The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-03

average for male elementary teachers
in the 467 cities is $1,161, while in
These four cities employ altogether
24.999 teachers and supervising Of
/ hcers, or 1853 per cent of the entire
number reported as employed by the
467 cities. When only the four prin-
eipal classes of teachers are consid-
cred principals and teachers in high
and elementary schools) the four
great cities constitute a slightly great
er per cent, namely, PA The total
amount paid to these teachers for sal
aries constituted 37.5 per cent of the
total amount paid out for salaries for
teachers of these classes in the entire
IS a cities.
1.-The tendency of recent years has
been to make the requirements for
teachers in city schools more and
more severe. The candidate without
experience, unless a graduate of the
city normal or training school, stands
small chance of securing a city po-
sition. At the same time the salaries
offered are low, but to offset this in
measure provision is made in many
cities for a regular increase with each
year Cor perhaps two or three) of
service for definite period, the in
crease with satisfactory service being
practically guaranteed.
Should Be Well Paid.
"The school authorities can unques-
Ftionably hire teachers for country
even less. and pay by the month for
only the lowest number of months de-
sired, but such a policy is a sacrifice,
not of the interests of the teachers
primarily, but of that of the pupils.
Experience in teacher adds as
greatly to the value of the services
rendered as in any skilled occupation,
and teaching must be regarded. as a
skilled occupation. If the teacher
with his experience is to be retained
in the profession he must receive a
sufficient remuneration for the neces-
sary expenses of living, not for five or
six months, but for the entire year.
"A movement toward establishing
minimum salary law by state enactment
has had support in several states, and in
indiana, Maryland, Pennsylvania and in
West Virginia, such law has already
been adopted and put in operation.
THE teachers of long service, from
information gathered by the committee,
constituted a conSidera BILE portion of the
total number, 3-5 per cent of the men
and O6 per cent of the woman having
taught 40 years or over, while 10 per
cent of the men and As per cent of the
women had taught so years or over. OF
all the teachers in 333 cities of 5000 pop
ulation or over SIT per cent had taught
less than ten years.
Hardly a beginning has as yet been
made in the United States towards Gre
ating a system of pensions for teachers.
In making this statement the committee
desires to emphasize the distinction be
tween pension system properly So
called, and all the various schemes of
mutual aid, including retirement funds
and old age stipends that have been
organized, and are maintained primarily
by the teachers themselves, and at their
own expense. In this matter the United
States, which might have been expected
to go far in advance of other countries
If the general interest in public school
education alone had been made the bas
Ii foil lon
behind"
Miss Reels Address.
Miss Estelle Reel, superintendent of
Indian schools, addressed the depart
ment of Indian education. She spoke
in part as follows:
''I wish especially to invite your
thoughtful attention to some of the
policies which have been outlined by
the new commissioner of Indian af-
fairs, Francis z. Leupp,. of whom one
prominent newspaper says: No COM
missioner has ever come to the Indian
office so well equipped and another
says: The new commissioner of In
dian affairs, Francis E. Leupp, has
been long regarded by all who take
interest in the subject. as the highest
the present day descendants of aborig-
inal Americans Among others,
Presidents Harrison, Cleveland and
Mckinley gave him the recognition,
duce him to become the head of the
national governments bureau of the
Indian administration, before Presi-
dent Roosevelt finally induced him to
make the personal sacrifices necessary
to take up the official duties for which
it was publicly said, No other man was
so well fitted
For twenty years Mr.. Leupp's vaca-
tons from arduous journalistic work
have been given to the study of Indian
affairs. Most of his summers have
been spent in visiting the Indian reser-
vations and their welfare has seldom
been out of his thoughts in the whole
period. Since he resumed official re-
sponsibility for the Indians last Janu-
airy, he has been rapidly putting into
effect the reforms his great experience
and fine judgment showed to be imme-
diately necessary for their betterment.
We want to thank the president for
persuading Mr.. Leupp to accept the
direction of the bureau of Indian
affairs, and congratulate ourselves
that we have a commissioner who un-
derstands and feels strongly on the
subject of Indian education, and is
anxious to have the best and most
practical methods used in the schools
from the kindergarten up. in training
the Indian children to lead useful and
industrious lives"
TUNNEL ENGLISH CHANNEL.