The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-15

Several Birmingham school. chlldrer have been directed from habits that might lead them later in life to paths of waywardness. Others have been materially aided Tir taking their proper places in the ranks of scholarship. A general feeling of co
 oneration between teachers and the families of school children has been established. All these worthwhile pen efits and many others have neen ae rived, board of education officials de' clare. from the work of Birmingham latest addition to the school forces, the visiting teacher.
 Birmingham is one of only few cities to have realized the advantages of a visiting teacher. The plan has been worked out successfully in New York city, Rochester, N. l., Minneapo' lis. Minn., and other progressive citIes
 In resume of the work done by this teacher, board of. education oftl' cials say: 'The schools of the present day are fast taking their place as a social force as we'll as an educational force in the community, and the agent of this force within the school system is the visiting teacher, or social worker with school children.
 'sThe office was introduced in the Birmingham public school system two years ago. It is based on the idea that the only agency that has the han ding of virtually all the children is the public school and therefore that one of it's functions is the study and treat ment of the child problem. The regu- lar school teacher is bound down by class requirements and so can do this in only a limited way. Therefore the Birmingham schools have introduced into their system to handle these prob lens the visiting teacher, one who is trained and experienced as instructor and also as a social worker: She is thus fitted to cooperate with the teach CTS from an education standpoint and with the home and the community from a social work point of view, and of harmonizing these forces in the in terest of the child.
 Individual Attention
 "The children she deals with are those whose need for individual atten- tion has become apparent to the teach CT, who is in an ideal position to see the first indications of any untoward tendencies. She reports the difficulty to the visiting teacher, who then stud ies the indiviual needs of these chill dren in the light of their school re- quirements, their home environment, their community influences and the per sonalities of the children, themselves She goes into the home as friend of the child and with the parent and teacher she plans some change in the child's program-in the school require ments, the home and. the community influences as the need requires. A three schools, have at one time or 'an- total of 249 children, distributed through three schools, have at one time or an- other during the past two years come under the care of the visiting teacher and adjustments made.
 Tn her work the visiting teacher has used all available agencies of the city, from the family welfare and. health agencies. for those needing them, to the Boy and Girl Scout organizations and the Young Mems Christian association boys classes for those needing such an outlet for their energies. Such case was that of the boy who was frequently required to work as much. as three or four hours after school at his fathers business. was kept from the children in the neighborhood for fear he would, be involved in some wrOngdoing, and no other playmates were substituted for them.
 This boy inevitably was much behind the boys of his age in his studies and was a serious behavior problem at home and at school. By winning the CO., operation of the home, the hours of helping at his fathers business were cut in half, companions. were found for him not very far from home, he was allowed to join the Boy Scouts and go on their