The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-01
PLANS ID FURTHER EDUCATION IN STATE Much Good Accomplished By
 West Alabama Fair SOME FINE CORN YIELDS PclI City Men Have shown What Can He Done on Lands of Sts Clair Coun-
 ty-Gossip of We'll Known
 Alabamians
SOME FINE CORN YIELDS
BY WALTER HARPER

BY WALTER HARPER
 Hervey w. Laird. the new state deputy insurance commissioner, recently appoint ed to succeed A. c. Sexton. who resigned because of his hurry to identify himself with the business interests of the big gest city in the state, is now comfort ably situated in his new berth in the state capitol.
 I called on him a few days ago. He
 was smiling, sleek and apparently satis- fled with life.
 He Is an ex-newspaper man and has learned how not to take life too serl- ously. However, Hervey can become very serious on occasion and when he gets to talking on the one subject uppermost in his mind.
 Universal education is his hobby. He
 wants to give the boy and girl with poor advantages an education that will be equal to that in reach of the rich boy or girl.
 His expansive heart goes out to the boys and girls of the state who have ambition but who have not the oppor- tunities of their more fortunate brothers and sisters.
 q want to help the poor fellow who wants help,' said MT. Laird with be- nevolent enthusiasm. ''The larger insti- tutions of the state and the boys and girls with affluential parents can take care of themselves. The hope of the state and often the most brilliant minds are hid under the cold exterior of help less poverty.
 "The institutions we have do not seem to reach the extreme class To save the state and put it on parity with the more progressive states in educational matters we must take care of the boy in the mountain and on the one-horse valley farm. It is our duty to educate these boys to useful lives. It is more than that: It means self-preservation for the state and it's institutions.
 T do not know just what to suggest yet, but I have thought and planned along these lines for many years. I hope to be able to evolve something that will be of practical value. Leaders in edu- cational thought are also devoting much time to this phase of our educational needs and there is hardly ever meeting of these leaders but the matter Is dis cussed with much seriousness.
 '"The educational system of the future must be practicable and must reach the poor as well as the rich. Of course our higher institutions of learning must be supported, but the school in the hill districts must not be neglected. The boy In the backwoods must be given equal opportunity with the boy who is able to pay for a finished education.
 "We must teach the poor boy not only to develop his mind but his hand as well. The educational system of the state must teach the boy to be useful to himself and to the state. He cannot afford to devote the time to his educa- ton unless he is being taught some use- ful trade. Nca
 My life ambition Is to provide some plan of education for the boy who can not educate himself. The school should be self-supporting and yet based upon some plan or principle that is devoid of all charitable suggestion. The poor boy is usually independent and wants to pay his way It Is best that he should pay his way in some manner"
 'HThe new manual of teaching in the elementary schools recently issued by the department of education is already hay ing a good effect in the primary schools of the state.'' said State Superintendent of Education Harry c. Gunnels. "The manual Is intended as code of instruction or guidance for young teach CTS in the rural schools and the different subjects are treated at length by the best experts on the various subjects in the state.
 'NThe object of the book is to secure uniformity in the methods of teaching the various grades. We have long felt the need of such a work and the result of the experts engaged in the preparation of the manual is more than satisfactory. "The advantage of uniformity in teach ing can be readily seen. Too many young teachers adopt their own ideas of teach- ing the various grades and 1t is not un- l usual that some of them are faulty. The book Is issued as merely a suggestion for the teachers and is not mandatory But
 we find that the teachers are adopting
 the ideas readily and the efficiency of the schools is greatly improved" The first session of the West Alabama fair came to a close in Tuscaloosa Sat- urday night. The attendance was large | and the progressive business men, farm CTS and others from eight of the most | enterprising counties in the west part of the state who were behind the move ment are more than satisfied with the results
 The officers and directors of the fair are very much encouraged with the great | beginning and that the annual fair is a permanent feature is an assured fact | The attendance was large every day and all visitors seemed pleased with the flea.
 lures of the exhibit.
 ! There were a number of free attrac- tions that were pleasing. but the flea.
 lures that seemed to appeal most to the people were the agricultural and live stock exhibits.
 1 The eight counties represented in the
 association have a rich variety of nat.
 ural resources, and the industyial and
 agricultural development in this sectior
 is well up with every. other section ol | the state.
 l The management of the West Alabama
 fair is being widely congratulated or
 the success of the first venture. | Hardy Cornett of Pell City has Jus | gathered 293 bushels of good corn iron five acres of ordinary sandy land on hi | farm in St. Clair county. The land hat been in cultivation for number of year
 and ten years ago would have beer
 classed as wornour and of but littl,
 value. But this is new era of agricul
 ture. It has been. discovered that land
 never wear out if properly managed
 They may be made to produce more an,
 more every succeeding year.
 After gathering the corn MT. Cornet put three mules to a disc blow and be
 gan to prepare the soil for the nex Il years crop. This Is the secret of MT