The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-12

of several progressive men of the neigh
borhood completed the work of the
school These men were unwilling
to have their childrens education
extend no farther. They estimated the
cost of sending their boys and girls away
from home to attend a high school, and
they decided that the expense was more
than they could meet. Adding a high
school department was out of the ques
tion and the attendance was not large
enough 10 entitle the school to two
teachers
Several Of those who felt most con-
cerned presented the matter to the coun-
ty board of education. The patrons want
ed their children TO have the advantages
of q high school; they had none: they
We're not entitled TO state pay for one,
and they could not afford the expense of
sending the advanced pupils away to
board near some high school They were
advised by the county board to employ
a teacher for these advanced pupils and
to bear among themselves the expense of
employing this high school teacher. This
would enable them to have their children
continue in school at home and would
cost much less than TO send them to some
distant school. It was very soon clear
that the increased attendance warranted
the employment of this second teacher,
and the salary, which had been guaran-
teed by individual patrons, was paid from
public funds. 1t was the belief of the
county board that this would be the case
but until the fact was made certain these
patrons stood ready to employ this teach
er at their own expense.
Miss Mason Teacher
Miss Elizabeth Mason was secured as
teacher of these advanced pupils and a.
principal of this school. She is really a
wonderful woman. She has won the good
will and support of all the people, many
of whom were already alert to the needs
of the school and were eager for im-
provement Not the slightest friction
mars the school. The harmony between
the community and the school is perfect
Miss Mason is devoted to her school. and
in speaking of 1t she says:
A year ago I undertook my first work
In Jefferson county schools. l signed a
contract In Birmingham to teach an
eight-months' term as principal of the
Corner school. Superintendent McAdory
and Assistant Superintendent Hewitt each
gave me informa ton, instructions and ad-
vice concerning my new work, and I be-
gan to feel that If ] did not make
success many would suffer. l felt that
II | ever tried to do my duty. that was
the time. Superintendent McAdory said
to me as | left his office to come to Cor
ner: Miss Mason, do your duty by the
people. Teach what they want taught
obey the rules of the county board, and
do not sit down and let others do more
work than you do. When | go out 1 want
to see you making progress and bearing
your share in everything pertaining to
the upbuilding of the school and the com
munity in district No. TO-
Mr.. Hewitt's parting words were: If
you fail l get the blame. If you sue
coed get the credit. for I am sending
you to that school, and whatever you do
the people will say: 'Mr. Hewitt placed
her with u.s.
Mr. l. r. Mayfield met Miss Helen
Tubb and me at the station in Warrior,
and as We drove oyer to the school he
told us something about the discouraging
times through which the people had
| passed. He told us that theirs was an
almost hopeless school, but that the peo-
| pie were very reluctant to abandon it, II
| the coming year, 1928, proved a failure
| the people would be too much discouraged
to attempt further efforts to keep a
school in their district. They were de-
| termined to have a progressive. school if
possible and they had signed an agree
ment to pay one teacher $500 for an
eight-months' term, the public funds pay-
ing the principals salary.
''The patrons of the Corner school were
| interested in the matter of their children 9
education, and If they could not secure a
good school at home they would proba-
bly, become discouraged, cease to try
to hold this school location and would
support various other schools which were
making more progress than Corner
II began to realize why the people
hoped so sincerely that this school year
would be success. Many years ago an
uncomfortable log house was their only
school building. and aften funds for the
maintenance of a school were not avail
able. Their first frame house was de-
stroyed by fire. They built again and that
terrible storm of 1908 demolished the
building and everything 1t contained
Then dwelling houses were used until
another building could be erected. Be.
side the suffering and death caused by
the storm, many sustained financial
losses. The people were farmers of mod
crate means, and the prospect for an
other school building seemed small
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows
lodge. which had its hall in the school
building. was homeless It's members
with the school trustees, began to talk
of erecting another building. The present
school house is the result of their COM
bined effort. Another disappointment
was in store. for several ensuing terms
of the school proved unsatisfactory.
These are the fortunes of the commune
ty In regard to the school, and it is no
wonder that the people were anxious that
this school representing as it does. so
much labor. SO many struggles and dis
appointments. be placed upon a firm
basis.
Preparations for 1928
"ln anticipation of the opening of school
last year the room was devided by a par
tition making place for each of the two
teachers A number of the patrons at
tended the opening exercises on the first
day. Never have / seen greater interest
manifested by patrons than at Corner.
Our average attendance for the first
month was surprise. The county school