The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-09-21
M E N !, w O M E N
 A ND T HIN c s

All day Sunday the boys in my neigh borhood were crying out to one another,
 Inis IS my last free day." meaning that with the rising of the sun on Mon- day books would be the order of the day, and that until the middle of day they would have to be at their desks.
 Now maintain that the days of free dom for the mothers also lapsed, for say what you please, it takes some hustIing, as we'll as planning. to get the children off to school in time to be kept from be- ing marked tardy; and for their sakes wish a law could be enacted making it illegal to open school before a. rn l
 Of course, there may be many reasons why an early start should be had. and am sure Dr. Phillips could give them, but writing merely from the standpoint of a parent l am sure that in many households in Birmingham there will be many fathers and mothers who will say amen! to what I have just written. l merely throw it out as a suggestion, and do not purpose to pursue ii.
 There was a hubbub iall around me, boys and girls were Hooking out of homes, some afoot and others in cars; some alone and others with their parents, all headed towards Lakeview. I was in the procession walking down Clairmont when a friend came along and picked me and lmy two boys up. dropping me with the younger at the grammar school and car- rying the older on to the High school. l always enjoy seeing the children gather for school. for before they have to get into line there is a chance for play, and they take advantage of it; but on opening day it's a genuine treat to see them come together after the vacation days, and to hear their merry greetings, and good-natured quips, for children have a humor all their own which is frequently wasted on their elders but is easily un- derstood by them.
 ' I stood for a bit to watch the gather ing of the clans, and l was glad to see that Lakeview was a typical public school in which the children of the well-to-do
 
 those whose parents from a monetary standpoint were not so well circum- stanced. The sons and daughters of working people mingling freely with those who from the viewpoint of the world were born with silver spoons in their mouth. The public school is the great leveller
 l The first time that this dawned on me was when at the age of 15 I went to the Henry Ames School in St. Louis, for back in those days, nearly two score years ago, even in some of the smaller towns and cities, many of the od-time people still clung to private tutors, governesses or patronized select schools. I had a pri- vate tutor who lived in our home, and I used to sit and watch the boys and girls at nearby private school at play and wonder if ever I would be so fortunate to be one of the pupils.
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 1 Father then sent me to St. Louis wld dsh at that time was famous as having the rest public school system in America, for pr. Harris, who afterwards became com missioner of education with headquar- ters at Washington was the superin- tendent I recall with pleasure an inter- view I had with him about being pro- noted, and how sympathetic and oblig- | ing he was. I sought the chance to talk with him on my own motion, and he heard my request, and after quizzng me kindly, granted it. Afterwards I followed his distinguished career with interest |
 1 had up to this time never attended the public school in Eufaula, but had been at private one, and because of the fact was bit of a childish snob in my attitude towards those who had to go to a state institution. But I was soon dis 1 llusioned, for in my room were sons and daughters of the professional, mercantile and manufacturing classes, many of lie spirit or great wealth. It cured me of any lingering trace that the public school was not the proper thing. And so yesterday morning these things were running through my mind as I stood or the side lines and watched eager mothers enrolling their boys and girls. Some came in Imousines gowned in the latest fall style, some came in their ging- hams afoot, but on the ground and in the halls and throughout the classrooms their Twas camaradere which was good to see for many were the pleasant mods which T saw pass between the women in silk and those in cotton.
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 A few fathers Joking rather sheepish and embarrassed had come with their children, but all of them like myself, had the air of being out of place. Did you ever see a father who looked perfectly comfortable and unconscious with a baby in his arms, This was the feeling which we all carried, but like men we stuck it out, and got our loved ones properly enrolled and went away rather proud of the fact that we had done our duty.
 
 Principal Smith was as busy as a switch engine or the director of a three-ringed circus, for scores of anxious parents had questions to ask, and many little hand went up to get hearing. It was all very free from form, and there was no pushing or showing aside. It was good natured well behaved American crowd, and every one seemed to be willing to wait their turn (and by the way, this is a great test of ones love of free p1ay)