The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-16
INITIAL MEETING
 OF CITY TEACHERS About S15,000 In Salaries
 Paid Yesterday DIR. ]. H. PHILLIPS SPEAKS Welcomes Teachers of Annexed Terri tory to City and lmpresses Upon Them Nobility and Usefulness
 of Their Calling

The initial meeting of tho teachers in the public schools of Greater Birmingham was held in the auditorium at the Bir- mingham High school yesterday morning. The assembly was composed of about 4oo teachers, and while the meeting was an entirely informal one. 1t was an sxcep- tionally interesting and enjoyable event.
 Incidental to the meeting salaries for the first two weeks in January were paid the teachers and approximately $1b,0Oo was paid out. During the afternoon the col- ored teachers numbering 125, were paid Easing an estimate on the pay roll of yesterday 1t Is believed that the salaries of the teachers of Greater Birmingham will aggregate over sSoOOOo for the year.
 After routine business had been dis pensed with yesterday morning one hour was devoted to the welcome and reception of the teachers of schools of the newly annexed territory. A novel plan was brought into use in order that the for mality of introduction might be done away with. Each teacher was requested to write his or her name on q piece of paper and pin 1t on the clothing. fash light photograph of the gathering was taken by the Birmingham View company
 President John L. Parker and other members of the Board of Education were present and all made speeches which were appropriate to the occasion
 pr. Phillips Speaks.
 Superintendent J. H. Phillips also ad- dressed the meeting. pr. Phillips' address dealt principally with Birmingham's sdu- cational growth and development and was characteristica1ly interesting.
 The following Is an abstract from the address:
 My friends, I have not called this meeting of the teachers of Greater Bir- mingham for mere didactic or pedagogical purposes The programme today Is in- formal. There are no prepared speeches and there will be no display of oratory. The only preparation made has been that the reception committee for the purpose of emphasizing the welcome which the teachers of Birmingham and the Board of Education wish to extend to the new teachers of the greater city who meet with us today.
 T fully realize that this 10 a milo post in the history of Birmingham and of Alabama It marks the close of ono era and the beginning of another in the story of Birmingham's educational growth and development. The past which lies behind us. some of us know too well; we need not rehearse the struggle and battles of the past for better educational oppor- tunities in this city and district The small beginning of Birmingham and of her educational work is not so far dis tant but that memory will readily recall with vivid distinctness the trials and struggles of the years that have passed. the discouragements and disappointments the long time of baffled hopes and de- feated plans, the patience required, tho courage displayed-all these would i'll volumes if someone could be found who is competent to write the story.
 Heroic Workers In Cause.
 '-rhe history of education in Birming- ham and the Birmingham district during the past quarter of Q century is replete with interest and even with humor. It is equally full of pathos and tragedy, too. Scores of noble men and women who de- voted the best years of their lives for tho promotion of Birminghams educational development during this era have gone to their reward. Some of them struggled Ou HI SHcnCOp OooCutftf dHu pVNCTtyt DuI went to their graves blessed with the benediction of thousands who received the
 impression of their noble lives. That woman who wrought SO long in the ser vice of the children of Birmingham as principal of the Powell school, Mary A. Cahalan, would have rejoiced to be hero today to welcome this new era in Bir- mingham's educational history for which she 50 faithfully labored. That monu- ment in Central park. erected to her mem- ory by the loving efforts of her old pupils, stands today as a memorial to her power and influence. So far as know, Birming- ham is the only city in America that has erected a monument to the memory of a woman whose only claim to distinction is the fact that she was . teacher in the public schools of the city.
 Another heroic worker whose devotion to education helped to bring about the new era in Birmingham and in Ala bama was James B. Cunningham, whose memory Is still fresh in the hearts of thousands whom he inspired with his love and zeal for educational development, and with unswervfng faith in the cause for which he laborod. There are many others living and dead whose names could be mentioned in connection with the ad- vancement of educational work in this city. Gen. George L. Thomas was ono of those stalwart veterans, who in the early days of our city contributed much to our educational history. It was he who was instrumental in the building of the beautiful Powell school, the first modern public school building in the state of Alabama. There are many other names in Birmingham that should be perpetuated as contributors to our edu- cational advancement. Some of these might be mentioned, MT. A T. London. Col. R. H. Pearson, MT. B. F. Roden and Col. T. c. Bush: and only a few days ago. there passed away ono of Blr-