The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15
By KENNETH A. ROTHARMEL

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 sary treatment will be treated free Of ex- pense.
 Under the direction of Dr. James s. Me Lester the health of the Birmingham strict watch Is kept on any disease con tracted by students. The department oi medical inspection consists of the ln- spector and two trained nurses. Not only does the department act as a protective agency for the health of the student body but the relief given to individuals hy the removal of physical handieaps nas enabled hundreds of children to do reasonably good work in the schools
 In the Central High School building there is a room fitted as an emergency hospital, presided over by a trained nurse, At the beginning of each year every stu dent of the schools is examined for con tagioirs disease, and in case indications are found the student is kept under strict quarantine until cured by the physician. In this way the spread of contagious dis
 
 ease is kept down. Lectures on personal and social hygiene were delivered last year by the medical inspector 10 boys of cer- tain grades and from the interest shown in the lectures the men in charge were greatly encouraged These lectures will be continued during the present school year.
 In his report of last year Dr. McLester spoke of the need for a school for mental defectives, and recommended the estab- lishment of an open air school in Birming- ham. He pointed out that such a school could be formed without great expense and quoted from statistics from cities with such schools to show the amount of good accomplished.
 Under the auspices of the board of ed- ucatlon, Birmingham has had lyceum course for the past five years which will be continued this year. Under this system many of the worlds most famous lectur- CTS and literary entertainers have delight GU DI dudltIcts. EuWdIu I1OW- ard Griggs delivered series of 12 lec- lures at the Central High school last year, and after a great deal of persuasion accepted an invitation to come back to Birmingham again this year.
 The teachers of the city have for sev- eral years pursued systematic course of reading and study in which they were joined by many of the citizens. During the summer school and institute for teachers is held in which both the younger and older teachers in the city are greatly benefited
 An extension lecture course has proved to be a wonderful success. Dur ing the evenings courses of lectures were given in the different sections of the city. Questions which will proba- bly, be discussed along this line this year are Iron and Steel Manufacturer Our Local Water Supply" Street Car Transportation,' and Local Commerce. !" stereopticon lectures will probably be given in this course this year and an attractive and instructive programme will be arranged later on. The vacation schools and evening schools have ac- complished untold good for the people of the city. Children above the third grade who for some reason were unable to attend school during the regular ses- sion are given a chance to keep LID with their classes through the medium of the vacation schools. Last year the vacation schools were held at the Paul Hayne school, and at the Bush, Powell and Woodlawn schools. Many foreign CTS are benefited by the night schools which will be held two nights out of the week. Elementary subjects are taught at the night schools. In his report to the Board of Education, Dr. Phillips recommends that the night schools be multiplied in proportion as soon as practicable. A fee of s2 has been charged students attending the night schools, but an effort will likely be made to make the tuition free of charge.
 The fact that the Birmingham public libraries are under the control of the beard of education is a very impor- tant one for the school children. By this system, reference work may be carried on much more easily than by any other method. The board Is close ly In touch with both the schools and the libraries and the students are given many advantages that they might not otherwise receive.
 In response to a recommendation by pr. Phillips the board of education adopted a report favoring free text books in the city schools and just prior to the opening of the last session oi school the city commissioners appro- priated sSOOO to support the movement Dr. Phillips is of the opinion that the plan should be instituted gradually throughout. the city. By this method parents who feel that they are unable to buy expensive text books for their children to use in school are enabled to rent the books from the schools al a very small price. Dr. Phillips states that so far as can be seen at the pres ent time there is no reason why the