The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-05-15
rh1V"T sh1o "1hOtIH' o~e1 yc"f o'h1NO
Year. Monthly wages Monthly wa

1ue Nounty SdperlntendeucS came into erect
in 1867. From an examination OF this table
we see that wages increased in four years, from
63 to 67, 1856 for males, and $7.0i for fe-
males. From '67 to - the wages OF males IN
creased sos, and OF females, S7.2i In other
words, under the old system the wages Of
males increased 1856 IN four years under
the present system, the wages of males IN
creased sos in five years. Under the old
system the wsgas Of females increased s7.Oi
IN four years under the present system. s7.9i
in FIVE years.
The fact OF board must be taken INTO consid-
GRAFTON. Under the old system, the great ma
jority Of teachers boarded around" and the
cost Of boarding them does not come IN to
the amounts for those years. Since the adop-
ton OF the new system the boarding around
sbominatlon has. TO considerable extent gone
into disuse. In this case the price Of board is
added to the teachers wages. and comes into
these reports.
With the facts known, what becomes OF the
charge OF double wages under the present
system
But why nave wages increased under IL at all:
Those who have given the most attention 20
the matter and should be the best qualified TO
judge, say that it is due to an increase in the
value OF the work performed to better quail
fications in the teachers. Those who have
done little else than find fault say that it is
due to combinations between superln endents
and teachers, formed to defraud the people.
Not the least significant fact shown by these
figures is that the wages OF females have in
creased much faster than those OF the males.
Why has not the SUPERINTENDENT increas ed ono
az rapidly az the other 7 Is it not more reason
able TO conclude that the superintendenoy has
very little TO do with it. but that II is because
females a. . class have made themselves more
competent In the year 1872 the wages we're
reduced somewhat. But here we find the re-
ductlon nearly twice az great for the males az
for the females. II the superintendent gov
erns wages why does il not reduce them IN the
same proportion that it raises them Tor the two
sexes: Bur II the present system does in
crease the wages OF females faster than those
OF males AMI reduces them less. ought il not
to be retained as measure of justice to the
former tall they receive the same pay n male
for the same work a. well done /:
But il it is still claimed tina, the present -ys-
TEN has caused the increase ~ wages since its
adoption, what Incl eased them three times as
fast under the old system 1t will be said that
was result OF the war. Granted but how
can it be shown that wages might not have
gone Oh increasing II the OLD system had con-
tinued?
The supenntendency has all the defects and
difficulties that it can we'll meet, and no IN
founded charges should be hesped upon it,
That it has increased wages without any return,
l believe to be charge that can not be proven
and is entirely without foundation.
Those who would care to see this matter
farther discussed refer to the School Report
for 1872. from which the figures in this article
are taken. Some other features OF this sub
ject will receive attention hereafter.
y. \. EARLE.