The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-13
Rv MYRTLE MILES

When the first School Improvement
association was formed in this city about
five years ago, the universal question
even among many patrons of the public
schools was what is the purpose of a
school improvement association? Are
Hhe schools not thoroughly equipped?
Does not the Board of Education sup
ply every demand or requirement of the
public schools?" These were some or the
questions asked. II any one should ask
such a question now he might be extend
ed an Invitation TO visit any OF the pub
lie schools in Greater Birmingham and
see for himself. One might ask still,
how can anything be added to a school of
such beauty. convenience and equipment
as the South Highland school, to make
1t perfect. The school Improvement has
already made OF the rough earth, the
bitches and hollows of the grounds, a
landscape garden of unusal beauty. They
are still working like beavers to make It
the prettiest garden in the country Mrs.
Merrill Northington has this matter in
charge this spring and is giving not only
her time, but assisting with her means
and her beautiful taste she still finds
much to be done The luncheon feature
was made possible by the same organ
ization, but there is always something
new TO receive attention. The pictures
on the walls of the school are the ad-
miration and interest of every visitor
and a constant source of pleasure and
culture to the pupils, but new rooms
have been added within the last two
years and there are many vacant places
upon the walls and many copies Of class
les that the school Improvement women
would like to place there.
There are not only the pupils to think
of in this matter, but the pride of the
citizens of South Highlands. the pride
of the city and the pride OF the county
are to be considered
Knowing that the art exhibition in the
schools are to be made feature of the
spring work 1 asked the president of the
South Highland School Improvement as
soeiation to tell me something of the ex-
hibition and il they We're going to have
one at this school. Indeed we are she
said. The date of the exhibition is April
u, % and 49,, us It to be strictly limited
TO the school children or patrons?' [
asked. knowing what an exhibition of
f1lson would mean to the entire commu-
nifty. I'VE want every person who lives
near enough TO the school to visit the
exhibition. We want to interest all the
club women who are constantly working
for self-culture to come. We want all
the children to see them. We would like
for the men to see them and we have put
the exhibition in the schools of Greater
Birmingham so that we might give an
opportunity to the people living within
walking distance of the schools to see
i
not a question of expense. Our South
Highland. school is one of the last in the
district toaxexhibit the pictures and we
hope to have a large attendance every
day. Every cent of it goes back into
pictures for the school. This you know,
is the way we bought all of those heau-
fiful copies of masterpieces we have in
the school rooms now" "Do you think
the children appreciate them after you
place them in the rooms? Are they not
forgotten by the little folks, or do they
really know that they represent some
thing real?' 'Well for answer to that
question, sometimes when you are in
one of the school rooms, no matter
whether the grade Is the first in a gram
mar school or last in the High school,
ask if there Is some one who will tell you
who the painter of the original was,
what the picture represents, and anything
else you wish to know of it, and see how
many hands will be held up. 1t was
from the worlds great masters that this
Flson collection was taken. They are to
show us the power of the fine arts, to
bring us into touch with the life of hu-
manity from the days when the civiliza-
ton of ancient Greece was at its high
water mark down to our own day and
generation. 1t has every school of art
represented. There is the Italian school
with its Michael Angeles Dolphie Siby,
and Guide Reni's Aurora, all the beauti-
sTui religious paintings and so many
others. We will have the French, Dutch,
Spanish, English and American painters