The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-13
IMPORTANT WORK
FOR THE SCHOOLS
Miss Sara M. Clark's Efforts
Get Results
HOW PLANS DEVELOPED
State School Improvement Association
Is Forming Branches In Every
County and Accusing In
terests of Parents.
HOW PLANS DEVELOPED
BY WALTER HARPER.

road train.
She was an ex-school marin, but still
young and beautiful. Yes. young and
beautiful All school teachers are not
ugly, old and severe. She was gentle
and jolly-a most agreeable travelling
companion.
She is not teacher of children now.
She is a teacher of teachers, mothers
and fathers. She is a teacher of coun-
ty school superintendent. even prin-
cipals of city schools. I sat beside her
as the putting locomotive clipped Off
weary miles of hills and valleys. l
was her obedient pupil and learned
things that did me good. 1t was help
full to watch the twinkle OF her large
earnest eyes Il forget the COLOR and
drink In the words that fell measuredly
from her cultured yet beautiful lips.
Her interests are as wide as the
state of Alabama and as deep as the
poverty of human intelligence.
got an introduction through State
Superintendent of Education Harry c.
Gunnels. The formality over he re-
turned to the smoker and left us alone.
! I asked her to talk about herself
her work. She shrank from publicity
but when she Realized that it might
assist In the noble cause she yielded
Miss Sara M. Clark is a member of
the state board of examiners and one
of the most valued members of tho
states educational staff. She is also
| secretary of the Alabama School I'M
/ provement association. But her pet
work is the organization of county and
| district school improvement associa-
| tons. 1t is purely a work of love. She
| gets no pay for this work in coin or
currency. but in the satisfying results
that will surely follow. She will gar
ner a rich harvest of honor and heart
satisfaction.
The formation of the School Improve
ment association was accomplish ed
through the Alabama Federation of
Womens clubs at the annual meeting
at Mobile in December, 1904.
The movement was evolved from the
| very apparent need for Improvement in
rural school conditions. Buildings were
inadequate, unattractive and insanitary.
The maximum of good cannot be Sc
cured when physical conditions are
bad. The hope and intention of the or
ganizers of the movement was and Is
to improve these conditions.
good wholesome picture on a school
house wall has a far-reaching effect.
Clean yards with flowers and shrub
berry growing have a stimulating effect
{,,cx
illness and personal pride in the children
and the teach ers as we'll.
Miss Clark related an example. A
clean apron was given to a poor school
girl. When she got home the mother
saw that a soiled face did not har-
| monte with the clean garment. The
face was washed and the hair was
the untidiness of the other children
and their faces were washed. Then she
realized that the room was not as tidy
as it might be and that received i'm
mediate attention. This illustrates the
far-reaching effects that are being ac-
complish ed by the work Of the associa-
ton.
Most of the work of the association
is done through the state department
of education. Miss Clark as secretary
of the state association devotes a great
deal of her time in organizing county
associations. Up to the present time
40 counties have been organized.
Through the county associations about
200 district organizations have been
perfected. Miss Clark hopes to complete
the organization of every county in
the state during the coming year.
The great work that is being accom-
plished by the Alabama School I'm
provement association in a quiet way
can never be appreciated by the gen.
eral public as 1t should be, but it In
one of the most important factors in
the great educational and moral up
lift that is now moving the state.
Through the country school the
wholesome influences are being sifted
into the homes and improving condi-
tions there.
1t is bringing about a closer cooper
alton between teachers, patrons and
pupils. The people are becoming more
and more interested in school work anu
the proper education of their children.
Many parents heretofore, especially
in the rural districts, have sent their
children to school more to get rid OF
them during the day than for any 9TH
or motive. They have cared but little
ABOUT In6 SCnOol CouQlLlou8 ana OppOr-
tunities for intellectual or moral ad-
vancement. They cared less for SAM
tary precautions. They were Indifferent
not crimnally Indifferent. but they
were disposed to leave the care of their
children in the hands of the teacher.
If the school building was insanitary
and unhealthful they either did not
know 1t or were careless.
The Sch DOL Improvement association
is educating the people in these things
and arousing interest in the welfare of
the neglected child.
1t is work that will be emphasized
in the minds and bodies of generations
to come and q wonderfully improved
system of sch ools.
Miss Clark Is an enthusiast. She is
putting her heart into the work and Is
suffering many personal Inconvenience,
long days and nights of travel to fur
Their the work. Wherever her work II
understood 1t is appreciated.
The officers of the School Improve
ment association OF Alabama are Mrs.
H. c. Gunnels, president; Mrs. Irwin
Craighead, vice president; Miss Sara
Clark, corresponding secretary; Mrs. S.
J. Cole, treasurer. Mrs. ID. D. Thames
Of Greenville is chairman Of the fed
GRAFTON committee.