News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1903-04-01
TEACHERS WAGES.
Walter {. Ranger, State Superintendent OF
Education, Makes Certain
Recommendations,


So much has been said of late in
the public prints concerning the poor
wages of Verm ont teachers that Hon.
Walter b, Ranger, state superintend-
ent of education, has published an
interview in which he makes the fol-
lowing very pertinent suggestions in
regard to the matter:
The press is performing a vital
public service in it's commendable dis
ecussion of teachers wages. It's ap-
precitaion of the loyal and devoted
service Of these public servants and
its appeal for justice to them must be
ID matter of qualification to all citi-
zens concerned with educational in
terests. 10 my recent report | said
"The betterment of schools comes not
only through wise legislation, but
also through right organization and
praetice, inspired by an enlightened
public opinion, in the administration
of laws" 1t is in this enlistment of
public thought and the development
of right public sentiment, judgement
and effort, as an essential means of
educational progress, that the press
has shown the power to render great
service.
One paper has said: "This is cry
ing shame of our public school sys
TEN. Until a living wage can be paid
our district school teachers, we can
not hope for any great or radical ed
ucational advance. How is it to be
managed?" To improve our poorest
schools more money is needed. beg
to quote again from my reported
GLOW to provide by law for the suffici
ent support of all our schools so that
the poorest town shall have the rev.
enue to sustain good schools, with
out causing excessive taxation, is a
task to test the legislators thought
and sense of justice. The method of
providing for adequate school rev.
enue and expenditure is the first and
chief element in the solution of the
rural school problem.
The appeal for higher wages of
teachers is not plea alone for the
teachers but for the betterment OF
our schools. There is a suggestion
for reflection in the fact that the aver
age pay of female teachers in YER
mont is $27.15 per month, while in
the United States it is $3.50. II per
month.
"How is it to be managed ?" The
problem involves the beliefs, customs,
traditions and life of our people, and
can only be solved through progress
sive experience. And yet there are
several things that can be done and
there are practical suggestions in the
experience OF this and other states.
PENNSYLVANIA has recently passed
law making the minimum wages Of
public teachers $35 per month. YER
mont might enact a similar law.
But such law would work hardship
fOr the towns that are burdened with
excessive taxation, unless the state
came to the rescue. Such law would
probably not be supported without
state aid.
Massachusetts, under certain con-
ditions, increases the pay of rural
teachers out of state funds. Such
practice is at least worthy OF consid-
GRAFTON. Here again it is the state
that attempts tie solution of the diff
ficulty.
1t seems that the state must take
the lead in making good schools uni
versal in Vermont.
Elsewhere have said: Little leg
islation is needed for the more favor,
ed towns. But this is significant
TACT that some towns still have poor
schools, that lack of means or of edu-
catiOnal disposition stands in the
way OF Improvement, and that there
is little or no promise of sure and per.
manent progress unless the state
comes to their relief"
But little educational progress can
be made against the will of COM
munity. l have little faith in law
or police that does not win for itself
the reasonable support of fair
minded public opinion. Still local
communities will accept reasonable
state requirements, especially when
they do not cause excessive taxation |
or when the state helps pay the bills.
After all, a good standard of educa.
tional thought, sentiment and effort
as an essential condition of good |
schools in every community.
Again under better system of su-
pervision, with state aid, better paw |
and better teachers would follow.
In each of these three suggestions
state aid is involved. Let the YER
mont war claims, if ever received, be
made school fund, or let some ex-
listing funds be used, to improve
our schools 10 one of these, other
definite directions.