The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-20
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

have always been interested in edu- cation, and when an invitation came to me to visit the Normal schools in Ala bama l accepted at once.
 I was asked by Drs. Willingham, shackelford, Brock and Daugette to drop in on them unannounced so that l could see just what was being done at Florence. Livingston, Troy and Jackson vile day by day.
 I took them at their word, and was glad to do it. and I gave them no time to set the stage or fix up for visitors. I got to see the regular routine, just as the scholars found it week in and week out.
 In each school l was carried from eel lar to garret, from kitchen to parlor, from farm to flower garden, from sew ing circles to classrooms, from stables to library. I saw the four schools on the inside and on the outside.
 I was to be the original gentleman from Missouri, whose sole purpose in life was to be shown, and therefore I took nothing for granted, but poked my nose in many corners and kept my eyes .'skint" as l turned corners, for my job was to report conditions as I found them.
 was to "set down naught in malice" T ,,k +. -xIrea over anything or scatter praise if 1t was undeserved Now let 1t be understood that this is no perfunctory write-up. I hold no brief from The Age-Herald to puff them, nor am I under any obligation to the president of the four institutions. My only duty is to the public.
 I consider it high time that the peo- pie of Alabama should begin to take in- terest in the normals, where teachers are prepared to teach their children, and yet I fear too many of us pay more at tentlon to the selection of cooks than we do in the selection of those who are going to instruct our boys and girls.
 
 First I want to say that the buildings at Florence, Troy, Jacksonville and Liv- ingston are very much better than I had hoped to find them. Tn fact, I was re- joiced to know that the state had pro- vided such Accommodations. A good start has been made, and with further necessary appropriations Alabama will be able to feel that her normals are thoroughly up to date and in keeping with the best in the country.
 
 A word as to the faculty. I made it my business to meet number of the professors, and after meeting them to look up their college records to learn their qualification to be teachers of teachers, and I was surprised and grat- flied to find that many of them had de- grees from the best universities in America.
 As to location and surroundings I found all that could be desired. There has been talk of the wisdom of consoli- dating them, but do not care to go into it just here but will say in passing thEt believe 1t would be unwise. I hope to ulSCuSS IL ldtcF5 lOT US well WOl LII SCI- ting for once and all
 Another thing was careful to look into and that was the attitude of the cities in which they were located to the schools, and was pleased to find no fric- tion, but hearty sympathy and cooper ation between the schools and the towns people, I think this mighty good point in favor of the tact and diplomacy of the men at the head of the normals.
 Of course, I was deeply interested in the moral atmosphere of the communi- ties in which they were situated, and I believe that there Is complete under standing existing between the school and town authorities and that temptation is minimized as much as possible
 Many may not agree with me, but was glad to find the schools co-educa- tional, and that the relation between the men and women was friendly and nat ural, and that there existed a good na- girls to excel one another in the class room.
 was greatly interested In learning how cheaply one could get through these schools. It seems almost unbelievable to a Birminghamer. I had meals in the great dining rooms of all the schools There was plenty to eat and 1t was well prepared and appetizingly served.
 
 The things they were teaching, the personnel of the teaching force, and the high class of those who are going to make teaching their life work was on the whole most heartening The mem bers of the faculty were eager to give their best and those sitting under them were anxious to make good.
 I came back to my desk after spending a day and night each with Presidents Shackelford, Willingham, Brock and Daugette, feeling that I had been In sympathetic touch with as useful a quartette of men as there is in Ala bama. Each one seemed to fit in his peculiar field. I take off my hat to them; they are gentlemen and scholars. Long may they live to carry on the good work in which they are engaged Truly, it's a great thing to be responsible for sending out trained teachers to lead the children of Alabama