The weekly true Democrat., 1907-12-20
SERIOUS SITUA TON
TEACHER FAMINE"
Editor hcBsath, In mls ExeslIen,
School Exponent. Waltes of II.


this condition is so pronounced that tn e
press, secular and educational, is be-
, ginning to speak of it as "teacher
famine"
The situation is really graver, per-
haps, than it is generally regarded, and
It might not be out Of place TO suggest
mere the Importance OF = careful in
quiry into the cause and the probable
consequences Of the condition with
which our educational system finds
itself confronted.
In choosing the avoeatlon Of teaching
every young man and onng woman
who enters upon the work e impelled
by two motives, q doaife "a 20 put
their talents 20 the highest and best
use and ~ TO make 8ging-Or. in
other words, they enter (e work both
Tor what they can give Though it, and
for what they can get Gu os it. Both
motives are perfectly pE and both
are, IN varying degrees, eaent In the
breast Of every teachef 1m the high
est TO the humhlest.
With the very few the 4fiher motive
Is the predominant and determining
one; but with many, VIII the great
one thing that draws them into the
work and holds them there is the
opportunity it's presents for the earn
ing Of q comfortable nsolihOod- be
cause they can get there better price
for their time and labor than they can
command elsewhere.
This latter class of teachers may be |
just as capable, just as honest and con- |
scientious in the discharge Of their |
duties, and Just as careful and faithful |
IN their service, as the other; but they |
will remain in the ranks Of the profess |
sion only so long as Il offers superior
inducements in the waysof making a
living, and are ready to forsake Il the
moment there is open to them better
market for their time and talents.
Not only have the rapidly developing
industries Of the country opened up to
our young men and women almost num-
berless new and desirable ayonatiOns,
but owing TO the faotg th@s, he orK of
the world has been Increasing faster
than the workers, there has been a
marked increase in wages, and hence
new attraction added to all the old lines
Of industrial labor
Public school teaching alone, per-
1aps, of all the great fields of labor has
tailed TO keep pace with the general 8
Advancement in the way of induce ,
nents held out to ambitious young !
men and women to enter, or remain in, [
Is ranks. Not many years ago the
of teaching offered not only {
o the bright and ambitious young man +
md woman the surest ana easiest +
means of rising into prominence, but I
presented TO the great bOdy of the
the easiest, the most respect |
Ible and remuneratiVe employment 4
capabilities could command. Now all d
his Is changed. From beinglne most
attractive along these lines, pubic n
eeching has now become least so q
Is 1t any wonder then that the sup
'ly OF new recruits is growing alarm L
ngly less every year, or that the best q
nd most capable in the service are de- n
erting by the thousands? Rather is ]
OF the wonder that We have left in
he ranks any at all of the strong and eI
apable, except the few who belong TO 81
hat first class of teachers referred TO r,
the beginning of this article!
Bad as the conditi IN is, IL Is daily es
rowing worse. The final result will d.
lsvltably be that the pro. esslOu Will Il
e unable IN the main 70 attract 10 a
itself only those VINO are united for eI
nythlng else, and our pubic schools, OF
nee justly the PRIDE OF the nation, will NJ
ONNA aliiObb WHplll W lNul'
Gritty and incompetency. hC
The refuse of the naLIon's industrial su
stem Will become the citizen makers 81
the republicl This il the real con.
ton that stares Us IN the lace. the la
lollc school system Of Amer ca Is ch
suicide here ; no other pr
ew to take Of it, Already IN almost in
,ery section of the country private pe
hools, primary as well as secondary, IL,
e sprlnging up, and year after year W,
any Of our beat and most thoughtful an
,ople are beginning TO patronize them. ad
and mlstrust OF our or
Iblic schools are abroad IN the land ~
ID are rapidly growing; and il is high
ne that our political economists and pr
" makers should awake TO the serl- ",
8 condition that confronts the public p,,
hool system Of the country. Ii we
mot get and keep as teachers IN our o.,
bic schools the strongest and best
sn and women the age and country
ords, we had lust as well abOioh
EN-. for 1t Is only question OF time ~,
zen they will die OF themselves.
What Is the remedy? Th,re is but Or
salvation under the sun. and that
TO make the work of public educa. yo
n equally remuneTatlve with other
ds OF labor, and so equally attractive Nj,
the bright, the strong, the ambitious re,
ing men and women of the country. ~,
IarIes must everywhere 60 up, or "