Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-08-06
Teachers Salaries.
SOME SUGGESTIONS TO THE SCHOOL BOARD


Mr.. Editor We hear good deal about
school matters nowadays, and one Of the
things we hear of is the inadequacy of teach
ers' salaries. The Board of School Com
missioners claim that it pays, or promises to
pay, all that is levied for the purpose, so, that
much as the low salaries are to be deplored, the
Board is blameess. Now / think the trou-
BILE is that the salaries are not properly equal
lied, or rather that they are equalized too
much.
Several years ago when the present system
of paying salaries was adopted teachers were
not so plentiful as they are at present, and in
order to secure efficient ones, such induce
ments were held out as would attract them
from other States-from States whose cdu-
cational facilities surpassed those of our own
State up to that time But now things are
changed many of our public schools are
turning out every year candidates for teach
ers' positions, and, as far as simply educa-
tional accomplishments are concerned, these
candidates are the equals of the impOrta
tons of several years ago. Almost any one
Of the bright boys or girls who attend our
public schools regularly for few years can
pass an examination as teacher, and be ready
for the first position that offers. But how
many of them take such positions with the
Wot ooe The traSs;t;on fro,, he nnn;I,s
desk 10 that If tho teacher with ite amnlu-
ments 4, a vorv oasv ono and nnobIns the
voung man ~ ear1 something handsome
while he Is ti,tirg h;rosoIf f'r on9,othing olse
or waiting for someth;np else to tnrn mn
He fools that teaching IL but a temnorarv
eypedient and would revolt NJ the idea OF
MAKING II n liz 6ue;ncsy If he makes onv
effort to improve his talents il is for the pur-
pose of emploving them in some other field
not in The school house And whv sbould
he? Under our present system Of salaries
hp is maid nc much for his 6rt ,,,,,Is teach.
Ing as he will i've Maid for his twentieth. if
he teaches the same school What i tbnn IN
enconroge him m greater efficiency when
his novitiate Is onnrcciatal sc richly nv his
employees as ribe and successful experience
will b92
! If we want school system that will fit
pupils for every ordinary ayocation of life
that will furnish them with n solid. useful
educati,n. and nj the same time fix in them
such a love of stndv that thew will becnrnc
INTELLIGENT nunils i'm the school of Iife-if we
would have such system. | saw. il must be
wrought ont by tbose who have heart in
| the work. beginning with the committees
on education in the Legislature and carried
ON through every school oflicer-down to
the teacher, and he should have it most of
all, for il is he who is brought in direct CON
tact with the unreasonable mind that is to
| be nodded for good or evil.
How can he have this heart when his only
purpose in teaching is to be paid for the time
he is waiting and watching for some other
occupation less drudrinr and more remu.
neratiyeY WouId he moi be more than hu
man to deliberately take mn for life an oc-
cupation in which their is no promotion and
which. if he has a family, hardly sustains
him in genteel poyertyY
Look M other professions Wonld phy.
stefan continue Ills practice if his growing