Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-12-08
A TEACHERS WAGES.

At general meeting of the teachers
held in the auditorium of the high school
last Friday afternoon, Supt Karl Mathie
gave the results of the investigation that
is being made on the yearly cost of 3
good living so far as revealed by the esti-
mates furnished by Wausau citizens
These estimates were made by young
married men; married men in middle
life or older; single men; and single
women
While these estimates were made in
detail only the averages were read by
Supt Mathie. The young married men
estimated that they needed SO, 354 90
annually in order to have good liv-
ing" OF this amount $765 90 was to be
laid aside for disability or old age. The
married men in middle life estimated
their yearly needs at cost of $2,5l8.00
of which 1851 .25 was to be laid aside as
sinking fund The single women and
single men made their estimates some
what less. The estimates of the former
averaged 81 ,289.S0, with $3.50 90 reserved
for the sinking fund; that of the latter
came to 81 .751 80, with sinking fund of
S675 90 for contingencies.
Not one married man put down more
for the cost of his own clothing than
for that of his wife, although 6 or did
make the cost equal. Most of them esti-
mated the cost of the wife's wardrobe at
twice the husbands if a good living
were being enjoyed.
A great many put down at least one
tenth for church and charity This is
in refreshing contrast to the estimates
made in New York state and the East,
generally where $4,000 is about the
average.
All but those put down good sum
for vacation and summer outing ex-
penses. Fifty years ago people hardly
thought of such relaxations. Our siren
uous life today demands it in order to
save US from nervous collapse.
In making their estimates of how
a sinking fund, the teachers generally
made the highest estimates, although
their total estimates are lower. The
reason for this is that teaching cannot
be followed into old age. Sooner or
later in middle life the teacher must
quit or be retired. There is nothing
about teaching that insures an income
after the working days are over. The
minute the teacher stops work that
minute the income stops. 1t is not so
in many other pursuits The old physi-
clan and the old lawyer associates
younger man with him and enjoys
half the income. The business of the
business keeps the retired member of
the firm. Stock in corporations earns
money for the family after the father is
dead.
When we consider the estimates made
by our single women, who are wage
earners, as the amount needed to give
one so situated good living, when we
consider that average of 81 ,289 80 with
the average yearly salary of teachers in
the United States, S270.04, we must say
that teaching as business project is a
poor investment.
The great question for our state and
for the United States to solve is this:
Can we get the best teaching, from
teachers whose salary does not give
them good living? Is not good liv
ing necessary to insure the best service
Is it right, is it just, not to say anything
of generosity, to pay teachers only one
quarter enough to insure them a good
living. Should country which looks
to its schools for its perpetuity and
progress, for the development of ability,
character and freedom be satisfied with
anything short of the best schools :?
1t is not question at all of ability to
pay better wages. The income of Rock
feller from only one of his enterprises
would add ST. 100000 to the salary of every
one of the 13, 600 teachers in Wisconsin
and then leave him Sc 900, 10000 for the
University of Chicago and 81, 900, 10000
for himself and family including his
son, the Sunday school teacher, who,
after making several mistakes, is vain
ly wrestling with the problem of how to
raise $500 Sunday for expenses out
of his Sunday school class. The same
income would add S235 60 to the yearly
salary of every city teacher in the whole
United States.