The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-31
nz MRs. J. 5. REID

rural children realize the opportunities the school brings to their door. some times think from varied public ex- perience, when We use the word science we are leading many to believe that We are teaching useless things-though
 science. when well directed, is noth- : ing but good sense and reason'--but if we replace 1t by giving 1t the little of every day duties we will find very enthusiastic response from the par ents--the mothers need their children s help and would recognize help" when science seems too intericate. too hard. Yet the child must be taught science is an art and there Is an art in doing any and everything we'll This variety of training relieves the monotony of the schoolroom-while 1t feeds the brain and muscles.
 Every vocation today requires trained works--if you ask for job the first question is what can you do? The mod ern school fills that want and trains while it teaches. It Is factory grind ing out thousands of characters every day. building men and women, the future home makers and law makers of the land-make them worth while for the child and the world will feel the power or your work.
 A recent visit to Bessie mines, a day with the teachers pupils and parents in dellibly impressed upon me the great ad- vantages of a we'll rounded education. We left Birmingham on the early morn ing train, riding through beautiful rugged country, with the mountain sides blooming with green and varied colors, the tender native ferns clinging to the huge rocks for the shade. Now and then the great engine signaled for a stop. and peeptng through the window We could see the homes making the neighborhood shel- ter of small towns, who feed from our Greater Birmingham and in turn pour into her market the native output of coal or ore. Every moment was. interesting until we reached the foot of the mountain. and heard the call Fall off for Bessie" Then we faced our first lack of enthusi- asm, this having to climb steep hill, when one is out of practice.
 This feeling left us. though at once we began to climb. Resting, we glanced over the country and saw smoke from the in- dustrial plants in the distance and great, cleaned spots over the way-evidencing a farming interest. The landscape made us forget the rugged path. and after walk ing a mile we reached the schoolhouse in the center of the elevation. Just to think of 139 smiling faces of boys and girls of various ages, so glad to see you, one almost felt like having the ''big head The day was for us-we were the guests-and was it not natural that we felt we had a sinch on the welcome, and just about the time we were about to lose our head a little girl whispered so happily, "We won't have to say single lesson today" This told the real secret of the childhood joy. and we joined in the spirit of their freedom.
 These little children have grown up in this mining camp. They are splendid specimens of health and good humor, end Mr. R. E. West, the principal of the school, with his splendid corps of young lady teachers-Miss Celia McGregor of Decatur, Miss Ruby Heaton of Wood lawn, Miss Jennie Rosser of Birmingham, Miss Minnie Meek of .Nest End and Miss Eula Owen of Dolomite are training their minds and hands to useful citizenship.