The Columbus weekly dispatch., 1908-06-04

enlist how to weigh the stars, the
engineer how to span our rivers with
massive bridges, and the author how
to compose? His teacher.
The physician is content with the
patients physical well being and the
relief of physical suffering. The
lawyer is content with assisting in
the development of man to the
plane of a law-abiding citizen. The
minister is content with the moral
and spiritual growth of his charge.
But the teachers work must include
all three, and unless he can show a
physiological, psychological, and so
Geological development he feels that
his work is a failure.
The pay of the teacher is entirely
incommensurate with either the dig
nifty of the profession or the amount
of work to be done. Somehow that
which is best costs the 1east-such as
pure air, sunshine, water. health. and
even salvation. For that which is
detrimental we spend money. As
Lowell puts it:
at the devils booth all things are
sold,
Each ounce of dross costs its ounce
of gold;
For a cap and bells our lives we pay, /
Bubbles we buy with a whole souls /
tasking:
'Tis heaven alone that Is given away. /
'Tis only God may be had for the
asking.
We give our lives for the privilege +
of acting the fool; we spend our
money for whisky and tobacco; and
we let the state educate our children
as best it can on S1S5 per head.
True, as Prof. Nash remarked to me.
some viii say that we pay the sI.S5
in taxes; but, as the professor says.
remove the schools from the state and
taxes would multiply. And taxes
must be paid, school or no school.
You are not really contributing a
penny to education, probably.
The attorney or physician who can
not earn $4,000 per year is not con-
sidered very successful, while from /
S.. 900 to $4,000 are common sal |
aries. Even ministers are seldom .
asked to work for less than 5000 in !
the country districts, while in cities :
here are frequently five or six pas
.ors who receive better salaries than ,
he superintendent of education Of :
he same city. 1t should be remem-
1ered, too, that the minister's salary
5 commonly supplemented by reduc-
ions on what he buys, gifts, and no
louse rent to pay.
I have never learned the average
alary of teachers in this State. The /
State don't seem to favor reports =
# any kind. In our neighboring State q
# Alabama the average is $4,000 r
er month for a term of about six =
nonths. Let us use those figures a 4
title bit With this princeIy salary B
f $40 at his command he is expect y
d to board, c1othe, and shelter him.
elf, purchase necessary books, sub
cribe to educational magazines, at e
end educational conventions. con-
ribute to church and charities, and d.
rovide for the future. That IS $50 =
er month, BY the vear-about one 2.
1ird the wages Of a stenographer, tn
a1f the wages of a common clerk, 80
nd less than the wages Of a negro =
ook when board, laundry. and all
le negress gets free. is counted in.
But here and there, a few in each
ounty, are favored ones. principals <
nd superintendent, who get the
agnificent salary OF from $50 to
LOO per month for seven, eight, or
me months. These are lucky ones, 70
lie envy OF the many, getting rich ar la
lblic expense. Let US see. Nine o
nndred dollars per year is SIS per
onth. This is the pay of our rural