The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-14
FINE ATTENDANCE
 AT THE INSTITUTE
Story Telling At Yesterdays Session Proved To Be
 Interesting Diversion

| Although the expected stereopticon lec- ture by Professor Hobdy was not deliv- cred to the teachers of Jefferson county yesterday. the day was enjoyaby spent The enrolment continues to increase and Prof. c. B. Glenn of the city schools an nounced yesterday that there was an en- rollment of TO teachers with an attend ance of S75 at the institute. This is the largest teachers institute yet held here.
 All these teachers are from Jefferson county alone In the city schools of Bir- mingham there are 565 teachers. It is ex- pected that the total enrolment of the city schools for the coming scholastic year will reach 25,000 students. This is an average of one teacher to every 40 pupils
 At the open period yesterday, when Mr. Hobdy's lecture was to have been given, the teachers were addressed by Prof. l. w. McAdory, the county superintendent of schools. Mir McAdory spoke of the History of Teachers Institutes in the State of Alabama" He told of the early institutes where a law was passed by the legislature authorizing the institutes Sn congressional districts provided that the institutes were aided by the Peabody fund. After time the Peabody fund was withdrawn and for several years there were no institutes. The legislature again passed a law providing for teachers in- stitutes and giving state aid. The last legislature passed law providing for n- stitutes In each county. Professor Me Adory's address was greatly enjoyed by the tea chers.
 The remainder of the period was taken up with short extemporaneous talks by teachers in attendance, The talks were very interesting and were interspersed with Imaginable anecdotes drawn from ex- perience. Indeed, there was such constant laughter in the body that MT. Glenn ob- served that ne was in doubht what had happened-whether he had selected mem bers of the Story Tellers club or mem bers of the "Annannias club" MT. Glenns reference to the Story Teller's club brought out some interesting facts.
 The teachers of the Birmingham public schools have formed a club for the in- struction of the members in the proper way to illustrate the lesson to the pupil with anecdotes. This is regarded as a most important branch of the institute as experienced teachers say that there is no better way to impress point on a pupils mind than to illustrate it with a snappy anecdote. Prof George E. Wal lace, principal of the Barker school, is president of the league.
 Miss Agnes Wilson, director of the Kin dergarten department of the institute made talk on her work. The kindergar- ten is a recognized feature of the work of the institute. Miss Lula Bradford, pri- mary supervisor. of the city schools. fol- lowed Miss Wilson and her talk was par ticulary interesting. Miss Bradford drew Illustrations for her speech from her ex- perence in the primary work and kept the audience in state of laughter. MT Glenn, in commenting on Miss Bradford s talk, told the following anecdote of her:
 Miss Bradfod was teaching the first grade then and Miss Bradfords room was regarded as our star grade When we had any distinguished visitors we always took them to MisssBradford's room. once upon a time there were visitors to ,he school and as usual we took them down to Miss Bradford's room. All the pupils were sitting up very straight and conduct ing themselves admirably. Now chill dren, said Miss Bradford, I want you to tell me why you sit up so nice |" Sev- eral hands went up and she recognized a little boy. oh. we always sit up straight when there are visitors, said John.'"
 Charles A. Brown, principal of the High school, made a short talk to the institute