The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-02-12
The TEACHERS
A Kauaian's Views Up-
on Salaries.
Instance of Hardship Cited Thinks
Better Pay Would Bring
Better Instructors.

In the Advertiser of January 25th we
notice a letter regarding the salaries
OF school teachers. 1t is a subject that /
needs attention and consideration.
That the salaries are away below what
they should be is undoubtedly true;
that is, for the assistant teachers. We
believe the principals, both in Homo
lulu and On the other Islands, are very
fairly paid. But the difference be-
tween their salaries and the salaries
of their assistant teachers is utterly
out of proportion with the difference
in their work. We do not advocate re-
ducing the principals salary, but in
creasing the assistants, to even mat
ters a little.
The primary and intermediate
teachers have work that requires much
skill and tact. We shall never get
better class of instructors to perform
this work until we pay better salaries,
and make it possible for them to help
themselves in their work by purchas-
ing books and the many aids now in
use among teachers of the more ad-
vanced order.
If we were actually unable to pay
more, it would be different; but when
| there is the money ready for use, that
there is in our treasury, it simply
Hooks, as the writer of last month says,
that there is very low valuation
placed on educational work here Of
course most of our prominent educa-
tors viii promptly resent any such in
Itimation as this. We, presumably,
iiknow but little of the circumstances
junder which the teachers labor on the
different Islands; but we have been
Itold by those who did know, that the
Recommendations are of the poorest ev-
ierywhere. One case, however, came
iunder our notice.
T. A young lady was teaching in one
lof the largest schools on Kauai. The
cottage furnished for the teachers was
ian utter impossibility; so boarding
twas necessary. When her actual liv-
ling expenses were paid at the end of
each month, she had the noble sum
LOT one dollar left. This gave small
Emargin for incidentals, or saving any
, Ething, as can readily be seen. Most
Epeople would consider hers a hard row
Ito hoe; and we are glad to say she gave
Fit up as a useless task.
Il We have heard people, both men
Hand women, prominent in educational
iswork on the Islands, lamenting the in
IEcapability of the average teacher in
1.-THE average school. They have al
lsorts of plans for raising the grade OF
, i,teachers, but the methods, when put
Ito the test, seem to have but little eff
fleet. Why not try that plan of an in.
: tcrease in salary and see if better pay
twill not beget better work? That in
Invariably follows in other lines of bust
J lness, among intelligent employees, and
} iwhy not among school teachers?
, Among business houses, the man
: lwho pays good wages gets better, more
: conscientious work than the man who
ipays starvation wages. The employees
s know that the employers interests are
{ also their interests; and they gladly
s give the best they are capable OF, fol
5 the sake of all concerned. This rule
; will surely apply in the matter Of
! schools, where even the most sanguint
: will acknowledge there is need of grea
8 improvements.
We are glad Interested Spectator
: has brought up the subject, and hope
) it will not drop completely out of sigh
, again. X.
, Lihue, Kauai, Feb 4, 1900