Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1905-01-06
Friday. Jan. o, 1905.
ALL UNDERPAID.


found somewhat lengthy communi.
cation FROM Erastus b. Daley, one of
Iron county's bright boys, who is
teaching school this winter at FIRE.
donia, Arizona. Tho article relates
to tho compensation of school tea
cheers. Mr.. Daley has graduated
from the normal course, holds a state
certificate, and is entitled to full
credit for his energy and persever-
once, and as we have already said, is
bright young man.
But like the rest OF us on this
mundane sphere, he is inclined to
look at conditions from his particu-
lar view point, without fully weigh
ing the arguments that may be adj
duced in support of other theories.
There is not the slightest doubt
that school teachers are under paid.
The dullest of us can see that IL
they received more money they could
live better, dress better and have a
better chance TO pursue advanced
studies. And when young man has
devoted several years of his life to
tho acquiring of normal education,
IL is only natural that he should feel
that the gates of plenty should then,
ut least, stand open to him.
But there are other things to be
considered. First and foremost, the
people of southern Utah are not veal
thy. We have no factories nor
mills; but few mines are being work
cd, and the ranges, which in the past
have yielded nearly all the revenue
the people have had, are depreciating
year by year. 1t is true that school
teachers are underpaid, but how
about the farmers mechanics, and
-eyen the merchantsS
Mr.. DALEY calls attention to the
salaries of supreme judges, and sug-
gests that il would be advisable to
give part of tboir wages to the tea
GERS. We share his opinion that sup
RENE judges receive too much com
pensation, but should their salaries
DO cut in half, and divided with all
the school teachers of the state, it
would probably not amount to more
than one dollar per year more for
each. or course, there are a number
of state officers whose salaries might
be reduced somewhat, but without
really doing the officials an injustice,
very little relief could be afforded
the teachers from this source. And
regarding the appropriations for
higher institutions of learning, are
they at present too we'll cared forY
Should these institutions be reduced
to the necessity of charging tuition
enough to maintain them, would Mr..
Daley or any other young men of
this frugal country be holding state
certificates? And would it be consis-
tent and Just, now that few have
secured such certificates, to do as we
have seen some nominees for office do
as soon as their names have been pre-
'close nominations and proceed to
ballot for teachers on those now
qualified to teach?
Here in southern Utah we receive
our exact proportion of the state
school fund, figured on the basis of
so much per child of school age.
The balance of the expense of mainta-
lining our schools has to be raised 10y
county and district taxes, which we
will all bear witness are plenty high
enough when we go to pay them.
The trouble in this country is that we
have so many children to school and
so little property to assess for taxes.
In the northern part of the state,
where the proportion of children is
less and there are rich corporations
to levy taxes upon, the condition is
less stringent. But already we
receive more from the state than we
pay in the form of taxes, and in ad.
dition our proportion of the land
school fund; the people are taxed as
heavily as they can stand, and all
the school monies arc being expended
in maintaining the schools. Under
the circumstances we see but little
chance for improvement, unless min
ing and other industries can be dev-
eloped in the country.
Contrasted with other avocations
hereabouts, that of school teacher