Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-10-23
Teachers Wages.

that it may be accepted as truth not
in need Of argument, and beyond the
slightest fear OF contradiction.
The schools that are now suffering
most from the evils resulting from low
wages are the small town, village and
country schools, for the larger towns
and cities OF the State have been grad
ually pushing up the wages for sew
eral wears until the salaries paid in
the most Of these towns may be re-
garded as reasonably liberal
The reduction Of wages paid teach
ers in the country and village schools
began in 1878, with the oncoming OF
the effects of the great panic. and in
some sections OF the State salaries
have not reached the amount paid
prior TO that time. The general av
erage OF salaries paid teachers for the
school term of 1871 was SSs. 90; for the
school year 1890, s3l 20 And were il
not for the fact that the salaries OF
city superntendents and graded aud
high school principals are much high
er than prior 10 1878, the general av-
erage would be much lower than il is
TO day, all owing TO the large reduc-
ton of the wages paid the country
teachers.
The injurious effects OF the low
wages now paid country teachers are
becoming more and more apparent.
To relieve the teacher as much AS pos
sible the standard OF qualifications
has been lowered by county boards OF
examiners. and the distinction be-
! tween number one and IA number
! two certificate has been in some coun-
ties almost eliminated TO such de-
gree has this policy OF lowering the
standard of qualification been carried
that the statistics for 1890 show that
! In number OF counties ninety per
cent of all the teachers hold number
one certificates. In many cases mere
boys and girls, just from the public
schools, hold these number one Ger
tiiicates. This lowering OF the stand
ard by county boards OF examiners
has been met in turn by the boards OF
education by further reduction OF
wages, for these boards, composed OF
men OF practical business sense, could
not be brought 10 believe that mere
boys and girls sixteen and seventeen
years Of age were prepared to do first
class teaching, and indeed In many
cases salaries paid these boys and
! girls just out of the public schools
were as much IL not more than they
could earn i'm any other nvocation.
And 20 il has come TO pass that the
highest salaries paid for number one
certificate in the country schools al
most throughout the State IL just
about what ought to he paid for
number two.
Now, what are the evils that must
inevitably come upon the country
schools through n continuance OF this
policy
Must not the work OF teaching In
these schools necessarily largely pass
into the hands OF very young and Inn
mature teachers, with but little pro
fessional training7 and must not the
transitory character OF the whole
body OF teachers be greatly increasedr
and must not the natural result OF this
be inferior teaching, the deterioration
OF the country school, and n gradual
loss OF the confidence OF the people In
the efficiency and work OF this part OF
the public school systemi And II
should be borne ia mind that more
than two thirds OF all the youth ofthe
State are being educated Ia the pri-
mary country schools; poor teaching
here and the popular dissatisfaction
that must follow are bound TO effect
the entire educational system.
The first thing TO be done, In our
judgment, to build up the work Ia
the country schools IL to raise
the standard OF qualifications for
teachers. Boards OF education can
not be induced to increase the wages
very much 10 be paid first grade GER
tiflcates so long as the standard for
this grade represents nothing higher
than graduation I'm the country
schools
A low standard OF qualifications
must necessarily drive out OF these
schools the graduates from colleges,
high schools and the State normal
schools.
We are glad 10 see that the new law
governing and regulating teachers e1-
aminatioDs has been very carefully
observed by county examining boards.
The proper observance OF this law IL
bound to have a good effect upon the
public schools More summer nor
NAL schools were held the past sum
mer than ever before. II IL surpris
ing how soon teachers will prepare
themselves for certain requirements
| Nbeh Ane lh" neihhbof hhein' 'nb
elevation OF the standard will en-
courage good teachers 10 remain long
er in the work. and this will be great
gain, provided the pay Is increased.
The second thing to be done to build
up the country schools is an increase
in wages. The salary paid first grade
certificates Is too low the general ay
erage should not be less than forty
five dollars month. In view OF the
higher standard for certificates re-
quired throughout the State In sew
eral counties, boards have increased
the wages from three 70 FIVE dollars
for first and second grade eertifcates