The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-13

school improvement asociation, said Mrs. 4,ird, during my teaching days in Jef- ferson county. l wanted to be in closer touch with the home, and still no way had been pointed out for it then; not, really, until my little boy came bounding in after school one day six or eight years ago and with shining eyes told that there was to be party next day at school u mothers party'-and wanted to know would l come? He knew nothing more about It. but he was very positive that l must be there, and when I went next day and became charter member of the Martin School Improvement association, l saw the big possibilities of such an or ganzation. For, as the community is, so are it's schools and I knew that to bring the home and the school in close personal toucn would raise both the edu cational and moral standards of the com munity. And indeed the work done by the local improvement association is re- marlSable. Providing daiy lunches for the children, giving rom 20 to % luaches every day to the children of the Mercy Home-that alone is one big thing that the Barker association has accomplished.
 And one patron of the school says that many day Mrs. Aird, during nef presi- dency. made as many as 3J sandwiches in her own home and with her own hands rather than see the beautiful philanthropy fail. Every association member and every child of the school loves her.
 But 1t is In the county work that Mrs. Aird has put most of her effort the past few years. The enormity of it may be guessed in the fact that there are 126 rural schools, and in almost every community there is an association. This excellent woman has gone from place to place throughout the country organizing into communities of dense ignorance and al most hopeless indifference, sometimes. but she is beloved in every nome she en- ters on her county visits, and the har- mony between home and work is won derfully improved. The county meetings are now held in Birmingham monthly, and simultaneously with the meetings 0f the teachers. It is Mrs. Ards cherished desire just now and her plans are rapidly taking shape to establish social centers' in the rural schools-after the suggestion of MT Woodrow Wilson-but more ot this later. She will soon make her plans public. In the meantime she Is visiting the rural communities and organizing nl- provement societies.
 Are you ever diseouraged?o she was asked. 'I never permit myself to be, she answered. ''One of the most success ful meetings of organization I ever con ducted was in school house 22 miles from town, and late in November. 1 found but three mothers there to hear me, but the 75 pupils waited and they lis tened to me- they spread the message that I tried to give and now that is one of the best associations in the county. Another time, in a crowded room my greatest inspiration was in the face of a woman who faced me, surrounded by her children, two or three at either hand and a baby in her lap. Little 'stairstep' children they were, and she tired, des- perately tired, harassed mother; no sign of care about her except the care of clean lines, for her hair was drawn back tight ly and wound Into small knot, confined with one pin. and her clothes were poor and neglected As l talked she kept her big hollow eyes upon me hungrily, as though to say, Can It be true?' Is there anything in what you are sayfng? and l seemed to be talking only to her, straight Into her anxious mother heart.
 Organization has taken place Il