The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-15
PAYS COMPLIMENTS
 ID CITY SCHOOLS w. H. skaggs Finds Himself
 Full Of Enthusiasm WOULD ADVERTISE THEM Thinks Birmingham Could Bring In Thousands Of People From North
 If People Knew Of Wonder
 full School Facilities
WOULD ADVERTISE THEM

William H. Sxaggs, the Alabamian from
 Chicago, who has recently been holding
 up to the people of the state the pic- ture of Alabamas fearful nliteracy, was
 given an opportunity yesterday to see
 the school system of the city of Birming
 ham.
 His first remark upon alighting from
 the automobile of Dr. J. H. Phillips was,
 'The best thing you can do is to bring the legislature up here to look at It. He spent six hours visiting many of the
 schools, though not half were reached. took lunch with the children at the High school, and returned to the hotel yes- terday afternoon, breathing enthusiasm.
 sI knew that Birningham's school system would be good" he said flor I knew Dr. Phillips and his ability, but did not expect to find such a perfect organization, and such ample facilities for the training of the youngsters of the city.
 Dr. Phillips organized the first public school in Alabama here in Birmingham with seven teachers in 1883. In 1886 Dr. Phillips had 15 teachers. and I invited him to Talladega, where I was then mayor, to make the speech at the laying of the cornerstone of Talladegas public school, the second in the state.
 q have watched pr. Phillips career, and I do not hesitate to say that today he ranks in the forefront with the great est educators in the United States. His work and ability are recognized through out the north and east, and I only wish that his work were as well known among northern business and commercial men as 1t is among educators, for that would bring thousands of desirable residents to Birmingham.
 q was greatly interested In the work at the Paul Hayne school, where Miss Hall Is so earnest in the settlement work, and the vocational schools, both day and night, are giving the children, indifferent to academic training, the vocational work so necessary to the young fellow who must enter the business world early in life
 T was particularly impressed by the sanitary arrangements at every one of your schools. have never seen the equal anywhere
 "rhe whole system is perfectly organ ized This was evidenced everywhere, both in the schoolrooms, in the action of the teachers and the tidy appearance of the children.
 "The most interesting feature, however, was the work of the school improvement associations, a voluntary service, I un- derstand, which has wrought wonders, and is no doubt greatly responsible for the neat and beautiful appearance of all the schools.
 And that lunch The equal has never been served me for the price. I am told that the girls of the best families are there engaged in serving and looking after the dishes, learning the elements of domestic science.
 But all these advantages which you offer here in Birmingham are not appre- | ciated in the north. They look upon Bir- mingham as the center of the most illit- | crate state in the union. They read the | reports, and they never hear the good side of it. Advertise your edu- | facilities and you will bring hun- dreds of substantial families' to your city,"