The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-16

this matter arises from the fact that
we are citizens, who love our country.
and who fear that helf century Of
present school salary conditions will
see us dropping behind the civilized
peoples Of the world because the pub
lie elementary school shall become
weak, inefficient ke-believe, where
senseiess isms and shoddy work will
predominant.
delicate and too important work to
put into the hands Of persons who can
not earn more than 1865 a year. On
the other hand, if teachers are now
earning more than they get, the law
which causes workers to shift to fields
where better pay is offered for the
same ability will deplete the teaching
ranks until the teachers will earn no
more than they get. In either case
the people must increase the pay Of
teachers or they will begin speedily to
deteriorate and the public school be.
come byword. III
t'The loss Of men teachers entering
other callings thru desire for better
pay, becomes almost national calami-
'ty, as year BY. year the number Of men
decreases. This absence of men in our
schools was noted by Mosely Commits.
SION OF Englishmen as distinct weak
ness.
Cause Of Low Salaries.
"Tabulation of tho answers Of 1000
teachers to the question: To what
cause do you attribute the low salaries
of teachers9
LACK Of appreciation Of Importance
OF teachers work and expenses, 400;
standards too low, too many teachers.
"a; no professional spirit, underbid.
ding, 81; teachers not sufficiently or
ganized, 81; lack Of funds, 20; too many
women teachers, Sc; employment of
nome teachers, %; difficulty Of Judging
relative merit Of teachers, %; wages
fixed by ancient custom, I'll; no politi-
ca rlghts or influence, IL; teachers get
all they are worth, 6.
cuse for low salaries. The rural dis.
trlcts where. teachers wages are the
lowest, are ,levying lower rates upon
much higher valuation than in villages
and cities. A concrete case from Good
hue county, which is typical, will il
lustrate: During the past year the city
districts have taxed themselves an
average of II mills, the tax varying
from 10 mills to 1876 mills During
the same time the rural districts taxed
themselves an average of mills, the
tax varying from 0 to IL mills. This
means that the man who lives in the
city pays on the average four times as
much special tax for the support of the
SCHOOLS as the man who has the same
country = !, 800 - w :.
The committee has sought to present
IN all fairness facts and figures which
have bearing upon the matter and to
name certain social and economic ar
guments which appear to justify
marked increase in expenditures for
education and especially for better
=, A. Study Wage Conditions.
1--WE urge upon teachers an un.
preJud1ced study of wage conditions
and a digni6ed but forceful presenta.
ton Of these conditions to public school
patrons, not from motive Of personal
advancement but from an earnest de-
sire FOL. the pupils good, laying special
eemphasls upon the ominous decrease in
Ine number Of strong men teachers. !
GIVE. call upon teachers to stand for
professional efficiency. r.-.y~~r :, -:
We recommend as the next ster &,
M innesota g movement toward the Rest
things in public school education a
salary law. - -. -.
we believe that this association
would 40 well to have standing sal
aary committee constantly at work to
furnish fresh and effective campaign
material and to report . the progress
made elsewhere in this fundamen tai
problem, to keep a close watch upon the
laws OF the state which affect the re-.
nun Of teachers, and in gen
erai 10 initiate and maintain prudent,
P e,,;; anad consistent, 'tliving sal
u
800 No body of teachers: serves a state
more liberal toward the good which it
sees than we Of Minnesota. when our
people come to be in earnest about edu-
cation they will take = care Of tie
teachers salaries, which will in; turn urn
strengthen several other weak places in
our system. It is our business to Gre.
ate at this Intelligent public sentiment.
Inc committee therefore expects teach
ers to accept the unpleasant facts Of
this th report, not for encouragement, but
~ WAN = - = -