New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-23

philosophic interest in the art Of teaching and
a thorough knowledge OF the best that is being
done in the exercise OF that art throughout the
world
have made no mention OF administrative
places in universities and colleges, for the rea-
that as yet no clear definition is possible of
the qualifications necessary for appointment TO
such places. The needs in different institu-
lions vary greatly. and those who select their
administrative officers show as yet equally vary
Ing estimates OF the qualities essential TO the
post. 1t is true that these administrative Off
GERS command the highest compensations. tinan-
cial and social which TO be found in the
teaching profession. Their position involves,
however. the surrender of the highly cherished
compensations. intellectual and personal which
constitute much of the attraction which draws
men to college and university teaching. In so
far these places are TO be regarded as prizes.
they are as yet prizes not to be sought but 10
be offered 10 those who in their other work ex-
hibit qualities which fit them to meet the pc
culiar exigencies which attach TO a given post
at given time
Such the prizes which men may strive for
who choose teaching as profession. The prizes
fall TO the lot OF the few in teaching. in
medicine. or law. or engineering, the min
istry. or business. This fact Will deter no young
man OF ambition from entering the race a
teacher no more than il deters the multitudes
from striving for the prizes in other walks OF
life. II is manifest however. that many who
fail OF the highest success in business law
medicine may win larger money return than
any except the eminent few in the ranks OF
teachers. As yet the compensation for the
teacher who does not rise above the common
level is pitifully small.
Ill What then in more detail are the COM
pensations which a teacher may reasonably ex-
pect?
First. financial. There are a very few posi-
tions open TO teachers which yield $1,000 year
or more. They are naturally places of high
eminence in administration university work.
The social and official obligations attaching TO
these positions such materially reduce
the net value of the seemingly large salary. 1t
Is probably fair 10 say that in any other calling
excepting the ministry and the public service
the man who is competent TO hold of these
highest educational positions would command
compensation many times that which he OBJ
tains as a teacher
Below these highest figures it may be said in
general that college and university professor
ships yield from $500 to $1,000 a year. There
are exceptions. for in many of the smaller col
leges, particularly in the West. the professors
stipend is but 5000 or less: while in some Of
the largest colleges and universities salaries of
between $4,000 and $1,000 year are sometimes
paid. Where the salaries range above $1,000
IL is generally true for instance in New-York
City,~that the cost OF living is so great that the
compensation is large only in appearance
Positions below that OF professor in college or
university are OF many grades, with varying
compensation. A young man who begins as an in
structor may receive from 500 to 81. 200 a year
II he enters a simple assistant teaching
fellow his stipend may be as low as 500 or
$3.50 in addition TO certain privileges OF free
tuition.
In some institutions pension system is being
inaugurated which modihes considerably the
manifest inadequacy of a teachers financial
compensation. BY the terms OF this pension
system professors who have reached a specified
age. having spent a specified number Of years
in the service of the institution. may be retired
a partial salary. This system is in operation
yet I'm only a few of the weather. institu-
lions of the country. Many boards of trustees
who would be glad to adopt it feel that their
resources not yet sufficient to warrant
the step. Some such provision for honorable re-
tirement would do much to offset the inadequate
yearly income which be expected by a
teacher. Even with this provision IL is manifest
that financially the teaching profession offers as
few attractions does the ministry and fewer
than service in the army or navy,