The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-31
FINE COOPERATION BETWE. IN
 BIRMINGHAM AND HER SCHOOLS
Fly FLORA MILNER HARRISON

in Birmingham is reservoir of social forces. There is enough power here, but not until now has there been great and united effort for it's direction and application. The citys various profess sional organizations, music clubs, art clubs, literary clubs, fraternal and be- nevolent societies, commercial and in dustrial organizations, and churches all combined generate enough power to achieve social reforms of the highest and most extended order. Too much of this has been lost or used ineffectively. The public schools are trying 10 use all available forces for social better ment.
 Social Agencies
 First is the school improvement as- sociation. It is semi official, volun- tary organization of parents in each school district, authorized by the board of education to use the school build ings for social and educational pur- poses. Afternoons and evenings the buildings may be used for free enter tainments, lectures, civic league meet ings, playground associations, boys clubs and debating societies. musicales, and other entertainments which may promote the welfare of the community.
 The needs of the several districts vary and the character of the social uses to which the different buildings may be devoted is left to the discre- tion of each local school improvement association and to the principal of the school. These associations have been of untold practical service in promot- ing school libraries, school decoration, maintaining lSindergartens, providing school lunches, furnishing pianos and talking machines and in providing playground equipment and supervision Their work is more fully appreciated when one hears the favorable comment made upon it by teachers who come here from other places and teach in the city schools. Their estimation of these parents associations is high.
 The local associations are federated in a central association for the entire city. This central association holds it's meetings twice each year, when reports from the local associations are present. ed and subjects of common interest to all the associations are discussed. In the organization of these parents associations some 10 or 12 years ago the first step was taken toward the social ization of the school. This was the starting point and is the practical basis of the extended social work now car ried on in the schools. It begins with the school district as a social unit and the school building as the common cen ter.
 Educational Extension Courses At the opening of the school term of 1911-12 a movement was inaugur ated by the school authorities to or ganize courses of free lectures and en- tertainments for the several school districts of Birmingham.
 A committee of teachers and prin- cipais planned the programmes fol l these lectures and the audiences were composed of the patrons of the schools and other persons interested. A stere- opticon and portable moving picture machine equipment were purchased and series of health lectures, musi- cales and moving picture entertain. ments was given in number of cen 1 ters. The total attendance upon these lectures and entertainments during tns l year was more than 1000.
 l Child Health and Hygiene Lectures Encouraged by this favorable begin ming of the extension work, the com
 mittee planned to continue on lnrgel scale during the school year 19l2-13 | A series of 40 afternoon lectures oI child hygiene was arranged to be deliv
 cred by leading physicians of the city | to audiences of mothers These wer, given in 10 school centers in different