The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-04-26
THE WOMAN AND HER PAY
Demand for Teachers Cause of In
crease of Salaries.

Supt I(endalls figures In regard to In
dianapolis teachers salaries and living ox-
penses certainly prove the need of an in
crease In the rate OF wages. The difficulty
OF securing competent teachers because OF
these inadequate salaries is becoming n
serious problem that II not speedily dis
posed of by an advance in the amounts
paid VIII cause a lowering Of the present
standard of the schools. Teachers at this
time are occupying a position OF inde-
pendencc which some Of them ARE begin
ming TO recognize. Low wages arc ONLY
one of the elements creating a scarcity
OF high-class teachers, the opportunitIes
IN other caiiings drawing many women
away from the profession for which they
were originally lifted and which, for many
reasons. they prefer, Thus the same dim
Guilty that confronts Mr.. Kendall Is en-
countcred by Superlntendents everywhere
to greater or less extent and the old
argument that wages were low because
the supply OF teachers exceeded the de-
mand no longer exists.
The demand is greater than the supply
and wideawake teachers are likely to
make the most Of the changed situation
taking advantage of II by demanding
that their wages be equalized with those
Of the men teachers OF corresponding
grades and rank Almost cvcrywhcrc In is
customary 10 pay men teachers higher
salaries than women even though no Drc-
tense is made that they are I'm any way
superior, oiten they are undeniably in
ferior. and woman Of talent and expc-
rience frequently has the humiliation
OF working alongside some raw un-
trained youth who is given higher wages
than herself for no other reason than TINT
he Is a male being. No sound or fair
argument Can be advanced i'm support OF
this course, To say that the nen has a
family To support is a plea that has no
weight since the higher salary is paid
him whether he Is married or not More
over, the pay should he given for services
rendered and regulated on that bnSis only
If man Is worth 5000 year TO the
schools, then woman who does the same
work Is worth $1,000.
II the matter were put on the ground
OF the teachers needs then the woman
should be paid most since her expenses
even though she dresses simply; her
laundry bills are heavier. and as a rule
her board and room rent are higher than
a man feels obliged to pay. az she is
compellcd TO live in good locality ana
among reputable people or lose caste;
whereas. the man bv whose side she
works may. lf ne wishes to economics
nnd quarters in business block or some
hole I'm the wall. and retain his standing
unuuestioncd This rule applies to all
women MS well as to
tea chers but is especially true of them
hecDuec they come more directly In touch |
with the family life of the community |
and are therefore more omen 10 criticism.
In no particular is the cost OF living less |
for woman thnn 4 man. and seldom arc !
her responsibilities less. for there are |
out some one dependent on them. There
fore It IL that In demanding equal nay |
for equal work the New York teachers |
nre not only supporting right principle. |
hut arc asking only what is Just from |
every point OF vieH-