The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-14
Improvement Associations of Birmingham
 Schools Hd0e Done Most Excellent Work

V " to the playground. The building is new and attractive and the grounds, level and of ample extent, needed only some equip ment to make them ideal for school re- cesses and for play in vacation. Through the association a drinking fountain has beer installed, d hedge has been planted beside eight trees; playground apparatus has been bought, and the garden has been improved.
 During two weeks in November, the at teandance on the playground was 650 in December it was 1885, and in January 950 These figures suggest how much the chill dren enjoy wholesome play and what a benefit it is to provide such places for play.
 The apparatus bought by the association includes eight basket balls, soccer foot ball, a volley ball, 0 playground ball. four bats, with three basketball courts made. two dodge ball circles and a tennis court.
 This association has plan in its at- tendance that includes af its members. A peinant has been donated to the school and is held by the room having most mothers in attendance upon the associa- tion meetings. It is Won by another room when the greatest number of mothers in attendance patrons of that room.
 Hemphill, West End
 New shades at the windows of r rooms in the Hemphill school at West End gave evidence of some of the work of the school association. Dishes and other equipment in the lunchroom and the lunches that are served there daily are numbered in the improvements made in the school through the as- Socia tion.
 Three extension lectures have been given and the association has had two social gatherings with an average at tendance of about 50.
 Another improvement is the 10 trees that were planted during the past term.
 Association of Pratt City School
 Pratt City school has been improved considerably during the past term In the building and on the grounds. The school grounds were graded, seven con crete steps were built and 200 feet of storm sewer was put in.
 The floors of the office and restroom were painted, dishes for the lunchroom were bought, and payment was made on the school piano.
 Bush School, Ensley
 A restroom for the teachers has been provided and furnished this wear by the improvement association of that school. iiAO iuiiiiSHihSS dl C COiIplclt dllu llS use of this room has been a pleasure for some weeks.
 The association held five meetings in the first term, and aside from the busi- ness sessions when arrangements were made regarding the furnishing of the restroom, these meetings were devoted largely to thoughtful discussions of home and school problems. This has been rather a departure from the ma fa1s fa1 1fxff. -fI T associations, and has converted the so- ciety to some extent sr least into a study class in the subject that touches every parent and every teacher, It is an Idea worth following in any school inn provement association, and one that se- cures great deal of improvement and harmony between school and home, be- side clearing up perplexities that con front both teacher and pupil in mat ters of child training.
 Association of Fairyiew School
 A number of little things, the details that mean so much in either annoyance or smooth running of the days ma chinery, have been looked after by the improvement society at the Fair view school, and they have added much to the school. For instance, the floor of the domestic science room has been painted, the windows and doors of the lunchroom have been screened, table cloths and cooking utensils were bought, a hectograph was purchased for the use of the primary teachers, tho piano was tuned, and clocks were fur- nished in six classrooms.
 The society provided the fencing posts and labor necessary in preparing the gar den for the school, having it inclosed with wire fence.
 Lunch service paid for itself with S1 Axrn.- .xl..~ several children served with no charge made.
 In October special meeting of the as- sociation was held, and S5 mothers were present Many of them had not visited the school before. At almost every meet ing since that time new members have been added, and one of the commendable works of the society has been that of bringing a closer relation between the homes and the school.
 The kindergarten, under the auspices of the association, has been a success from every standpoint. Ten senior kindergar- teners. who took subprimary for the half year, were proNoted to the first grade, and the demand for kindergarten work steadily increases Voluntary contribu- tiona to the kindergarten have amounted to $39, third of which has been spent.
 Ensley High School
 The handsome building of the Ensley High school scarcely needs improvement, yet the association accomplished several things last term that added to it's ef- ficient service An athletic field and an experiment ground were acquired. A pay ment of $50 was made on the piano, and $20 worth of books were bought.
 Ullman
 The Ullman is the school that was trans formed in appearance by the vines that were planted about the building a few seasons ago, and this year the association has had trees and hedge plants put out
 It bought also a grafonola, and in the kindergarten department made a pay men- on the piano.
 Minor, at Ensley
 The meetings of the association of the Minor school have had an interesting feature in the series of mothers meet ings that were held. The secretary of the association, Mrs. s. A. Burbridge, these meetings, and the junior seventh grade girls cooking class have served re- treatments for the meetings.
 Aid has been given in several instances, through the lunch service and otherwise, and in some cases children have been in this way enabled to attend school, where they would otherwise have been out dur ing the entire year, or for several months. Tie association has furnished the rest loom with blankets and pillows.
 The schoof playground has been cared for by the men. Under the leadership of MT. Hileke, superintendent of the Se- met-Sclvay company, and MT. Nagel master mechanic, the mechanics of the plant have contributed much work for the construction of playground apparatus IA