children are
/ barbaric and nomadic, requiring move
ment and activity. The aristotle method
s.! was his, as opposed to cloister and hearth.
| His Shibboleth was "environment"-edu
| cation being a development, rather than
!! an requirement.
| This is the keynote today. More schools,
piculy VI TOOIl d SulllCltHL VI
teachers to meet the demands and proper
| surroundings
Our city is not alone in this dilemma.
From Boston, the seat of learning
comes the in formation that the over
taxed conditions of the schools there is
nothing short of distressing.
sss
The American free school system orlgi-
| mated more than two centuries ago. limit
| ed then to New England-is now estab-
! lished in every state of the union. Such
an extension of a system which is con-
ceded by a practical and enlightened gov
| eminent, to be a necessity, overwhelms
! the theory of Herbert spencer and that
class of philosophers who hold that max
ing provision for public education is
neither wise nor proper function of
government"
Important, then as are the public
schools, and as graceful ornaments as
| they are to the great commonwealth of
Alabama and it's most important city, Biz
mingham, let US have more of them, for
the number we have does not afford the
facilities necessary for the educable pop
ulation.
1t was Lord Erskine who said, After
the gratitude which we owe to God for
the divine gifts of reason and under
standing, our next thanks are due to
those from the fountains of whose en-
lightened minds they are req ana fructi-
fed"
Conversation probably fears pressing
the school taxation beyond the financial
capacity of the people! No means. it
seems to me, should be omitted or neg
lected to stimulate interest in the schools.
mo money can be nlisspent that makes
school houses and school grounds models
of comfort and beauty. Educational re-
quirements, the comforts of teachers and
pupils, and the fraternal organization of
the schools should receive every consd-
GRAFTON and attention.
Good school buildings develop the en-
ergies and elevate the character of the
communities in which they are, and
| community engaged in improving its
schools improves with them.
Collegiate education is within the reach
of comparatively few; public schools
should be accessible to ALL And adequate
ly accessible; not 90 or 70 pupils to one
teacher but a number in accordance with
the capacity of the teacher.
To equip the youth of the present gen.
Grafton with a good solid, practical edu-
cation; men fitted Intellectually to cope
with the affairs of the world; women to
buckle on the armor of knowledge and
power; with greater heritage, more prince
ly or more priceless, could be desired?
HernapS no leSsoH eNor 'au6ht Wy III
inspired man contained more wisdom or
exerted greater influence on the destinies
of a people than the farewell admonition
of Washington to his countrymen ITO
promote as an object of primary import
ance, institutions for the general diffu-
sion of knowledge; and in proportion as
the structure of government gives force
to public opinion, it is essential that pub
lie opinion should be enlightened"
1t was a lesson of practical wisdoia
then, 1t is practical wisdom now, and
it must be practical wisdom forever In
the minds and hearts Of intelligent peo-
pie.