The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-03-24
The School Question as it Relates to Length
Of Term, Teachers Salaries &c.

point out the inequality of the distri-
button Of State aid to Our public |
schools.
wish to say right here that | am a
warm friend of the State Superintend-
ent. In writing upon this subject I
am governed by the purest motives,
and not by unkind feelings toward
any one. believe It to be the right
of every citizen to give expression to
his views on all questions of public
interest. A question which involves
the expenditure of thirteen millions of
dollars, and in certain sense the fu-
ture of one million of the youth of our
State certainly deserves careful con-
sideration.
It's an old maxim, that our best
friends are those who tell us our faults
and teach us how to correct them. l
intend in this way to prove ray friend
ship for the State Superintendent.
In the article above mentioned l
quoted from the State Superintendent's
report the desirability of securing a
change in the basis of distributing the
State appropriation. l quoted fiom
and commented upon his suggestion
upon the subject In which it seemed
to me, that he was showing us just
how not to do it.
This time l shall make some COM
ments upon his plea for more ade.
quate support of good teachers. In
this case he has succeeded in telling
us Just how to do it. We are not
justihable in supposing that his miss
ing it so far in the one case, and hit
ting it so exactly in the other, is the
result Of his greater anxiety for the
welfare of the teacher, than he is for
fair dealing among those who have to
foot the bill. His suggestion in re-
gard to a change Of basis for distribu-
ting the State aid, is an improvement
on the old plan, and he is entitled to
and should receive due credit for the
same. 1t has set goodly number of
people to thinking about and looking
up just how much the money is divi-
ded. 1t Is now the peoples place, if
they are not satisfied to speak out and
tell what they do want.
1t is not manly to 60 around with
frown upon your. countenance and a
chronic grunt in your throat, because
you do not get what you have never
asked for.
If there is any fault in the Superin.
tendent's suggestions about long terms
and high salaries for teachers, it is no
doubt the result of taking one sided
view of the matter. If he will take
the trouble to read my article, shall
try to give him glimpse of both sides.
10 do this ask that he in imagna-
ton place himself in my position, or
that of any other moderate farmer;
let him further imagine that some fine
morning he is engaged at some OF
the necessary work of the farm, clad
in hickory check shirt, striped overalls
and cowhide boots, with his boy or
boys Gf ten or twelve years of age) by
his side clad in similar regalia, minus
the cowhide boots, as they are likely
to be barefoot; and then see some
school teacher stepping along with
head erect, and for costume derby
hat, stand up shirt collar, broadcloth
trowsers and morocco CATERS. 1t
seems to me that he would conclude
that teachers were faring we'll enough;
especially if he knew that their month
ly income was considerably more than
his own. He would be likely to con-
clude that he would not agitate any
increase of salary for the present, not
at least until times should get better,
That is just the way that l feel about
it.
This is no fancy picture, its counter
part may be seen every week, every
day in the week except Sunday.
The Superintendent says that "thiee
steps toward better support OF good
teachers are easier now than ever be
fore.' | must confess that fail to
see why it is easier now than hereto
fore, and in fact it is no easier, only
upon the hypothesis that the State is
an organization separate and apart
from the people composing it, and
that it has kindly offered to aid the
people in the noble work Of educating
their children. Such supposition is SC
manifestly absurd, that it needs nc
comment.
l suggest that all persons interested
take an intelligent view of these three
steps, and then judge whether they are
for our benefit or otherwise. The
first is lengthening the term in the
short term districts. Certainly it is
very ingenious of him to say that this
Is to be done for the benefit OF school
teachers, as all know that 1t cannot
benefit children who cannot be spared
even six months in a year to attend
school. | am aware that the Superln-