The Socorro chieftain. [volume] (Socorro, N.M.) 1902-1959, 1905-08-05
ON PAY FOR TEACHERS
Superintendent of Public Instruo-
tion Writes an Open Letter on
This Subject,
DEARTH OF QUALIFIED TEACHERS
Because the Wages of Teachers Have
Not Kept Pace with Wages in
Other Vacations.

Professor Hiram Hadley,
superintendent of public instruc-
tion, has recently written an
interesting open letter on the
subject of education. The letter
appeared in the Santa Fe New
Mexican and is as follows:
| have notices of a probable
scarcity OF teachers in some
portions of New Mexico, and |
am prompted to say a few words
for the public.
New Mexico, in common with
some other portions of the coun-
try, is facing a condition that
does not look we'll for educational
interests.
The great activity in all COM
mercial enterprises during the
past quarter of a century, and
the consequent inducements for
young people of both sexes to
connect themselves with these,
have caused in many places a
dearth of qualified teachers. The
wages of teachers, largely depen-
dent as they are upon the
voluntary liberality of the people,
have not kept pace with the
wages in other vocationS. AS
consequence, both the supply and
the competency of the teachers
employed, have decreased. The
question of teachers wages is
attracting national attention. Far
seeing business men are recogniz-
ing the fact that teachers wages
must be made more attractive, or
young men and women of ability
will seek other vocations.
In New Mexico the condition of
being long" on children and
"short" on taxable property exists.
But it rests with the people to
choose what they will do about
educating their children. Exist
ing laws, whilst not perfect, are
sufficient to give good school
advantages to most of the children
in New MXeico, if the people are
willing to pay the bills. There
isno compulsion about this matter.
The people must decide the
question.
In addition to territorial tax
of two mills, income from leased
lands, fines, etc, every board of
school directors is empowered to
levy a tax of FIVE mills for school
purposes, and by an affirmative
vote of the people of district,
this levy may be increased to ten
mills. The people elect the
boards of directors and the di-
rectors levy the tax. Hence the
people are responsible and they
must decide whether they prefer
to pay for good schools or do
without them.
From some portions of the
Territory, complaints reach the
Office of public instructionconcern-
ing inadequate school facilities.
When these are examined, il is
frequently found that the assess
ment for school purposes is very
low. In such cases the people
alone are to blame. They decide
what they can afford to pay for,
and they must abide by their own
decision.
In a new country, to set in
motion and to keep going the
various elements of an enterpris-
ing civilization requires heavy
taxes. Most progressive citizens
believe that true economy de-
mands that no matter what else
may be permitted to drag, the
education of their children must
not suffer. But, the people must
decide. They can employ un-
qualified, cheap teachers and
havecorrespondingly poor schools,
or they can pursue the opposite
course.
For the greater part, the
teacher is the most important
factor in making the school. A
teacher who has not enterprise
and ambition sufficient TO induce
him to attend the institute for
the purpose of being able to do
better work, is rarely deserving
of public confidence, and should
not be intrusted with the response
BILE duty of teaching.
After considerable experience
and observation, il is my delibe-
rate Judgment that good teacher
can do more for children in a
Continued on Page 4.