Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-06-15
TEACHERS AND PAY.
tGarden lsland.l

ludIutu lSlduusl
The open letter by Kauai Teacher
which appeared In the last issue of
this paper called to the public attention
Il very unsatisfactory condition of ed
ucational affairs in this Territory. The
reduction of twenty per cent in the SAL
aries of school teachers, in order to re-
Guce Territorial expenses, is believed
by those who have given most careful
and conscientious thought to the sub
ject, to be a decided mistake. As ar
gued, why should an already under-paid
Professional class be subjected to u
twenty per cent income tax at this
time, in addition to paying the same
governmental taxes as all others. And
surely this will tell upon our schools,
and they are by far the most Import
ant department of our Government.
| We look to our schools to develop the
character of our children as well as to
| teach them in the essentials OF educa-
ton and politics. II will be their in
struCtors who will train them, almost
exclusively, TO be Industrious, honest
! uLu pau WIZ WIZ pun
to do worthy things and amount to
something into their minds: who will
teach them to look up and not down
consequently 1t is of the most vital i'm
Iportance that our teachers be men and
women of character and education. The
day ought not TO be far distant when
nearly every teacher Is college grad.
uate. having had the advantages of as
Isolation with the wisest and best OF
the professors in our colleges and uni
yersities. We cannot hope to have in
structors of this calibre in our schools
with starvation salaries. Germany
loves its present greatness more to Its
magnificent schools and universities
built up entirely by its able educators
than to all other things. There college
professors and teachers In the public
schools are looked upon as belonging
10 the noblest of professions. America
ewes her greatness almost entirely &c
the results produced by her schools and
universities, and America today Il
lIrouder OF her schools than of all Other
American institutions. How can w
hope TO secure men and women Of
character and experience to take charg
Of our children and train them as they
should be, unless their work is digni'
fed and appreciated By the payment OF
merited salaries. The salaries paid fol
lany line of work fix the responsibility
and public estimation of those engaged
in that work. Cut down the salaries Of
our teachers and the sef-respectint
among them will be compelled to leave
the profession to seek kind Of EN-
ployment which will support them ac.
Icording to their station in life and be
just remuneration tor the character Of
their services Lower the grade OF
teacher and you lower the grade OF
children which the school will turn
Tout. II We have any change in the
character of teachers, public welfare
demands that It be an improvement
Raise taxes still higher, II necessary
let there be reductions in all other de
; partment of public workout remem
Der that our teachers are already under
paid, the grade is not too good at pres
ent, good as 1t is, and 1t is a thing Sc
un-American as to be almost feudal t.
tamper with the dignity of public
schools or in any manner impair theil
efficiency