The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-15
Enthusiastic Workers Will
 Offer Buttons" for Sale
 This Morning on Down
 town Corners
MONEY NEEDED TO EDUCATE PEOPLE
 OF MATURE YEARS
Teachers of Public Schools and Young Pupils Have Volunteered to Aid in the Illiteracy Campaign
Button Day" has arrived!

Button Day has arrivedl Today in all parts of the city enthusas- tic workers for the cause of the Ala bama illiteracy commission will canvass for funds in order that the light of edu- cation may enter into thousands of homes in this state and remove the stigma of the phrase "traveling in darkest Ala bama.''
 Commissioner J. R. Hornady, head of the local department of education and general chairman of the Birmingham committee on Button Day. stated last night that everyone in this city should contribute and contribute generously, as every cent went to educate the white adults of this state.
 This money" said Commissioner Horn ady, lis not to educate the children, though these need it bad enough, but to enable men and women, most of them past middle age to learn how to read and write It is deplorable condition Of affairs and only through the generous contributions of the people Of Blrming- ham who will be asked to buy Buttons tomorrow so the work can be carried on for another year. I urge upon everyone to give as much as possible when buying their 'Buttons Remember that illteracy effects everyone in the state-and II should be eradicated."
 The representatives of the Alabama H. literacy commission report an enthuslas- tic reception on the part of teachers Tn the several schools of the city. This IS largely due to the attitude of the board of education and the city superintendent of schools In addressing the teachers yesterday upon this subject, Dr. Phillips said:
 PATHETIC SPECTACLE
 Those of us who saw and heard the exercises a few nights ago at the Jel- ferson theatre were thrilled py the pathetic spectacle. Old men and women who had been neglected by the state, the church and society, gratefully acknowi- edged the service of their teachers. Here is an opportunity for us to render most valuable form of social service. Let teachers encourage the older pupils to search out neglected illiterates and help them into the light Let us all concen- trate upon this service, and gather In the neglected native and the neglected foreigner Perhaps next year We may hold here commencement-tne srauua- tion of a class into the school of hteracy' It will be worth while to celebrate such an event as the initiation of class into the rights and privileges ol fAiheiieah citizenship"
 Not only are the teachers interested in the sale of buttons with which to aid in a financial way the cause or illiteracy, but numbers of them have volunteered for work without remun- eration of any kind, in any section of the state where their services may De needed. One teacher remarked yester- day that she would be glad to pay her way to the most needy community in the state if she could only have the opportunity to help in work like this When teachers are enthusiastic or course it follows that pupils are ana this has been the rule in every school. At the Ensley High school 67 young ladies volunteered to assist in the sale of buttons, and more than 200 declared that they were going to teach some individual to read and write during the summer months. Principal Dimmitt of the Ensley High school asked the privilege of making an enlarged draw ing of the illiteracy button suitable for framing, for every classroom in the city where a donation was made by the room. prior to Button Day.
 CHILDREN TO HELP
 The attitude of the children is in- dicated by some of the things that took place while the workers were in the schools. A little girl, with hopeful ring in her voice, exclaimed: My grandmother is 78 years old and can not read or write word. l am going to DeS1n teaching ner I1lS very Weeh. A little boy remarked: T have to work on Saturday,, but I have saved up 21 cents and I am going to give that" Just after the conclusion of a talk to the three sections of the seventh grade of the South Highlands school. young man by the name of Anthony Howell arose and said: We are in sympathy with this movement and as a represen- tative of the three sections of the sew enth grade in this school I will say that we want to contribute $750 as our grades donation to the cause" It was afterwards learned that the $7.50 con- tributed was raised by the grade from the sale of candy and otherwise, for the purpose of buying pictures for the classroom.
 In another school grade had rarised the sum of $4.S0 for the purpose of adding some books to the library. In response to the appeal of the visitor representative, girl arose and moved
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