The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-14
ny uny. Il. u. 10 aLnsroN.


the writer to .cnd forth this practical
article.
rho teachers Of the public schools
arn tho iminculate Instruments Of rails
Ing the educational standards, and II
devolvcs upon them to keep II high.
An awakening OF educational inter.
est means nm increasing demand upon
tho valuable time, The physical and
mental energies and The scanty means
of many educators a Just demand
from employers should be met by
Just and satisfactory reward to tho
employees.
Teachers of morals and manners, of
mental and physical needs. deserve TO
be called more than, and arc more
than. mere wage enrners. They arc
cmbcllIshcrs of the outward and In
ward life. They nre those that give
dignity and character to the pottcr's
clay Children under the tuition Of
greater minds and stronger characters
arc MS "clay in tho hands OF the pot
ter" ready and waiting to be moulded
into vessels or honor.
However, simply regarding the
teacher us u wngc-carncr. there IRE
several facts that suggest larger
compensation lOF service rendered, ana
first among these
ID Laborcrs arc Worthy OF Their
Hire.
BY this Is meant not simply that
they are worthy to receive the amount
agreed to by shc parties of the first
part and the second part, but that
they should receive the amount that
their work merits. No one will deny
the statement that public school teach
crs arc poorly paid
1t Is fact that many coachmen and
buffers and servants doing the most
mental and undigni,ied work, rcquir-
Ing no genius or Skill or brain power.
receive almost double the salary that
is paid some of the public school
teachers, whose beautiful characters
are u bcnediction to the young, and
whose able instruction gives dignity
and force to the present Ind future
life OF dIiigent pupils.
Ia characcr worth anything? Is
fitness worth anything? Does fidelity
count for anything? Does preparation
amount to anything? Is mental
sprightliness worth anything? IS not
brain power the force that turns the
wheels Of progress? ~ these ques-
lions are answered In the Affirmative.
we reply that qualification and appli-
cation are usually found TO be the
possessions OF the public school teach
crs, and that as laborers they are
worthy to receive the amount that their
work merits.
~ By comparison It Is found that
the public school teachers are poorly
paid. When we compare, even in a
general way, the salaries OF other men
and women who live by the exercise
or their brain and the work OF their
hands, we find that the public school
teachers have not rs many dollars
and dimes, by good deal, at their
disposal as other worthy laborcrs.
The modern assistant to the physician,
the Indispensable woman in white. the
invaluable trained nurse in the sick
room, commands a salary Of twenty
five dollars a week and all expenses
some gifted stenographers. not having
great originality nor atclassical edu-
cation, command q salary ranging
from a hundred to a hundred and
twenty five dollars a month.
a sklful hookkceper, not responsible
for the eyertlon OF a daily influence
upon hundreds OF minds and hearts,
Is given a compensation OF from one
hundred to two hundred dollars.
A house builder. dealing in and lay
ing mortar and brick. demands and re-
ceivcs five dollars a day. with short
hours work, fixed at his own pleasure,
and no moral influence to tell on pres
emit or future generations.
A chemist a young man twenty
eight years old. employed by the gov
eminent in one OF the navy yards OF
the South, receives q yearly salary OF
two thousand dollars, with thirty days
4 vacation, to be taken at his discretion,
and his salary continues during his
holiday.
Other instances might DO brought to
augment the point. but such as have
Seen mentioned strongly suffice.
The trained nurse the stenographer.
the bookkeeper, tho bricklayer, the
chemist, have not SO great RESPONSE
bility upon them. from a moral stand
point, as the teacher in the public
schools, yet the latter is by far more
poorly paid.
These things ought not so to be-.
Let there be more thorough equaH-
cation Of wages on IN ascending scale.
and not descending scale. Upward!
forward! is the plea--thc earnest plea
and the moral command Of those who
arc by wholesome instruction making
the future homes and future govern
iaent Of our great republic.
(3) A responsible position demands
liberal compensation.
The public school teachers position
is most responsible one.
(a) The eyes and the tongues oe
critical patrons are constantly on the
teacher. A heayen-born patience Is re-
auired to deal. without partially, with
the various pupils OF different mental
strength and moral force and indi-
vidual aptitude. II there Is no par
TALLY shown, the parents of dull chill
dren arc often found. either in their
hearts or publicly, charging the
teacher, who is tho observed OF all
Observers" with fayorlusn, and II an
other mans ch..uren are quick In
hearing aud ready in receiving the
impaired information, the accusation
to tho first parents mind seems doubly
true.
Cd The public school teachers work
is an unending task. They must work
in season and out Of season. summer
and winter, night and day.. They are
required to be almost walking ency-
clopedins. They must read every
book OF modern and many of ancient
times. They must know q little medt-
cine, and a little law; they must un-
derstand music and art, and athletics
and stenogruphy, ana bookkeeping
have n thorough knowledge Of Eng
fish literature and elocution; under