Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-07-20
RAISE THE STANDARD.
(From the Brattleboro Reformer.)

The publication of statistics relating
! to the pay of public school teachers, in
connection with the recent report of the
National Educational Association COM
mittee has been followed by considerable
discussion as to the pay OF Vermont
teachers by the State press. The report
showed conclusively that the teachers in
the United States still continue to be the
most poorly paid public servants and
the State press generally condemns the
pay of our teachers as nigsardly and I'M
just.
The RefOrmer does not quite agree
with its contemporaries in the stand they
take on this subject We admit that the
wages paid in some of our schools, those
which bring the general average down so
low. are much too low for good service,
but in most cases they are all the service
secured is worth. In some communities
the people deliberately choose cheap serv-
ice and they get what they pay for. The
wages paid such teachers, generally
young girls of ordinary mental gifts and
educational requirements. are as high as
girls Of similar capabilities receive in
other callings. Three dollars a week in
the country school. with board and lodg-
week in a large village where. as book
keeper, typewriter or saleswoman, board
and lodging must be paid for: as well as
many little items in the care of the ward
robe. etc. which the country school
ma'am. with her shorter hours OF work
and her Saturdays to herself. can and
does perform for herself.
But while there is no injustice to the
faap in IN oil
salary. it is an injustice to the profess
sion OF the teacher to the capable teach
err and to the communities where it pre-
walls. II is a foolish argument to say
that town can not afford to pay good
wages when there are only a few schol-
ars Men who have only one child apiece
to send to school can much better afford
to pay for a good teacher than IL each
had n family Of dozen to support. And
a man who has no children to feed and
clothe ought to find it still easier to pay
his school tax. He ought to be unselfsh
and public spirited enough. too, to do his
part ungrNdginSly in providing good
schools. for the sake OF the future of his
country, even though no child bearing
his name is ever taught therein.
1t will do no good to raise the stand
ard OF teachers salaries unless we first
raise the standard of our own concep-
ton of qualification. And if we raise
the latter as high as it should be. there
will never thereafter be any salary sta
tistics TO be ashamed of--for the right
kind of teachers do not work for three
dollars a week
The people OF Vermont know wall |
what good teacher is. They have all
seen her. or him, the centre of interest
and authority In a school-room full of
admiring and respectful children. Good
teachers are not rare or unusual per-
sonages, but they have themselves and
the few simple principles OF their bust /
ness well in hand. besides>more or less
book learning in mind. And they are
worth their price,
No parent, no community, no town, |
no State, no country. can afford to en-
ploy cheap teacher. One child needs
proper and iudicious training as much.
and as vitality. as do one hundred child
rem. Improper training is worse than no
school training. unless 1t be for the mere
Textbook knowledge acquired. which is
only small part OF what child learns !
at school. There should he a strong. re-
liant. wholesome personality dominating |
every schoolroom. u character whose in
ftuence will shape the course of school,
room manners and morals in way
that will be felt when the children go
out into the world.
Let's stop bewailing the woes Of the
three dollar teacher. She will make a
good waitress. seamstress or milliner;
and she will get married. anyway. In a .
year or so. She In only teaching school
because she had to do something In tho
interim.
let's raise or standard In the choice
OF teachera for our public schools-all