The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-06
Something of Birmingham's School System, the Men Who Make It and the Stu dents-The State Also Well Equipped
By FLORA MILNER HARRISON

RF EIsORA WfLNEk h&fshASOs
 ~EPTEMBER. September and school
 days. The two words are almost osynonymous, so closely are they as sociated.
 Too trite for repetition is the phrase that school days are the happiest eiays, but really they are. Wars and rumors Of wars. high cost of living, and raises in taxes and water bills. all are unknown er- TOTS while school days last. It is well that this is so for responsibility comes so soon and so forcibly when the years of school life are over that they should be free in order that there be time for prep aration to meet these responsibilities free that the childs mind may develop 1 fully, so that he may think clearly ana judge wisely; and free too, from care that will narrow his horizon till ne can see nothing but the necessity of making living. He has right to a bigger happier life than that, a right 'o lis youth, unhampered by a mans responsi- blities, in order that the best n, 'he worth there is in him may develop and that he may learn that life means more than merely finances. Not for one mo- ment should the child who succeeds alone and under difficulties be disparaGed r the success he wins decried, but almost without exception he never reaches me full measure his life might have meant had his opportunities been greater. Those who succeed alone are the very, very few. To one of them are dozens who fail. The right help at the right time would
 1xra+ still further those who succeed alone.
 Public School System
 To this end are the schools.
 Birmingham is fortunate in that Ter educational advantages include, beside studios and special classes, an excellent public school system and private schools that, speaking from actual knowledge, are of an unusually high standard.
 The spirit of the Margaret Allen school and of the Louie Compton seminary is one of the beautiful things of Birmins- ham. There is temptation to be bit rough and blase in this busy city, and the girls who will soon be the women If Birmingham, should be surrounded with all the refinement that a beautifully reg ulated home gives. Today there IS too much display of independence and disre- gard of conventions to develop the most loyable and the most womanly side of a girls character
 These two schools are giving finer .n- fiuence, in keeping with home life, and they are making happy. wholesome com petent, girls, well educated in the studies they pursue and with u higher apprecia- ton of what girl should be.
 In any line the result is the test of it's worth. These schools may feel only pride 'n the girls who represent them. The wsg1en who are in charge-the Misses A tsf s.t,.l Miss Hattie Morton, who with Miss Compton founded the seminary--are among the strongest and most beautiful characters in Birmingham women who have been working here quietly, steadily for a number of years, holding up to hundreds of girls the ideals that make i for strength and sweetness of character, happiness of heart, and breadth or ln- tellect women who are admired by all who meet them and sincerely appre- ciated by those who know them They are of more value to Birmingham tran can be estimated
 Louie Compton Seminary
 The music department of the Louie Compton seminary will be augmented by the addition of a teacher especially for children. or beginners. This teacher is i Miss Fannie Mae Pointer, a graduate in piano from the seminary, who returns after taking her teachers certificate at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, where she specialized in teaching children.
 A unique and delightful addition to the seminary is the country home which Miss Morton has recently bought at Leeds. It is an old home place on which is well and a bearing orchard of all sorts of fruits. Miss Morton will have bunga- i low built at once and furnished with ots an oil stove and other necessities, i.nd the teachers and girls can go out l there for a holiday or a weekend. It will be ideal for a Saturday tramp in