The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-28

the amount of salary received by the
teacher Most teachers who are good for
anything are in the work for the love of
it. and If this is the case they will do it
as well as the school boards will let them.
From a commercial point of view. 1t is
doubtful whether it would be better to
raise the salaries. This might result in
making the public schools more like poll
teal plum orchards than they now are.
Another fact which ought to be taken
into consideration is that in most high
schools it is not lack OF salary but lack
of time that causes the trouble. The
teacher does not have a chance to study
even If he wanted to. and could buy a
library. His time is either crowded with
classes, on account CT the scarcity of in
structors. or filled up WITH a lot of tire
some and useless routine work, and pcs
sibly social duties which he must UNDER
take if he wishes to keep his place. Per-
haps it would be better to have more
teachers and less work, instead of higher
salaries.
The pay of the teacher is not so very
low, compared with that of other edu-
Gated and cultivated men n the profess
sions. The clergyman is often no better
off. and the average physician has cause
to envy the high school principal his
fixed and certain income. OF course, there
are lawyers. clsrgymen. and doctors who
earn large sums of money. but so there
are teachers who graduate into the ranks
of college professors, principals of fash
ionable schools, and other educators whose
salary is not paid by the municipality. We
do not expect the high school teacher to
be a specialist who has studied science in
Germany or political economy at Oxford.
OF course it might be a good thing if he
were, but the chances are that some one
of less expensive education can train boys
and girls under eighteen just as we'll. The
teachers three months vacation and Sat-
advantage over the journalist or physi-
clan. who gets no holidays with pay. Why
should a man expect to be paid as much
for nine months work, five hours day.
with holiday each week, as for twelve
months work. ten hours a day. Sundays
anu FAhu 10 Wv
kind of work every newspaper reporter in
the land does cheerfully every year of his
life, for wages which make the high school
principals income look large.
The fact is that il the amount OF work
required of high school teachers We're re-
duced, all unnecessary tasks pared of.
and more teachers provided, so that each
could have a specially and study it. there
would be no trouble in getting competent
people for the positions. There are many
college men and women who would be
glad to take up, as a life work. pro-
fession in which they could get living
salary by teaching subject in which
they were thoroughly interested. and still
have time enough TO pursue independent
investigation and study. This outside work
would help their teaching immensely
rather than hinder it. Would the high
school teacher of literature be less COM
petent for having written book on the
history of the English novel, or the pro-
fessor OF natural science be less fitted for
the classroom on account of renown as
student in the summer school. and col
lector Of botanical specimens? Why rot
keep the teachers salary where it is, and
give him a chance for self-ieveiopment?