The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-09-25
BESSEMER SCHOOLS
DOING FINE WORK
Organization Perfected for Sue
cessful Year
HARMONY IN COUNCIL
Citizens Express Hope That Open EIec-
tion VIII He Held and Urge City
Fathers to Get Together for
the City's Welfare
BY C. III. MANDY

oesseIueT, september A.-(Speclal )-The
end OF the first week finds the public
schools with full attendance, and the
pupils actively pursuing their studies. The
enrolment is about $40 in excess of that
OF the same day last year, and the gram
mar schools are taxed to their capacity
The need for increased facilities for re-
heving the oyercrowded conditions is most
urgent and cannot be longer delayed.
Until the number of rooms for the proper
assignment of pupils is sufficient I'M
reasonable crowding is inevitable; nor
can the ever present opposition result
ing from transferring pupils from one
side Of town to the other be avoided
until this essential remedy is provided.
The incoming board of aldermen will be
urged at once to afford the necessary
relief
Several new faces are noted In the pres
ent teaching force of the Bessemer High
school, and each of these new teachers
has already won his or her way to the
hearts of the pupils. The popularity of
the new principal, Prof. Robert A. Mickle,
is pronounced. Professor Mickle is no
experiment. With record of % years of
faithful and efficient service behind him
IN the Mobile schools, he came to Besse-
mer admirably equipped for the service
ne has assumed and that the board of
education chose well in selecting him does
not for a moment admit of question.
Miss Rosa Lawhon, the new teacher of
Latin and German, Is entering upon her
nrst years service with the High school,
though she has had some seven or eight
years previous experience along the lines
OF teaching she has undertaken here. Miss
Lawhon is graduate of the Livingston
Normal school and of the University of
Alabama. She has previously taught in
the Livingston Normal school, and in
prominent schools of California and New
Mexico and has never failed to measure
FULLY to the responsibilities assumed.
There are few high school teachers so
well equipped, both by training and ex-
perience, for the service expected of them.
Miss Lawhon is a member of the es-
teemed Lawhon family of Livingston,
and a sister OF Miss Annie Lawhon, who
for several years past successfully con-
Quoted a kindergarten in Bessemer. Her
skill In Latin and German, as evinced
Vince coming to Bessemer, has already
gained for her the entire confidence of
her classes.
Another recent arrival, as an additional
teacher in the High school force, is Bes-
sic L. Parker of Rochester, N. Y, who
comes to assume charge of the newly in
stituted department Of domestic art and
sciences. Miss Parker comes to Bessemer
highly recommended for her duties, and
Is a graduate of one of the leading schools
OF domestic art and science of the coun-
try, the Mechanics Institute of Roches-
ter, N. Y. Miss Parker Is already firmly
established in the hearts of teachers and
pupils She is at present actively en-
gagged In equpping her department. The
classes In sewing are already at work
and the cooking department will be
ready for service the coming week. The
board of education is providing sufficient
funds to place the department on firm
basis, and when the present plans are
completed this new department of the
Bessemer schools will be second to none
In the state. Miss Parker has produced
an excellent impression upon the people
of Bessemer and the consensus of opinion
among those who have met and talked
with her is that she is the right teacher
In the right place.
The business men of the city are re-
spending literally to the requests of Su-
perintendent Persons in his endeavors
to provide everything needed in order
to insure the efficiency of the depart
ment
The Long-Lewis Hardware Co. has do
mated an excellent coal range, with alum
and one that is duly appreciated by the
school authorities. The Huey Furniture
Co. has been active in responding to the
needs of the department and have saved
the schools a considerable financial out
lay In providing necessary and expen-
sive equipment at cost The Hood &
Whittle Furniture Co. has been, likewise
generous and is entitled to the thanks
of the community. Several sewing ma
chine companies have made considerable
reductions on the regular cash price of
machines to be installed, the Domestic
company being especially liberal, and the
present indications are that the Domestic
company will be literally represented in
tho equipment of the sewing depart
ment.
Altogether. the outlook was never
DO promising and the board of edu-
patton is to be heartily congratulated
on the marked advancement of the
school interests of the city. The past
two years have marked a wonderful
evolution in the advancement of the
school interests of Bessemer The high
school Is now comfortably installed in
one Of the handsomest now buildings
In the state and Is equipped along all
modern lines. The teaching force is
the equal of that of any high school
Of the state. The laboratories In
CueWlStTy anu physics dTc iHoueTH anu
adequately equipped, The departments
of manual training and mechanical
drawing are equal to the best to be
found in Alabama and the new depart
ment, already mentioned, now being In
stalled, is planned for equal efficiency.
The present superintendent of schools
Is assuming his duties, took the posi-
tion that anything worth doing at all
toward scho improvement was worth
doing we'll, and he has steadfastly re-
fused to recommend any new depart
ment without proper assurance of its
introduction on substantial basis
And in each instance the board of ed
ucation has heartily co-operated in his
every effort to advance scholastic in
terests. M
Then here's to the Bessemer public
schools, whose motto is progress. Here's
to the board of education and the
superintendent Of schools. They are do
Ing noble work and are entitled to