The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-07
FULL REPORT ON
BESSEMER SCHOOLS
important Recommendations
Made for High School
COUNCIL IN BUSY SESSION
Citizens Pleased BY Announcement
That Virginia Mines Are To Be
Resumed-Personal and
General News.
COUNCIL IN BUSY SESSION

Bessemer, July Especial. THE ses-
sion of the council tonight was one of
complaints. Complaints and petitions
were heard and received from every
source, the aldermen being literally
showed under with them. The principal
event of the night was the report of the
board of education and the budget for
the year. Superintendent A. A. Persons
submitted the report to the council and
recommended extensive Improvement In
the curriculum of the high school.
Superintendent Persons reported a very
successful year and paid a glowing trib-
ute to the good work and cooperation
of the teachers. He called attention to
the fact that this year marked an epoch
In the educational history of the city
and denied the current rumor that the
board of education contemplated putting
a tuition fee on the high school. The
attendance upon the various schools this
year has taxed the capacity of the pres
ent schools and the building of the new
high school was a great relief. The
total white enrolment for the past schol-
astio year was 1888, and 764 colored stu
dents making total of PAT students in
the Bessemer public schools. Superintend-
ent Persons recommended the following
additions to the high school course:
A four-year Latin course under skilled
instructor who will offer Greek as a
side line.
A four-year course in French and Ger
man.
The elimination of trigonometry from
the course
The addition of a four-year course in
chemistry and physics. This will not
require a special instructor as Superin-
tendent Persons will teach the chemistry
class and Principal Dill of the high school
the physics class.
Also a four-year course in manual
arts and domestic science. The studies
are specially useful in that they teach
practical knowledge.
The budget for the year was: Salaries
to teachers and janitors, s21. $50; equip
ment in science, $3.50; equipment In ply
sizes, $3.50; manual training $500; domestic
science, $500. Total, s23, 45O.
The schools of the city receive s14150
from the state and 1899 20 from non-resi-
dent pupils. The board asks the city
for $1,000, this including all improvements
contemplated.
"If we make our school attractive"
said Professor Persons, I'VE will get
enough students from outside the city
to pay for the improvements A striking
example of the success of this is the Bir-
mingham High school. We hope to have
all the new courses and equipment in
stalled and ready for the next scholastic
year in event the council accepts the
| budget. We feel that the money asked
is the lowest possible figure and would
appreciate the cooperation of the council
in making our high school the best of
its size in the state
The appropriation asked by Mr.. Persons
is regardedes reasonable and will in all
probability be granted The report was
referred to the finance and school COM
mittees, which will report on the matter
AT the next meeting night.
Mayor Lewis recommended that the
council place a license of $1o00 on all
locker clubs and $500 on all soft drink
stands. This was turned over to the mis-
cellaneous committee.
Mayor Lewis also suggested that the
city give the negro schools more room
and turn over to them the wooden school
buildings on Clarendon avenue; to take
some action in the matter of the negro
guards, who not allowed to carry
weapons and consequently often allow
prisoners to escape; also to require all
parties to connect with sewer pipe when
possible. The negro school matter was
referred to the school committee, the ne
gro guards are allowed to carry pick
and the sanitary connections referred to
the police committee.
The police force is permitted to wear
light coats during the hot summer
months.
The reports of the warden, the plain
clothes men. the chief of police and the
city physician were heard and reserved
as information
The report of the finance committee was
heard and adopted. The street and light
committee reported that the Birmingham
Railway, Light and Power company re-
fused to change the limit of scent fares
on the South Bessemer cars and that the
company would put on an extra trailer
on the North Bessemer line. (
The. contract for the leasing of city
prisoners was awarded to P. II. O'Brien
at IS cents per day.
/. T. Huey was elected to fill the va
canoy on the board of education made
by the resignation of 7. Y. Huffman.