The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-13

responsibinty 20 no other In tho state.
and applies 10 every official down 20 the
local trustee.
Has Low Rank.
Virginia ranks very low among the
States in tho total amount Of money
spent for public education. Yet there -
satisfaction iu the fact that there are
very few States in which as large
per cent Of the whole amount raised for
public education IS spent for the pay OK
teachers.
The cost o. administering the public
schools % virginia is low. and Il fol-
lows az it rightly should follow, that
the teachers receive the benefit our
weakness rests IN the small aggregate
amount raised for public school purposes
SO much has been said on the subject
Of teachers salaries and 20 many stalls
tics used that I have decided 20 dis
rense with them. but II f. we're neces-
rary 7 could give comparative figures
on the subject that should cause our
people from the citizens % our proud
capital % the inhabitants - the hum
hlest hamlet IN the Commonwealth. 20
blush with humiliation.
The state has wisely taken upon It's
shoulders the task o. educating lts oiti-
zeuship. In doing this she IS supposed
20 have inteiiiEentiy considered the cost
and we meet the condition to-day not as
an experiment or as q field for mission
airy endeavor. but as a business PROPOSE
ton. % be handled in business way.
The question in my mind Is. DO we want
20 raise the salaries % teachers? I am
confident that we viii agree with the
spirit Of the proposition But when Oc-
cupyinc the position 81 trustees VIII We
paw any more than We have % pay? NV
friends. We don't do - IN any other
business. and 7 hardly think VIC would
d. ~ In this
When we expect salaries 20 Be raised
~ tie voluntary act OF those who pay
them. wer are expecting something that
seldom occurs. Il we wat for teachers
salaries 70 be raised IN this manner we
are building our hope upon sentiment,
and not upon business principles.
our trouble IS that tie profession n our
| state is fun % Indifferent. Incompetent
Fo-called teachers who burden the pro-
fession with cheap competition and make
g impossible f0r the efficient teachers 20
SECURE what they deserve. We cannot
always hold the trustee responsible
Tor employing a worthless teacher. lie
must depend largely upon what others
sav. and 7 have heard il inumateo that
testimonials are not hard 20 get
Are Called Crafty.
or an tho crafty individuals none ex-
coils TIE thoroughly incompentent teach
er. lie knows his weakness and lie
knows he must live professionally by
the practice OF other arts. and have
observed that sometimes the most worth
less persons in thu class room was ths
most difficult person 10 drop. When Ws
raise the standard OF or teaching force
hy elm mating this class We VIII de-
stroy this cheap competition. and make
Il possible for the qualified teacher 20
command a reasonable salary. II IS my
opinion that when We keep the supply OF
available teachers about equal TO the
demand the salary question will largely
solve itself We need TO protect our
qualified teachers and TO drop from the
list OF licensed teachers those who are
not qualified.
But We cannot dismiss the subject Just
here. Our schools have suffered because
IN the selection OF teachers we hRve
acted not upon the principle OF how much
the teacher was worth, nor yet upon tho
idaa Of service she WAS expected 10 rem
/ der but IN answer 20 the question for
what salary would Ehe be willing 70 take
the school Wise economy is not alone
commendable. but necessary; but when
the proficiency % the school IS sacri-
feed for the saving OF a few dollars.
there IS no economy. Such an effort az
economy misses the mark and becomes
the most extravagant parsimony. result
ing IN the practical loss OF the entire
Investment.
recall on one occasion. when advocat-
ing the increasing Of salaries in a certain
locality. 7 was asked by n very excellent
and influential gentleman. 'Why in
crease the salaries when IN an probabil-
" we would employ the same teachers
after the Increase as we DO now" This
/ gentlemen Is not alone IN his conviction;
may Of our most high-minded citizens
have the same view
! Should Be Well Paid.
But I'm all Difference to their opinion.
granting that we do employ the sare
/ teachers. the principle is fundamentally
wrong We are taught that the '1aborer
Is worthy OF his hire" and any other
/ principle has no place IN the teaching
Of our public school. or in the employment
Of those who are to teach IN our public
! schools.
And ~ perchance some OF our ladies'.
through domestic or other considerations.
arc denied the privilege Of leaving home
| to seek employment where their services
may be appropriately recognized. IL IS a
sad commntery Tor any community to
/ impose upon their unfortunate position.
But I do not subscribe to the belief
that We will employ the same teachers.
! We VIII in many cases employ the same
/ persons but n they are the proper per
| sons 10 teach. they will profit by the op-
portunity afforded by an increased salary
and cease to be the same teachers they
were when deprived Of these opportuni-
I ties by the smaller salaries. Again. we
| would enrich our teaching force by at
/ tachinr hundreds OF efficient men and
| women whose hearts are in the Virginia
/ schools but who have been forced to seek
| other and more favorable fields OF labor.
Those who are =. all conversant with
/ economic changes. know that the cost
/ Of living has increased enormously dur
/ ing the past few years
! This increase Is felt by people In every
| walk or American life. Salaries are be-
! ing raised for every class or workmen
/ In the country. This IS no philanthrophic
outburst. but simply an adjustment OF
/ conditions 10 meet tho necessity Of the
! times II II Is necessary for others = Il
] not th~ most ncccssarw for the teacher.