The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-07-26
REMITTANCES;
THURSDAY. JULY 26, 1906.
FOR CONGRESS:
George A. Pearre.
TEACHERS AND THEIR PAY.

lLHStiL 10 RND ITCln X J.
Without going especially into the ar
gument of the question regarding the
pay of public school teachers, a subject
that has but one side in Maryland, and
that side the teachers, il might be well,
for this worthy and most essential class
of citizens to continue their efforts for
fairer compensation, to note that before
the American Institute of instruction,
which opened its annual convention re-
Gently at New Haven, Connecticut.
Mr.. c. N. Kendall, superintendent of
the Indianapolis schools, made most
eloquent plea for better pay for teach
crs. He argued that the expense of
public school education ought ID be con-
siderably more than at present for the
following reasons:
l. The demands upon schools are
constantly increasing. AS an example,
the farmers in some sections of the
country are demanding that the ell
ments of agriculture shall be taught.
Manual training in it's various phases is
another example.
2. More and more people live in the
cities, and schools in cities cost more
per capita than schools in the country.
3. The cost Of living has greatly in
creased in the past ten years. This Sc
nously affects the net salaries of
teachers.
Referring to the cities of the United
States, and excepting New York, Bos-
ton, Chicago and Philadelphia, Mr..
Kendall ccntended that the average
yearly salaries of women teachers in
the elementary schools was only sos.
In half the cities the average salary is
less than $500
In Maryland, had Mr.. Kendall
thought to refer to this state, it is
even less, averaging from 500, to even
so low as $500, a sum entirely made
quate to the most ordinary needs of the
teacher, fact that has practically
driven Emen from teaching in the ele-
mentarv schools Of our cities.
THE wages CT women" says Mr..
Kendall, in half the cities are less
than those of SCI Jant girls, when it is
considered that the latter pay nothing
for board, room, and laundry. More
ever, they have no social position to
maintain, as does the teacher, and the
requirements of dress are far less ex-
pensive. In many cities the minimum
wages Of teachers are less than the
laborers on the streets. This labor is
entirely unskilled, while the teachers
have spent years in preparation"
This is certainly an unanswerable ar
gument. 1t is a condition that con-
fronts our public school teachers in
many of our states whose educational
advantages are their proud boast. The
grand and imposing public school build
ings scattered with lavish hand all
over the United States speak volumes
for the generosity of the states erect
ing them. But what Of the poorly paid
teachers that must exc out bare ex-
istence from their meagre salaries and
shoulder the grave responsibility Of
forming the futdre men and women of
the country!
Of what use is our magnificent schco}
houses, when to perform their duties
with heart and soul is an impossibility
to the lily paid teachers! 1t is an ar
duous life they lead at best Their re-
sponsibilities are great indeed and to
bear them each day with strength for
the next, they should have no worries
in the matter of living As it is, they
can lay by nothing to provide for a rainv
day. There is not even pleasure or rest
for them during vacation. They must
do something else during this period so
that when they return in the fall to re
sumo the monotonous duties of the
school room, they carry with them the
same pale cheeks and tired and worn
out feeling they had when thew laid
down the pencil and book at the end of
the term. The remedy lies with the
state.
The Baltimore Sun referring to this
subject editorialy says:
Census statistics show that despite
the fact that we spend on education
many millions more than any other ma
ton, the teachers are about the most
poorly paid of all skilled workers. This
is not a recently developed condition,
for it has existed from the vel be-
ginning. Those who teach the young
,dpa how to chnntI, hnrro ,,o,ro,. l. -. -