Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-04-20

ment in other fields. Thus, by the
law of supply and demand, the wages
of teachers will soon raise themselves.
1T is unnecessary for me to enter
into detail in explaining the Importance
OF good teachers. 1t is a we'll known
fact that everything in the public
school exists to aid he contact OF
teacher and children. superintendent,
buildings, coal bills, laboratories, and
all other things exist only to aid this
contact. If the machine be weak at
the point of contact, all other possible
expenses are lost just to the extent
of that weakness.
IF schools could be supplied COM
pletely with the highest class of high
minded and noble teachers. we should
reduce almost to nothing the class of
boys who break away from school and
run the streets; for the high class
teacher always has a room OF cheerful.
g~lad-faced, happy students. The me-
diocre teacher has a room full OF rest
less. uneasy children waiting always
for an opportunity to break away. The
teachers with whose loss we are threat
ened belong to the former class. 1t is
not in the power of any superinten-
dent, at he wages we pay, to supply
the places should we lose them, with
teachers of a like kind. Therefore, all
that l have said applies to h one
great argument for maintaining the
standard of our schools; for it is not
only so much in the interest OF the
teachers, but in the interest of he
children and the patrons who have
children to educate that we should keep
our good teachers. For with good
teachers we can have happy pupils,
with poor ones we shall fill our streets
with Migrants. For the life tendencies
OF the children for good or bad are
largely fixed by the nature, intellect
and skill of the teacher with whom they
spend their school life.
Il have herein called your attention
to the matter of the wages paid to
teachers in which i have shown that
at present:
Il. We are not paying our teachers
sufficient money to sustain them In the
proper way and permit them to re-
turn without borrowing money, much
less to prepare for a rainy day, or
to keep properly informed in modern
educational work.
"2. That a girl without education,
working in a kitchen, actually receives
grade teachers.
IS. That many Of our teachers who
are very DESTROYS OF attending some
summer school of methods are not able
to do so because the wages will not per-
nit this in addition to sustaining an
existence.
~. That on account of u low
wages and the better wages of the
cities that compete with us, we are to
lose a large number of our best teach
ers.
"5. That a girl who is sick n a
no friends would have to go to the poor
house. We have now on the sick list
seven teachers, whose entire salary
surplus beyond board, room. lights, fuel,
and laundry, will probably not pay the
expenses of their illness, besides ieav-,
ing them nothing for summer expenses
and for clothes for the rear.
&c. That we cannot possibly supply
places with equally efficient peo-
pie at the present wages. g
20. That all of the training OF the
teachers in the present year is lost II
the present corps of teacher can not
be retained and we shall nave to be-,
gin over again.
rs. That the cost Of living has in
increased in the last seven years rs to
80 per cent according to Carroll d.
Wright.
80. That as the expenses of our
teachers have increased % to 80 per
cent their, wages have been reduced not
less than 20 per cent.
so. That general increases in wages
have been made along all lines of in
dustry except that of teachers, and that
the interests of our children demand
the increase which / shall recommend.
THE increase which l shall recon-
will not be such as nave been
granted In other towns. mainly from 10
per cent to 20 per cent, but an Increase
of about 5 per cent.
Therefore, after a most careful ex-
into the merits of u re-
spective teachers, thru a year OF close
/ submit to you the follow
ing schedule of salaries, to be offered
the present corps of teachers for the
coming year. This schedule has been
made up with respect to merit wholly.
In some cases higher increases have
been made than in others, because of
the low wages OF the said teacher at
and In order to equalize her
with teachers who are already .lece1v-
ing the salary to be offered her, and
whose merit is not more than equal to
hers.
patrons complain of inefficient
teachers. The best superintendent In
world can get efficient teachers
only when hi can offer them such sal
aries as will secure them, the same as
in any other business or profession.
But the only kind hat can be secured
with meagre wages wages are those
who have not demonstrated such an
efficiency as to be called to higher
places. Therefore, if schools are moi
efficient on account Of inefficient teach
ers, the blame must not rest upon the
superintendent, as it is obvious that he
secure efficient teachers only by
them wages that Will secure
them. I can make more good schools In
one month If good salaries are allowed,
than / can make in a year II ! nave
to recommend cheap teachers on ac-
count of low wages. The present scale
of wages will not secure or keep EN-
Gent teachers
MAC LEAN is I'LL.
s. u. 1. President Will Not Be Able to
Attend Library Dedication.
yyo,d ,aceiyed in the CITY by Mrs.