The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-26
FLORENCE NORMAL
 SCHOOL HAS FOR
 MOTTO, EFFICIENCY
Ky HARRY M. AYERS

Florence, April 25.-( Special )-Referring to the suggestion of Lieutenant Governor T. F. Kilby, published in The Age-Her- aid recently, that the United States gov ernment stop the manufacture of liquor, as war measure, and convert the mil | lions of bushels of grain now used for 1 intoxicants to the manufacture of food products, Dr. Henry J. Willingham. pres l ident of the Florence Normal school, says 1 that he can furnish good example as l to how the liquor-malling machinery
 may be used.
 | Sometime ago a large illicit distillery was destroyed near Florence and pr, Willingham, with his characteristic eye | for utility, got hold of the metal used at the still plant, took 1t down into his
 manual training department. put the | boys to work, and now has beautiful copper chandelier suspended from brass chain over the dining table In the domes-
 tic science building of the Florence nor mai.
 SPELLED WITH CAPITAL "E'' l Efficiency is spelled with capital ''E' at the Florence State School for Teach
 CTS, and the great Irishman at it's head | becomes genuinely effervescent when he begins to tell of his schools accomplish
 ments and of his dreams for its future. l It's work Is particularly beneficial in view of present necessity for conserva- 1 tion of resources to meet the exigencies of what is likely to be prolonged war 1 among nations, in which the United
 States is called upon to play part. 462 STUDENTS
 l There are 462 students at the Flor ence Normal school at present, and the school is badly in need of more room. l Citizens of Florence, who have excellent public school facilities, pay to send their
 children there for instruction in the teacher training department, where the | work is carried on under expert super vision. The men students are taught manual training as a condition to gradua- | tion, and not only are the girls taught | how to cook and serve meals, but before | any girl can graduate she must needs make with her owns hands the dress that she wears at the graduation exer- 1 cises, and the dress may not cost over s5 l In cottages rented by the school neal l the main building the more advanced students have the opportunity of putting into practice the lessons they have learned in efficient housekeeping, ant over at the glrlS dormitOry there art hospital rooms where they are allowed
 to nurse when any of the students be
 come i'll.
 J. T. Mckee. the rural economist con
 nected with the Florence faculty since
 Dr. Willingham has been there has com
 pletely dispelled the prejudice that onc'
 existed among the farmers in regard t.
 normal schools. by showing them tha
 the school is primarily for their benefit
 He was particularly pleased last Satur
 day over having secured 10000 cans fo
 distribution among the farm girls of tn
 county. the cans having been purchased
 with money borrowed from Florenc
 banks free of interest. He cooperate with c. l.. Hollingsworth, the count. demonstration, and D. O. Warren, count.
 superintendent of education, and tn three together have created a sentimen
 in the county which practically assure
 the success of the 3-mill tax for schoo purpdses, which will be submitted to tn,
 people of Lauderdale on May '.