The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-14
SPEAKERS STRESS
 EXTENSION WORK. IF U N | vE RSIT '.
Great Gathering in Interest of Educational Meet at BeSSe- mer--Noted Educa-
 tors Present

BESSEMER, Jan. 1S.-(Special.1- One of the most notable gatherings looking to the educational interests of the county was that of Saturday when fully 300 persons, teachers, who are taking the university extension courses, principals of rural and city schools. University of Alabama pro fessors, and business men and others interested. met at the Bessemer High school for their regular classes, and later at luncheon as the guests of the Bessemer Chamber of Com merce.
 The gathering was stressed by Professor E. B. Erwin, toastmaster, in his opening speech at the lunch- con, as being one of the most i'm portant held in Jefferson county in some time in that it gave the busi- ness men an opportunity to see educa- tionaI interests of the county from the viewpoint of the educators.
 Extension Work
 Prominent among the speakers for the luncheon was Dr. J. s. Thomas, who is in charge of the extension work of the university who gave some interesting facts about the growth of the department since It's establishment in 1919. Since that time he stated 13 centers have been established, three of them in Jeffer- son county, one for the Birmingham teachers, one for the Bessemer teachers and one for the rural teachers; and there are 15 coures and enrolled are Til teachers. He re- viwed the purposes of the extension work saying that it was his desire to see the University of Alabama trans ported to every section of Alabama through the extension course medium.
 Following up a thought stressed by pr. Garner a few minutes previ- ously. Dr. Thomas made plea to| the business men present that they diversity their reading from the usual pages of trade Journals to the fine and beautiful examples of It. erature. He declared that one or the greatest needs of the world to- day was not a great financier, nor inventor nor soldier, but great poet who would contribute to the making of men.
 Summer Schoo1
 pr. J. P. Doster, of the university made a talk on the Summer School of the University" saying that the school this year would be the best in the history of the institution, that it would last twelve weeks and that they had secured the best teachers 
 for best courses possible.
 Dr. Garner, who occupies chair of English at the university, was one of the most interesting speakers who. under the subject of "Our Mother Tongue" talked few min utes about modern American litera- ture. which would in time he said reflect the business life of America and closed with an appeal for closer cultivation of the beautiful and finer things of life which, "in our mad scramble for the dollar" we might overlook. and which we could find in any community, city or place, 1T we looked for them."
 t s 4A RuraI Schools
 The work accomplished for tne rural schools of this division of the county by the Bessemer Chamber or Commerce was related by w. 5. Copeland and showed that this body had helped with the libraries; had planted pecan trees on the grounds of the five schools in the district; had strengthened cooperative rela- tionship between patrons and teachers, and assisted in raising standards of scholarship among pupils by honoring best students Of these schools, and had established dental clinics in connection with the DOdTQ or OiliCc III AiiC N.NS'
 Prof. H. H. Fowler, principal of the Alliance Agricultural school, made very interesting talk about the Con- solidated School,' of which Alliance is the typical example of the best consolidated school in the, county, which the board of education has given to the rural citizens. I
 Tribute to Teachers
 The educational purposes of tne Bessemer Chamber of Commerce were discussed briefly by J. w. Leggett, chairman of rural affairs of that body and in his talk. MT. Leggett paid a fine tribute to the rural teacher and declared that unless remeded, the salary of Ala bama's school teachers, would re- fleet shame upon the state.
 Miss Mary Griggs made a talk about the libraries of the schools and mentioned the many splendid donations of books from clubs ana club women and what these gifts and this interest meant to the life of the teacher and to the pupils.
 Welcome Address
 The welcome address on the occa- sion was made, by Dr. R. P. Mo- Tyeire, mayor of Bessemer. In cluded in his short welcome talk, was the expression of appreciation of MT. Leggett's activities along educational lines which had been ex- tended to every school in his dis trict. and which cntaiied the ex penditure of much of his, time and his money.
 pr. N R. Baker responded to Mayor McTyeire's welcome congratu- lated Bessemer upon it's Chamber of Commerce and upon educational tnterest and presence at the meeting that if Bessemer were not so close to Birmingham that>ft would be one Of the big cities of the country.
 pr. l.. l.. Vann, who was to have made short talk about the Bes- semer school system, on account orl the time being limited. issued an in- vitation to everybody to visit the Bessemer schools. A. p. Ausman, secretary of the Chamber of Com merce, thanked the teachers for their interest and presence at the meting and assured them that the assistance of the Bessemer Chamber of Com merce could be counted upon for edu- cational advancement along all lines. mentioning specially assistance inl vocational training and establish ment of rural school libraries.
 Foster Anniversary
 Interesting the program Of -RVE Auul nuuuun ARU