New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-01-02
TO IMPROVE TEACHERS.
Connecticut Legislators UiU H-ork,
for Higher STANDARD.

New Haven, Jan (SpeciaD.-WhIle OF less pub
lie interest on the surface than many OF the meas
ures now being discussed preliminary to the open
ing OF the State Legislature on January g. few OF
the matters to come before that body have such
intrinsic importance or bear so widely on the bet
torment OF state conditions as the proposed re-
Mobilization OF the Connecticut school situation
Exactly what will be proposed to the Legislature
by the teachers Of the state Is yet known, but
that something radical will come from that source
Is confidently expected. II the incoming Senate
and House can be interested by the teachers in
the conditions that now exist. a searching nvesti-
cation into Connecticut school teaching conditions
and a radical change from the system now in force
will be made
Two main lines of objection raised by the
better class OF educators in Connecticut against
the present system They closely allied in
combined result. One is the low grade of teach
ing ability which is furnished the rural schools
the other IS the low salaries paid generally
throughout the state for school teaching. The
ports these allied matters. which have beeen
made from time timely the State Teachers
Association. by the State Board of Education and
by the Connecticut branch of the Association Of
Collegiate Aumnse-have gone into the funda-
nentals of the situation and have attacked not
only the stability OF the state school system itself
and It's results in education but the normal school
establishment. The town attitudes toward the
teachers and the lack OF cooperation between the
schools and the higher institutions of learning.
rapid survey of the state school situation would
% show COnneCJlCut
Is a marked falling Off in the standard or common
school teaching and a general apathy on the part
OF the state toward the proper establishment OF the
schools, both IN personnel OF teaching forces and
in the matter OF salaries \ recent report or the
Board OF Education showed that there were seven
tv-rine teachers in the ungraded schools OF the
state who received $50 or less month. and that
1879 teachers received not more than SIS a month.
The lowest salary paid in the state was S1SO for
thirty-sx weeks of school teaching. Three years
and has n
extent SINCE the average salary month for the
4316 teachers In the state 500 for men and 81
for women, an average which took into account
the city schools, where the pay was naturally
higher than In the smaller towns II is becoming
and more difficult TO obtain the best grade of
teachels in the rural schools for such salaries
this with the result that the ching is falling on
and the rural schols annually turning out poorer
students.
AS compared with tho figures IN other states. the
Connecticut school teachers salary becomes
more notable because of its insuff1cency. In the
entire United States a recent report shows that
the average OF high school teachers salaries in
Guiding the large Cities s1.O46 as against sSSi
for Connecticut-a decrease OF s212 a year this
state. In Massachusetts, the same group OF teach
receive average yearly wages of sl.12O, s2S6
more than Connecticut. In Rhode Island the
teachers received si129. 1926 than in this
state. If all OF the large cities left out OF the
comparisons. Connecticut is still $50 below the
age.
for good schools in the state is seen to be diff
foult, IL not impossible of development into the
high grade educational system Connecticut should
have. In this state there is an additional trouble
In the fact that the rural schools not outside
the interference the influence OF local politics.
In many of the small towns the normal school out
put has not met with the reception expected for It
In many of these towns the teachers are appointed
by political pull and kept in office by the per-
sonal whims Of the school visitors. Notwithstand-
Ing this fact. at least school visitor in a we'll
known small town defended the system. and stated
In public letter that his towns core OF teachers
was entirely satsfactory-to the town
Nor is the normal school system in the state as
satisfactory II should be, as It was promised
when the system was begun. Not only is the out
put of these schools made UP. In many cases. OF
young women who have barely had a common
school education. but the lack of any recognized
promotion by merit system IN the has made
ineffective good part of the normal school plan.
OF 1909 normal school graduates examined at a re-
cent date. III were teachers who had had no high
school training, and who started on a career OF
common school teaching with unquestouabIy toe
small margin of preliminary preparation.
The situation facing the state is such the pres
ent time TO call for at least thorough investi-
cation. On this teachers and educators generally
to be agreed Just what relief is to be asked
OF the Assembly. which begins it's session next
week at Hartford, Ia not yet agreed. A COM
mission to inquire into the status Of school
teaching in Connecticut. to report the next SEES
sion on ways and means of Eehabitating the state
school system. and to determine methods of both
grade OF teachers. Is already under confederation
Not the least important item in the states educa-