Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-07-10
TEACHERS SALARIES
 MUST BE RAISED Unless 1hk Is Done the Tendency Will Be to Patonize Private Schools
 For Higher Education
MANY TUTORS AT ELM CITY
Several Excellent Addresses Were Given and Interesting Papers
 Were Read.


 rious sessions of the different depart ments of the American Institute of Instruction opening to-day the first important meetings of the seventy sixth annual convention of the insti- tuition got under way, the interest of the work of each department being fully as keen as at any previous con vention. Many teachers, especially from various parts of New England came to town to-day, making the At tendance at the convention large one.
 Each of the departments sessions was an important one, the sub-meet- ings being held at the concl islon of the general session. in Woolsey hall which. opened at 9:3O o'clock. Three musical selections iny the general ses- sion preceded the address by Prof AL bert C Keller of Yale university, whose subject was, .Tne Teaching of Commercial Geography" Tine address was in the main a plea Tor the ap- pltcation of scientific principles to the Interpretation of the data of trade. He showed how the courses at Yale were developed from the purely call ed "Environmentai Influences on Man" It was remarked that. the Yale student was often very dehcient in his knowledge of geography and that this deficiency had to be made up in college before much application of general principles was possible. The result so far, admittedly inadequate for demonstration. indicate that there can be such simplification of prin- ciplcs ns to render them comprehen- sive to the younger student.
 Other. addresses at the general ses- son were made by Kate Stevens of she Teachers Training college. Lon don. whose subject was, Some Recent Developments in England showing a decided advancement in every branch of education across the water which proved exceptionally vintersst- ing to the hearers. and President Frederick w., Hamilton of Tufts col lege who spoke of "DecipIimary Val ues of Education"
 Immediately following the general session, the various departments ad- journed to halls about the city. In Os- born hall. the department of public school finance held It's session, the general topic being The Wages of Teachers. The subect, "Ine epense of the education which public schools ought to give" was discussed by Nafh- an c. Schaeffer, the superintendent of public instruction of Pennsylvania and Calvin \. Kendall. the superintendent of schools in Indianapolis, Ind. Each spoke in an enlightening manner on present day finances in the public schools. -.s...-
 Superintendent c. N. Kendall of Indianapolis. Ind. in discussing the expense of the education winch pub lie schools ought to give. said:
 This expense must be considera- ble more than at present for the fol- lowing reasons:
 First. The demands upon schools are constantly increasing. AS an ex- ample. farmers in some sections of the country are demanding that the elements of agriculture shall be taught. Manual training in its vari- ous phases is another example.
 Second. Social conditions are not what they were. More and more people live in the cities. and schools tn cities cost more per capita than schools in the country.
 Third. The cost of living has greatly increased in the past ten years. This seriously affects the net salaries of teachers. il
 Fourth. There are numerous we'll paid and attractive employ ments other than teaching for both women and men.
 Fifth. The public can afford to pay more for schools than at present because the country is prosperous. is growing richer. and good schools con- tribute as no other force does to the various kinds of productive citizen ship.
 Mir Kepdall said that in the cities of the United States. and excepting Kew York. Boston. Chicago and Phil . delphia, the average yearly sal aties of vofnen teachers in the ele- uentary schools was only s55s. Tn half of the cities the average salary is lees than $500.
 % Tar as men are cOncerDe0, tney have practically disappeared from teaching in the elementary schools of cities. owing to the inadequate sal aries. The wages of women in half the cities are less than those of ser vant Kfris. when 1t is considered that tae latter pay nothing for board. room and laundry.
 The wages of skilled labor are from zs to 100 percent higher than teachers' wages. The wages of teach ers in the cities are princeIy In com parison with those in the rural srhools. ss might be esaily demon strated-
 Nr Kendall deprecated any st- tempt to systematically organize teachsrs for higher pay. There should be discussion. however. pub licify of the facts. and agitation
 Mr Kendall predicted that unless Higher salaries are paid to teachers t1at there would be . steady increase of prfvnfe schools to vhich many fhourhxfuf and discriuinasirg people voun send their children
 xoacAoru and ed1cafcrs skouId 111unr fAok Inereased sxpense for u1oo1s vuu11 noun incruase1 e. Innn(1 uom 'lno ochouls fof bee1of
 11 1rEuno1 1n111o1o VIII