The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-31
SNOW ROGERS SCHOOL FINE EXAMPLE
OF RURAL COMMUNITY CO-OPERA TION

Out in the country between Morris and
Jugtown. Is miles from Birmingham, is
the new Snow Rogers school. one of the
% schools which are in session. during
the summer. For a generation the school
was the last consideration of the COM
munity Social and church life We're not
neglected and farming was conducted in
an Intelligent manner, but the school was
far behind. The little school house final
ly became too dilapdated to use and
last summer it was decided to build a
new one. Some of the patrons contributed
the 500 necessary TO secure the same
amount from the state for building a
school house, and Mr.. Snow Rogers of.
Norris gave the two acres of land. The
men of the neighborhood hauled the lur.
Der. built the school house and painted
the outside thus giving time and labor
in cases where they could not give money.
The state adopted plan for one-room
school houses were used. with the light
coming from the rear and the left of the
pupils desks. The building is ideally
situated on the top of low hill and
it faces east.
When 1t WAS completed and stood as in
disputable proof that they could accom-
plish things, the people began to realize
that they could improve school condi-
tions here, and they determined that they
would not longer lag behind Some
months before the opening of the sum-
mer term, the patrons and trustees asked
the county board of education to send
them a teacher for that term who would
cooperate with them in standardizing
their school, The school became the prin-
cipal subject of conversation, and the
selection of a teacher for the three sum-
mer months was particularly important.
The county board selected Mrs. Lillian I.
Wall, who is especially interested in the
development of the country schools, and
who has been remarkably successful in
her teaching. School began on the 18th
of June, with the patrons conscious of
the fact that the school was behind the
times and eager to improve it. The build
ing and the desks were new and there
were two maps, presented by a former
teacher, but that was all of which the
school could boast. 4z..5. .I.t.zsss.
Three weeks later, on Saturday. a
school picnic was given. Twenty grown
people and most of the school children
attended, and the day was spent in
friendly discussion of the needs and
possibilities of the school, and in plan
ming for its welfare. On this occa-
sion the foundation was laid for a very
strong and sympathetic friendship be-
tween the teacher and the parents, and
TO this friendship and the harmony
which 1t created, is due the success of
the school. In the afternoon, as the
party sat in groups under the trees a |
school improvement association was
formed. An unusual feature of the as
sociation is that the fathers as we'll |
as the mothers became members, and
they have shown remarkable degree |
of enthusiasm in carrying out the plans |
of the ladies'. 1t was, decided that the !
first undertaking should be the giving |
of box supper to raise funds for the |
equipment of the school. This was |
social and financial success and with |
the funds secured, the association |
bought 10 yards of blackboard cloth, |
a geographical globe and two water |
coolers Heretofore water bucket and |
common dipper had been used, but |
when 1t was suggested that these were |
insanitary, the coolers were supplied |
and individual drinking cups were
used. The crowning achievement how |
ever, was the building of a front porch. |
AS the schoo1house has large double |
doors and two windows facing east, it |
was intensely hit during the morning |
hours, and the wide porch affords de- |
lishtful relief from this condition.
One of the trusteYs bought an arm |
chair and flat top desk for the teach |
ers use. Both teachers and pupils |
desks are in light oak, and they are |
all new, giving more attractive seating !
than that of most country schools. The |
interior will be painted cream color, |
and when that Is done the little school |
house will be as pretty and tasteful |
as can be desired. Money for a large |
hall T.
tion. When the trustees were notified |
one Saturday afternoon of its arrival |
at the freight office at Morris, one of
them made the 10-mile trip in order to
have Ii at once. On the following
Monday one of the patrons and sew
eral of the school boys put it up in
the belfry. Everybody is pleased with
this new purchase and the children are
especially delighted, as Mrs Wall lets
them take turns ringing it. One little
boy said to his mother on the day the
bell was put up: Mrs. Wall hasn't
rung the bell a single time. She let
me ring 1t at dinner"
Unlike most waves of enthusiasm,
this has increased rather than dimin- |
ished. 1t is thoroughly sane and has
been the means of drawing together
the community. The trustees are fixed
in their determination to bring this
school up to the standard set by MIR. |
Baker, state supervisor of rural schools, |
and the patrons are in accord with
them in this determination The trus-
tees have asked Mrs. Wall to advise
them as to what is needed to equip the
school properly, and these things are
being supplied as rapidly as possible.
The next work planned is to have tho
school grounds fenced and the well
cleaned and repaired. At the last meet
Ing of the school Improvement society
It was decided to have the we'll put in