The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-18
EVOLUTION Of A
SUNDAY SCHOOL
How Poor White Boys of GeOr-
gia Are Helped
TO USEFUL LlVELIH 0OD
Are Given An Opportunity for Use
fulness and Many Attachments
Through Miss Berry's In
dustrial School.
BY MARTHA BERRY.

reau
Miss Berry is the founder and director
of one of the most unique educational in
situations in the south, which she de-
scribes in this article-an institution which
is meeting one of the little thought of
southern problems-the poor boys of the
n1ountains.)
Ten years ago in little log cabin at my
home 1 began teaching a few poor boys
and girls in a little Sunday school. Sec
ing their lack of education, and visiting
their homes in the different parts of the
county, I discovered that the great and
real need of these people was an indus
trial school on their own ground. where
they could be taught some farming and
carpenters work, the value of time and
the dignity of labor. After working for
four years and establishing five Sunday
and day schools In the most needy parts
school for the poor white boys of the
south. tried to get people interested to
help me in this work, and while they SYM
pathized with me in my efforts and recog-
nized the great need of such school,
still they did not seem inclined to give
actual money, which was needed SO badly
to start the school. The only thing left
for me to do to carry out this enterprise
was to deed tract of land of 100 acres,
given to me when a little girl by my
father, and build upon it 10-room dormi-
tory. As my means were limited I found
1t necessary to have this building put up
by day laborers, making the cost as small
as possible. When this building was
finished 1 had no money to buy furniture,
but 1 felt that was a minor point
I decided to start the school with few
boys and get them interested in making
tables and benches out of boxes, and de-
termined that we would buy only such
things as we were obliged TO have
bought few cots and chairs and friend
gave me a small kitchen stove. With
this measer outfit the Berry school began
its existence January 13, 1902. A friend
volunteered to give her services as a
teacher. Our industrial department con-
sisted of four hoes, one spade, two rakes
and one pillow. We had only one horse,
"Rony," which we called our Sunday
school horse, because he had done such
faithful service throughout the country.
We kept him busy through the week
going into the nearest town bringing out
needed supplies, and then he also did all
the hauling.
On our opening day we had five boys
and within few weeks we had Is. Their
the problem arose how we were going
to feed them; teach them to cook, scrub
wash their clothes, care for their rooms
etc. Also a regular course of study had
to be mapped out, and we had to look
after their physical and mental as well
as their spiritual welfare. l charged
these boys IS a month, but some were
too poor to pay even that amount, and
we had to give them extra work to make
up the sum. Two hours work each day
was required from each boy as his regu-
lar apportionment of work, aside from
the extra work.
Three out of the first IS boys We had
have graduated from our school and are
holding positions of trust. One of them
is leading his classes at the University
of Georgia. and Is president of the Young
Mems Christian association. Another Is
teaching and helping to uplift poor and
ignorant country boys, and Is considered
one of the best county school teachers.
From such small beginning we have
grown steadily. We now have $50 boys,
10 teachers, 1900 acres of land, three dor
mitories and a good recitation hall. Our
plant is valued at $4,000. This does not
mean that we have had any large dona-
lions, but 1t does mean that l have
worked constantly both summer and win
ter, and that the student labor in helping
to erect the buildings has counted for
much, not only helping the school but also
the boys themselves. The boys have titled
the land, and our campus, which was
once an old cotton field, has been trans
formed into a place of beauty and useful
ness We are extremely poor. Year by
year, or month by month, the necessary
expenses have to be raised. The small
amount we charge the boys is only
enough to pay for the actual food they
eat. The teachers salaries, all improve
ments and every incidental expense
have to raise by my own personal efforts
which means continual anxiety and work
backed by fervent prayer. Our recitation
hall cost $4,000. Eight hundred dollars
of this amount was given In 81 bills.
A practical school like this Is doing
more to teach these poor boys things
they ought to know to help make of them
useful citizens and good practical men
than any other school in this part of the
country. The school is incorporated
under the laws Of Georgia. We have a
board Of trustees and we feel that money
invested In these dividend paying boys
win bring great returns, as they have so
much latent talent and ability 1t is a
great inspiration to the teachers to have
an opportunity of awakening the great
possibilities that are within the boys One
of our teachers who has had great expert
ence in northern schools told me that she
never really enjoyed teaching until she
came here as she finds the students SO
eager to learn and SO easy to control. 1t
10 an incentive to any one to lead them to
the paths Of knowledge.
These boys come from very needy
homes, where their labor is necessary to
help support the family. and 1t means a
great sacrifice on the part of their pa
rents to spare them to come to school. One
poor woman was SO anxious for her boy
to attend this school that she parted with
her only mich cow, denying herself and
family milk and butter in order to help
her son obtain an education. Nothing in
this school Is given Free These American
boys are too proud to accept gifts. Old
clothes given to the school are sold to
them. They make the money to pay for
them by working at the rate of 6 cents an
hour on their holidays-a suit of old
clothes being sold for Is or 80 cents The
boys understand that we have very little
outside help in our work, and that It is
of the utmost Importance to work with
economy, frugality, neatness, promptness
and thoroughness. AS an example of how
such discipline IL needed and carried out
we had boy who complained of his as
sistant in the kitchen being too wasteful