The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-18

for the teachers meetings. Perhaps the
best work the association has ever done
was done in that room.
One of the brilliant things of last year
was the talk of Mrs. w. C. Hernandez. on
Some Plans Have For the Winter" in
which she gave an idea of what she had
begun and what she expected to do
through the school year in routine work
end also on the cultural side of school
life. Another was Mrs. Lillian T. Walls
work on diaeritcal marks; and, later, her
we'll planned presentation of life at the
Panama canal Henry Page Burrows
contributed splendid work in history and
I. c. Young in the matter of interesting
boys in school life. One of the fine things
was Books, which A. A. Persons gave.
During the year four prominent pro-
| fessional men talked to the teachers, Civ
ing them ideas outside of their regular
work. The meetings were frightened by
| an occasional reading or musical selec-
| ton.
New Feature Added
| Last year new feature was added, and
continuing since that time has steadily
| improved, and has done much toward in
| oreasing the interest of the teachers in
the meetings This was the Inauguration
| oe an exhibit of work done throughout
inc county. The schools were divided into
eight sections or groups, and cne of these
sections exhibits drawing, needlework
| wood turning, map drawing and mold
ing writtenlwork in different studies, each
month One would be surprised to see
tne excellent work which the pupils do.
/ f1.HF 1nxrx
teacher explains that 1t Is to be seen by
all the teachers of the county, and that
they are expecting to see it. Since eacn
section exhibits only once in each year the
preparation of the exhibit is not a tax
on any one person. On two occasions,
teachers have brought their pupils to the
meetings to sing before the association.
i Ihe two part songs are especially cred
liable, This work is not supposed to be
done only for exhibition, but rather to be
samples of thu pupils daily work.
And now to tell of the work during the
year just closing. Owing to the fire In
the Chamber of Commerce 1t was neces-
sary for the association to find other
quarters, and the sessions are now held
in the auditorium of the Starr Piano COM
pany. This hall is given to the teachers
trent free. The board of revenue supplied
| frames on which the exhibits mentioned
above are displayed to the best advan-
| tage. There are groups of teachers
around these frames from the time tho
work is put up until the association Is
called to order and again at its close.
Programmes Closely Connected
The programmes throughout this year
have been planned so that they will be
closely connected, rather than entirely in
dependent of each other
A number of talks have been given on
the subject of conservation. Some of
these were given by members of the as
sociation-teacbers in the county schools
ano others by guests.
! Miss Willie Allen spoke on "Conserva-
ton of ldeals;'' r. E. Ledbetter on Con
| serNation of Effort and Energy" DIR. Ty-
| Ter on Conservation of the Home;" Leon
| Palmer on Conservation Of the Child"
and Mrs. j. ID. Matlock on Conservation
| of Ones Better Self" Two books, Hughes
Dickens as an Educator" and McMur-
iy's How to Study" have been the
| tasis of the text book work done by the
association, and they have been studied
by number Of the teachers individually
or in faculty meetings r. Il. Tidwelll
| A. e. Handley and c. B. Glenn were the
speakers on Dickens. and Mrs Lillian T.
| Wall and L. NJ. Erickson McMurry.
| Beside these two features, conservation
and the text book work, a part of the
time of each r.eetng has been devoted to
Miss Erwin OF the Boyles school and j.
| l.. Barnard of Leeds spoke on high
| school methods and Z. E. Erwin on Me
| chanics of the School,
| One thing which means much to the
teachers is the opportunity afforded by
| these meetings for consultation with Su-
| perintendent McAdory and his assistant
r. G.. Hewitt, end the drawing and music
Supervisors, Miss McAdory and f. ].
Blaugh. Thase officials visit the schools
| cf the county, but their visits are neces-
| sarily infrequent, and a great deal of
| their help Is given when the teachers
come into Birmingham for the session of
the association. Miss McAdory and Mr.
Blaugh have classes for the teachers on
| these days.
School Improvement Work
The work Of the School Improvement
association has been more closely allied
with the teachers association this year
! than ever before. Through it's presi-
dent, Mrs. j. B. Aird, three gold medals
were offered and awarded by the Wom-
ans Christlon Temperance union to the
pupils of the county schools who wrote
| the best compositions on temperance.
| The association now has a new branch,
| composed only of the principals of the
! country schools of Jefferson county. This
division is taking up such matters as
! text books and salaries, and proposes to
| further the plans of the county board
| cf education for improving and advanc-
| ing the country schools.
The teacher IN Jefferson's mining towns,
farming districts and ways!de places
must ever give Inspiration, must ever be
tile one who inspires. 1t is the purpose
of the teachers association 20 inspire the
teacher and to improve and to dignity
and to make more uniform che schools Of
the county.
1t is the custom of the association to
change officers each year. During the
session now closing j. w. Hawkins, prin-
cipal of the Srookside school, has been
IRE sident. The new president. elected at
the meeting held on Saturday, May II,
is H. M. Sharpe, principal of the Brighton
school.
Cluh Changes Name