The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-19

| the drawings for display Tn their school | ooms, exhibiting worx done from the
 fli ist of the term. Studies suggesting autumn Thanksgiving. Christmas, Val
 entine, Washington's birthday, the snow and the early spring flowers told that there had been happy selections of material in
 season to add to the drawing of figures,
 inanimate objects, conventional designs,
 and prospective.
 Three judges were chosen by Miss Me
 Adory and were asked to visit the schools, grade the drawings and the appearance of the buildings and grounds. The trip was made in Superintendent McNeils car and occupied three days. It was a most delightful outing for those selected to visit the schools. The yellow jessamine was in full bloom. tangled in great masses in the trees. The big biue woods violets were just opening; red maple blossoms and alder and willow tags were out, and peach and plum trees made big pink and white bouquets against the green. Part of the ride was on road which follows Shades creek. part on a long level stretch with freshly plowed fields on either side.
 One days visit included trip through
 some of. the pretty new model camps. and another carried the party up the noun
 tain to Oxmoor. where the road is a mar vicious engineering feat, and where one
 looks down to the beautiful valley below.
 A point which was commented upon by
 the judges and one that worked with reflex action was the certainty of being judged. It was impossible to avoid mak- ing an estimate, not only of the drawing and appearance, but of every phase of the school. In the comparatively brief stop the visitors could see exactly what were the standards in each school and how much sincerity there was in each. The reflex action came, of course, in the fact that the i1idpeE tbpnSa1Ua me heft,p judged. Truly it gives food for thought to realize how surely one is judged and how impossible it is to avoid letting others see just what one is.
 An interesting illustration of this was in a three-teacher school not far from Bessemer. Jt is out in the country One comes upon it suddenly almost in the
 woods. There are trees on three sides and the only sign of habitation near by is fence and old barn. This school is cup ported entirely by the patrons, having no supplement from corporation. Since this is the case it does not measure up to
 many others, for it is only small build ing of three rooms without porches, halls
 or cloakrooms. There is no paint inside or outside and the grounds boast of no playgrounds and equipment. In the rooms is small amount of well chosen material and there are substantial patent desks. At the windows are cream colored shades and dotted swiss sash curtains. In ma terial things it might be termed an or dinary country school but it impressed the visitors at once with it's atmosphere of dignity and refinement. The whole school had an air of culture that could not possibly be assumed for contest. judges, or any occasion. It is a part of the school. The teachers have cordial
 sincere manner. and the pupils are cour- teous. straightforward and digniied, and if Is eNidanf al ,I1 happy and that their manner is thor oughly genuine.
 This was one of several three-teacher schools. visited. Somehow or other the three-teacher schools seemed more inter- esting than any others. In one of them the visitors found a teacher sweeping and she explained that she was doing this so that the money which would be paid to someone for sweeping could be used to have the floor oiled. In the same school the other assistant teacher, who had older pupils, had had the bare walls of her schoolroom kalsomined. She and the children had done the work after school. They cotsd hot afford paint, so they bought cream-colored kalsomine and the effect was very satisfa ctory. She said with laugh that they had some tired nccks before they finished the ceiling. That room has a western exposure so she and the pupils bought shades and cur tains. The teacher had given rewards for perfect attendance for ono .snonth. These were small pictures in narrow frames, and some of them were on the walls, the children leaving them there to add to the looks of their schooiroom instead of taking them homo.
 Another three tea cher school has e com parativeiy new building. It Is painted white on the outside and the windows at the right mnlea H glass side. The Rr0JfHda n r6iltnR a n al al be. There are two big swings with long bench-iiiSe seats and they look as if they should furnish a great deal of pleasure for the children who do not care for very active sport Adjoining the playground is a large school garden. It seemed quite promising with its straight rows of fresh- ly turned earth, In one corner is hot bed,
 Still another sche0f of three teachers Is at new model mining town, The buld- ing Is brick and Is built 50 that additions may be made as they are needed, The boards are green, the seats are new sin gle adjustable desks and chairs. and the shades may be moved from either top or bottom,
 One other three-room school was vis- tied It Is a model in every respect, There Is school garden and large playground space furnished with number of pieces of playground equipment, The house is heated Wltn lur1ldcei Ine walls are paint ed a beautiful shade of yellow with brown trimming, and the furniture Is the best,
 A larger school whose building has been remodeled was a striking example of what can be done with an old house. The school building was originally one room, with a small annex. Later this was con verted into hall and two more rooms were added, Since then three rooms have been built. one by 0n6... until the house seemed to ramble all over the grounds, growing in every direction and repre- senting no one plan of architecture Last fall the interior was, painted with the reg uiation state-suggestsd colors--yellow, l with brown finishings. In two or three of the rooms new desks were supplied with shades, curtains and few good pie l lures. The yards were already attractive, l for the school is in level cedar grove. 1 In the back yard by the pump is an im- ! mense tree that is now putting cut fresh | green leaves and which will shade that