The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-07-03

advocate of elevated standards and &C., curate sch holarship. He retired after a years faithful and efficient service and Is now the editor of the Bessemer de- partment of the Birmingham Ledger, besides being interested In other busl- ness enterprises.
 Prof. J. M. Dill succeeded Prof. Gum as superintenden in 1900, and remain
 ed with the schools seven years, rem dering to the city and the school sys- tenn a vast amount of satisfactory ser vice. It was during his incumbency that the Clarendon avenue and the Ninth avenue schools were built. But for a physical infirmity which induced him to retire in 1908, he would doubt less still be in charge of the schools. He Is still resident of Bessemer, and | is most highly esteemed by every citi gen. Prof Dill was succeeded in 1908 by Superintendent A. A. Persons, who for ten years previously had occupied chair in the University of Alabama. Prof. Persons has been prominently en- gagged in educational work for twenty years. Before accepting service with the university at Tuscaloosa, he occu-' pied a chair in the University of Flor Ida for seven years, and prior to that was a professor in the State Normal
 College at Troy. .
 Ills administration, thus far, at Bes-
 semer has been characterized by ener-
 gy. intellect, and progressiveness, and
 under him the schools have made re- markable progress. During his ten
 ure the magnificent high school, cut
 of which is shown costing s50,000, has
 been completed and equipped according
 to the most approved methods. Tle
 course of study has abeen strengthened
 and enlarged and the attendance great
 fly increased. Latin has been made
 four year requirement in the high
 school, two years of French have been
 added to the curriculum the school now
 offering two years of both German and
 French. Chemistry and physics have
 both been installed with ample labora-
 tory facilities. and nowhere in Ala bama
 are better high school courses In these
 subjects to be had than here in Bes-
 semer Indeed, the same holds good in
 reference to all subjects taught In the
 Bessemer schools. During the past ses-
 sion. a splendidly equipped manual training was installed at cost of about
 s175O, and Is proving one of the most
 popular and useful departments of the
 school. Much of the equipment of this
 department was provided by the wiS~ dom and liberality of the corporation
 holding interests here. Among these heinz MT. M N. Nelson. the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railway Co.,, the Birm- lnRhdm RAILWAY, 1lSiit anu o"ot So
 As a course to parallel that in manual
 training nows offered the boys, 1t is proposed to- install one in domestic art and science for the girls at the opening of the next session. Upon this point, in his recent annual report to the board of education, Superintendent PerSons had this to say:
 Now that our newly instituted depart ment of manual arts is fairly well pro- vided for, and already demonstrating its value, I am sure that the next logical order of expansion in the High school should be the establishment of depart
 ment of domestic art and science, ulti- inately, to include a teacher in eachs of these departments, but for the present both to be in charge of single instructor.
 .'These courses are designed for our girls, and are intended to parallel those in manual arts now offered the boys In this essentially industrial community you may be assured, gentlemen. that school funds can be put to no better pur pose than utilizingea proportion of them in emphasizing the industrial arts and sciences The legitimate mission of the public school Is to conform as closely as possible to the needs and aspirations of those whom 1t Is designed to serve. Not l merely one particular interest of com munity, but all legitimate interest. And. 1 50. while a, proper emphasis of the long established school essentials should ever be insisted upon throughout tho public | school curriculunn. still 1t is necessary 1 aigo fqr you to take cognlsencY of the [