The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-12
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER IL, 1866.
The Services and Salaries of Our School
Teachers,

N'HiSSN
Clergymen and school teachers are the worst
paid persons in a community. With few
exceptions, these protessions-one OF which
has charge OF the soul and the other OF the
mind of mankind-are supported rather by
charity than from any sense OF obligation on
the part of the people. And yet no one will
deny that the powers entrusted to them are
of the most vital Importance, not only to the
individual, but to the State. We would at
present speak merely of the injustice done to
the school teachers. In order that person
may be fitted for the position of an instructor
or instructress of youth, it is necessary that
long previous course of training be gone
through with. AT the same time, ability is
needed, and the time consumed in teaching,
as well as that taken up in preparation, de-
mands suitableFecompen for the investment
Yet, in our city-and the same is true, to a
great extent, everywhere-the teacher is
paid less than the hod-carrier or scavenger
The ladies who engage in it, with all their re-
flnement and education, receive a salary
hardly better than that of au ordinary house
servant. We do not believe that the Justice
loving people OF our good old municipality
can be aware Of the miserable pittanoc paid
to those who are moulding the minds o their
children. Let us look al the figures.
The Principal OF a Grammar School--a
gentleman of long experience and undoubted
culture being required-receives $500 per
annum. Upon this he is supposed to support
bis family; for it is not designed by those
who arranged the tariff of salaries, that, like
the Roman Church, inducements should be
held out to celbacy. AS this sum is not one
which can be increased hereafter, but is the
nltina thule of all the hopes of the teacher,
we can see how much he is able to lay by,
in anticipation OF approaching old age. It he
can manage TO keep his family in bread, and
with sufficient clothes to make them appear
respectable, he deserves to be congratulated,
much less to lay aside anything for the future.
If the case OF male Principal is
hard one, bow much more painful is
that Of the female teacher! The Prin-
cipal OF Girls Grammar School receives
$3.50 year, while all other lady teachers re-
ceVe from $3.50, the maximum, to $500, the
minimum, in recompense for their labor of
seven hours day and years of prepara ion.
Let us see how they can live on what they
on an average receive, which is $3.50. This
sum yields them trife less than seven dollars
per week. Ii the instructress were alone
in the world, with no one to support but her
self, she might with difficulty find board Tor
that entire sum, although we have our doubts
if she could succeed But at least 500 are
needed for clothing, etc, which leaves the
magnificent sum OF five dollars a week for
living at the present rate OF prices. If
mother is dependent upon her exertions, or il
small brothers and sisters as is too frequently
the case, look to her for daily bread, the rich
reward which the city makes to her servants
must cause the little ones TO bless the libe
rality OF the age. Until recently. this utterly
minute fragment of a salary was decreased
by the necessity OF selling the warrants at
discount OF 10 to IA per cent.
At present, however, this is remedied, aud
the whole amount due is paid by the City
Treasurer. We have sought, by figures sup
piled by the annual report OF the School Con-
trolIers, to show the crying injustice which
is being day by day inflicted on the teachers
OF Philadelphia. Unless some increase OF
salaries be speedily adopted, we are at loss
to see how they can live through the winter.
1t has been a continual cause for surprise
how, in the happiest times and warmest
weather. life can oe sustained at the rate OF
$500 a year, and family to support. But
when the cold comes, when warm clothing
and fire are necessary, what was before
difficult then becomes an impossibility. Tom
Hood sang of the woes of the sewing women
of London in his "Song Of the Shirt" but the
wrongs OF the lady teachers are as great as
theirs, yet we have not heard voice lifted in
their behalf
We are glad to understand that the teachers
intend to make combined effort to secure
redress. A meeting of the entire profession
viii be held on Saturday afternoon at 3 p. NJ,
at the Girls Normal School, Sergeant rect,
above Ninth, at which fourteen hundred
teachers will be present, and some action
be taken in regard to the remedy OF their
grievances. The public are invited to also
be present, and take part in the atte not to
secure Justice. We earnestly hope that the
efforts will be successful, and u more ade-
ouate compensation secured. The city will
lie willing to bear the increased tax pro-
yided Justice be done. She asks Mons to
starye who work for her. And we believe
the day is come when the desired and de-
served increase will be allowed, and those
who folm our children's minds placed beyond
the fear of absolute penury.
vr,,6 - USE OF REPRESENTATIVES, passed