The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1889-01-31
TEACHERS WAGES.

TEACHERS WAGES.
To the Editor Of The wahpeton Times.
| have been reading the article of
"Tax Payer" in a recent issue, and
it has set me thinking. hope it
will have the same effect on other
tax payers. and especially members
Of school boards, I want to ask a
few pertinent questions, and I
would like to have those interested
answer them through the columns
of the press:
l. To whom shall we look
for the education of our children,
for the moral and intellectual cul.
ture necessary to fit them to en-
counter the business of life? {.
2. Do the people appreciate real
education and the untiring zeal.
perseverance and superior intelli-
gence of teachers in their efforts to
improve the mental status of the
people?
/, 3. 10 ths people know that in
Arizona the wages of teachers range
all the way from s75 to $500 per
month in gold? That in. Illinois
wages are from s45 to $50 for
eight and ten months in the school
year.?
4. Do they know that the teach-
ers in Dakota receive smaller wages
than are paid by the negroes in the
south to their teacAcrs1
s. Are they aware Of the fact
that what they pay in school tax is
the very best investment they make
in the whole list Of outlays? for they
are buying knowledge which is
power. They are helping to. pay
the most valuable servants the pub
lie have.
q. Can they not see that the
teachers must make great sacrifices
for the good of his fellow men?
That he must go away from his
home, through the cold and dread
full northern winter, and leave his
family to get along as best they
may; ofttimes suffering because he
is not there. And lie is 80 poorly
paid that he cannot leave sufficient
money at home to enable. them to
help themselves. That his services
outside of the school room are al
ways in demand; he must be &C.
commodating to all who wish cor.
respondence carried on, accounts
reckoned up or interest computed,
and he must do all this gratis. -
z. And yet don't they think OF
pretend to think that, because he
wears clothes that are becoming
and suitableto his calling, or carries
a watch in order that he can note
the time as it flies, that he is getting
rich? Most insanely absurd idea,
fol. how can man get rich on such
paltry wages?
8. Do they read the works of emf.
nent educators such us Froebel,
Goethe, Schiller, Baron Won Hum.
boldt, Louis Agassiz, Prof. Page and
scores of others to discover the true
value of the teacher in moulding
the character and guiding the des'
tiny of the nations?
Q. Will people lose sight of the
fact that the teacher must be at his
post at all times whether the pupils
are there OF not? That he is bound
by duty as we'll rs by contract and
that they are losing money every
day they keep their children out OF
school. and defrauding their Off
spring Of the greatest boon God
ever vouchsafed to free people OF
a most benelicient government.
10. Do they realize that they
must be taught to think. and that
as the teacher is the professional
thinker, he is the very person on
whom they must rely to teach them
how to think to the best advantage;
II. Do they ever reflect upon the
disadvantages under which the
teacher labors in many districts te
obtain lrfs money after he has earned
it? He is often obliged to wait a
half or whole year before thu
money is in the treasury, or TAXI
his orders to the bank or money
lender and discount them 10 pei
cent in order to meet expenses?
IL. Do they read the law to SET
how almost impossible it is for q
lady teacher to comply with it in
obtaining her orders? l read ar
article about a year ago in your
valuable paper, over the Nom d.
Plume of "Unohoo'' which set fortl