The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-15
The Press and Banner
Wednesday, Feb. Is. 1888.
Teachers and their Pay.

IeacheES
The AJbeuille Press and Banner processes a
great desire to assist "poor people" in all their
Straits, yet, at the same time, in speaking OF
the pay of teachers, among other things II
says; @ d,r,ro,oos, ,,,oro,,oo o,,a,o,or.
as there are differences in the value of the SER
vices of other workers. But the same man
should not be paid more from the public
treasury than the sum for which the private
citizen could hire him."
Our contemporary speaks in this strain in
advocating reduced salaries for TEACHERS. No
one will deny that "there are differences
in the value Of teachers as there are differ
ences in the value of the services OF other
workers" A poor teacher can be obtained
for less compensation than good one, and
as the public schools want good teachers. the
proposition advanced by our contemporary is
O sufficient proof that salaries should be in
creased rather than diminished, for thereby
the efficiency of our public school system
would be greatly increased, It is clear as the
MONDAY sun, that If our public schools are to
be of the highest order good teachers must be
engaged. Teachers Of ordinary capacity can
not be engaged to teach at $40 per month.
The salaries of teachers are already small,
and If they are reduced, as advocated by the
Press and Banner, the public schools Of our
State will sink to the lowest depths. Our pub.
liz schools are not what they should be. but
how q decrease in salaries will improve them
we cannot see. An ordinary laborer often
commands larger wages than so, but does the
Press and Banner place the services of a
teacher on the same plane. His duties are
immeasurably higher and demand larger
wages. To reduce salaries Will bring poor
teachers as sure as the sun will rise, and the
efficiency of our schools will corresponding!y
decrease. This Is not what we want. We
want our schools to increase In usefulness, but
with second class men at the head they can
never improve.
There Is alway n cry for reduction In expens-
es, and probably they could be decreased, but
the last place tor such reductions Is IN our ed ed
be extravagant In educational affairs for the
outlay will bring. Increased prosperity as ig-
norance is dispelled.
"humbuggery'' in our public school system,
and will labor for the correction Of these evils
with whatever ability 1t may possess The
theory upon which 1t is now laboring Is radi,
cally wrong, the dangerous tendency OF which
we trust will never receive the popular ap-
prevail.
service win be increased by reduction OF
salaries? It processes desire to increase the
usefulness of our schools.
The above is from the Win,,sboro Ne,Us and
Herald. In the first place, we desire to note
the respectful discussion Of public ques-
tion, without irrelevant personalities. We
are always glad to meet brother editor who
is so conscious of the correctness of his opin-
ions that he will labor to maintain them by
fair and honorable discussion.
Trusting to be not less respectful, we will
reply:
/. That we hope not to be understood as de-
string to lower the profession OF teacher.
2. That we are working, as we think, for the
benefit Of that class of our citizens who are
unable to educate their children entirely at
their own expense.
8. That by reducing the pay Of teachers to
$40 or SIS o month, those patrons who are
able, would supplement the pay, and by this
means the schools would be kept open for the
whole scholastic year-thus helping rich and
poor slike, while working in harmony.
4. Communities who are able to pay should
not depend upon the public to hire a
first class teacher OF the dead languages at
high pay. while poor children in the country
are denied any school at all.
S. High salaries mean few schools for favor
ed localities, and none at all for remote sec
tons
g. Low salaries will never stop school in
town, where the children are numerous, and
where some of the patrons are able to pay.
7. We wish 1t distinctly understood that,
we think 1t no feather in any officers cap to
f1aunt the fact in our faces that he is educat-
ing more negroes than whites.
g. The reduction Of the monthly pay from
the public school fund need not reduce the
fees actually received by our teachers Those
patrons who wish high priced teacher can
supplement.
8. The Rinnsboro Ne,ps and Herald, like all
the teachers, and every other newspaper
holding 1t views, proposes to make the salary
of the teacher dependent upon the school
fund, when, as matter OF fact, they should
labor to instill in the minds OF the people that
pride and selfrespect which would make
self-respecting parents-who are able-pay
something out of their own pockets for q
good teacher for their children.
TO- We believe as a matter Of fact that no
teacher, nor any newspaper upholding the
public school system. has ever advocated any
other plan Of raising tho teachers salary than
by shortening the term or lessening tho num-
ber Of schools.