The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-25
M'ANDREW
AS AMONG GREAT
MEN OF COUNTRY
Noted Leader Is Known
AS STORMY Petrol
OF Education
TO MAKE ADDRESS
AT COMMENCEMENT
Never Shouts, Waves His
Hand Or Pounds
Speakers. Table

DR.. William McAndrew, who is ma
tionally known as the stormy petrol
Of education" is coming to Birming-
4 ham this week to take part in the clos
ing exercises Of the high schools OF the
city.
On Monday evening in the Phillips
High school auditorium, he viii deliver
the annual commencement address to
the graduating classes Of all the high
schools.
DIR. McAndrew now is superintend-
ent of the Chicago public schools. He
is the warm personal friend of DIR. @.
B. Glenn, superintendent of the Bir-
mingham schools.
II regard DIR. McAndrew as one
greatest educators in our country.
said DIR. Glenn. He is remarkable
man."
Recently DIR. Glenn wrote DIR. Nc
Andrew and asked for biographical ma
terial and a photograph.
III haven't been biographed much,
and I'm glad of it, and as to photo
graphs, ! haven't any and don't get
'em TAKEN" DIR. McAndrew replied.
Then followed a paragraph asking If
commencement speakers in Birming:
ham usually appeared "all dressed up.
DR.. Glenn, in reply. wrote that full
dress was the rule here.
However" he added, 'since all your
friends say that you are different you
are at perfect liberty to appear in eve
ming dress, walking suit, golf clothes,
negiigee, or without any coat at all.
This, however, is about as far as
feel safe in extending your privileges.
Finds Data.
DIR. McAndrew's failure to send biog'
faphical data did not discourage Su.
perintendent Glenn. He searched
around bit, and this is what he found
out:
The stormy petrol swan out OF
the Michigan State Normal school 40
years ago and after rising to the man.
agement Of the Hyde Park High school,
Chicago, began howl at the absurdlty
of expecting decent service from teach.
ers so long as, the politicians badgered
them and failed to pay attractive
wages. The Chicago school board
promptly gave him a perpetual vaca'
ton.
He became a travelling passenger
The Standard Oil Pratts imported him
to Brooklyn for the famous educational
institution bearing their name. His
first report ON this service was an argn'
ment that to attempt philanthropy by
means Of poorly paid teachers was
s'systematized hypocrisy" His pro.
posal for liberal teachers CONTRACTS and
Tor a pension system have long been q
part of the Pratt Institutes policy.
He was elected superintendent OF
achooIs in Detroit and served one day.
He was chosen an associate superin.
tendent of New York schools. When
his term expired, Mayor Hyland gave
orders to smash him." The, school
board reelected him unanimously. He
organized the first National Educa-
ton committee for the study OF teach
ers' wages.
Never Shouts or Pounds.
DIR. McAudrew is not aggressive in
speech. He never shouts, and does not
wave his hands or pound the speakers
table. He talks with, or at, his audi
ence in quiet, reasonable way, but
has the faculty of bringing it smiling
through to a belief in the immense
worthwhileness of life and of the
pleasant duty of enjoying the privilege
Of it. He believes and teaches that
Lincoln was right when he said Ed
ucation is not only an important ques-
ton but is the most important ques-
ton we as a people can be concerned
with"
DIR. McAndrew's address Monday eve.
ming will be the outstanding event Of
commencement week in the city, ac-
cording to DIR. Glenn.
Phillips High school will be holding
its fortieths commencement, Ensley
High it's twenty-second and Woodlawn
High its second.