Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1903-03-12
rs CTS. PER YEAR

Providing, as it does, for an in
creased expenditure of public school
funds, this bill may not be popular
in some of our districts. 1t seems,
possibly, poor business to pay $35
month for services which may be
procured for $25 or $50. 1t may
seem a hardship in some school dis
tricts to further burden the taxpay-
ers in order to pay the minimum
wages as prescribed by lay. Much,
Qndeed we may say nearly ally the
opposition to this act will be founded
upon what its opponents consider
good judgement and reason. TAnd
l will say right here that we should
be very slow indeed in condeming
man simply because he opposes that
upon which we look with approval.
Nothing can possibly be gained by
wholesale condemnation.] The
friends of this measure, however,
feel confident that in the course of
time its most aggressive opponents
will be lead to see and appreciate the
advisability of its adoption. The
writer has heard some of the argu-
ments of those who denounce the
measure and their very arguments
have convinced him that their op-
position is inspired by false con-
ception of the bill itself and failure
to grasp the ultimate results of the
enforcement of the law.
Before proceeding further in dis
cussing this question, let us agree
upon few points:
First bill will not become
law through desire to overburden
the taxpayer. Our legislators do not
favor this measure because they love
to bleed the man who has taxes to
pay.
Second, This bill is not one of
those passed at the dictation of dem
agogues and so called "bosses."
The most directly benefited, those
who receive the increase in salary
are, mostly the girls and young men
under 81 years of age. Most voters
who are teaching received $50 before
this measure was suggested.
Third, AS this bill did not ema-
nate from an unworthy source, and
did not have its inspiration in some
unworthy design those who favor it,
do so because they feel that it will
result in good.
Now if we are willing to agree
upon these three points, our discus
sion can be carried on without un-
pleasantness, and we are perfectly
willing to try to point out some of
the benefits which must follow the
enactment and enforcement of this
law.
While all may not at first agree
with me in the statement am about
to make, do not believe that the
teacher will, by any means, be the
person most benefited by this law.
The real benefit, the real advantage,
will be to those whom the teacher
controls and teaches. Better wages,
as we shall attempt to show later,
means better teachers, and better
teaching must result in a higher de-
velopment of the child mind, in a
broader, more thorough preparation
for the duties of right living. Better
teaching means less "keepin' schooP'
and more development. If we could
all see this matter in this light, in
stead of condeming those who have
been instrumental in the passage of
this measure, we would applaud
those, who in spite of the disfavor
this bill would bring upon them,
have stood shoulder to shoulder with
progress and the advancement of the
cause of education.
You enter clothing store to pur-
chase suit of clothes. The dealer
showes you several at different prices.
Why do you pay $ls for one suit
when you could have purchased
another for So? Not because you
want to give charity to the dealer,
not because of any sympathy you
may have for the clothier, but be-
cause cit pays to get the best"
If this principal pays in the pur-
chase of suit OF clothes, which at
the best can last but few months,
how infinitely more does it pay
when it comes to providing for our
children that which shall extend be-
yopd tho lapSp of time aud pronara