Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-04
PAY OF TEACHERS.
Discussion by Labor Com
missioner Lyons.
One Halt Of Women Teachers
Get Less Than 5000.
IS Per Cent. Of Names Teachers
Cannot Live Upon Pay Alone.

commensurate with their services, or
equal al least these of the common I'M
skilled laborer it will be useless for
them TO aspire for recognition in the
family of professions where they right
ly belong states Hon Thomas J. Ly-
ons Of Ninalhaven, commissioner of
labor and Industrial statistics. in his
annual report which has been filled
with the Governor ana Council.
Continuing on the question Of teach
en- wages, the report says
school statistics show that fully
One-half of the women teachers en-
DlOy2d in Maine elementary schools are
receiy ing for their services as teachers
an annual salary OF less than 5000; and
but Il small percentage of the whole
number receive more than 5000 per an
nllln and our investigation shows that,
Of the more than l.G00 teachers from
$, hu.fl returns have been received, fully
q, pea. cent. report that they could not
nussibly live upon the salary they re-
ceive as teachers did they rot have n
hon,e go tOor friends upon whom
they could depend
This is indeed q sad state Of affairs
and is an injustice not only to the
school teachers but to every other
wage working woman in the State, and
they deserve the same consideration as
the school teacher.
"rhe standard of wages is usually
regulated by the amount of skill and
intelligence required. This being the
case if n woman who has biven the
best years of her life, and at 4 cash
expenditure OF one or two thousand
dollars, has qualified to enter the public
service as teacher in the common
schools. is not considered entitled TO
and cannot command for her services
an annual wage sufficiently large to
furnish the bare necesSarleS OF Lille,
| what hope is there for the poor. unlor-
| tunate woman without education with
out friends to help her in her time OF
| trouble and unemployment and who
must work in order to sustain life in
herself ard perhaps in others as well"
What wages can she command? What
wages should she receive judged by
! the standard that regulates the COM
DenSa ion Of the school teacher! sup
! pose the skilled mechanic to be salts
ficd with a wage of $15O per day, what
pay could the unskilled Iaborer COM
mand figured on the basis of services
| rendered by the mechanic? These are
| questions devoid of Sentiment-ques-
tons that must be considered from the
standpoint of equity and justice
| 1.-The argument will no doubt be ad-
| vanCed that teachers are only Obliged
| to teach for portion of the year and
| the rest of the time they can engage at
some other business. This is true ana
our Investigations will show that hun
| dreds of them from necessity are
Obliged to supplement their earnings
as teachers by accepting any kind of
employment they can get during the va
cation periods and the fact that they
| do this is the strongest argument That
| can be advanced against their doing it.
| 1.-The services of our ministers, judged
| by the compensation received, are not
| valued much higher than those OF the
scnool teachers, but why not oblige
| them to supplement their salaries by
| working at some mental work during
the vacation periods between Sundays?
! WHY not oblige the gentlemen of the
legal profession to earn part of their
| living expenses by working as hod
carriers between the sessions of court
|
medical faculty to go to work as drir-
ers If ice carts while waiting Tor an
| epidemic of sickness?
"These arguments are ridiculous be-
| cause common reason teaches that the
members of these professions require
| all of their nOn-active periods TO pre-
pare themselves for the work at whlch
they are engaged, and the same can be
| said of teachers. They should nave
| their vacation periods for rest. for
study and for storing strength and en-
ergy in order that they may be properly
| qualified and equipped to perform the
| exacting duties imposed upon them.
| There is nothing objectionable in the
employment that teachers accept at
| the seaside, lake and mountain sum-
mer resorts, but the dignity of their
calling. # for no other reason, should
permit Of their going there as guests.
| not as servants.
ain connection with the employment
of women, the question has been often
asked and is now, "Why should not
| women receive the same compensation
as that paid to men when equal SER
vice is rendered by the woman? An
| honest answer to this question mas
never been framed, and all mankind
| are s,ilenced when this conundruln is
| proposed.
| Gan women wage workers receive
| a great deal of praise for the intelli-
gence they display and the very effi-
Gent manner in which they perform
any and all work allotted to them. and
for the humble and docile characters
tics they exhibit in accepting any COM
pensation that an employer may see
| fit to pay. This kind of commentator
and consideration may serve as an eN-
terror decoration, but it will not pro-
vide food, clothes and shelter. Uuder
the present conditions and with no or
ganized effort for better wages on the
part of the women they must be sat
isfied with their present compensation
and any improvement in their indus
trial surroundings or increase in OPP
portunities Cor social betterlhent must
come through. the generosity and I'D
| erality Of their employers, or general