The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-12-31
CAREY MAKES REPORT
State Superintendent Declares
That Training of Teachers Is
Worth More Than They Get
LOW SALARIES ARE PAID

Deploring the tendency Of men to
leave the teaching profession after a
few years, and declaring that the aver
age high school education is worth
$4,000. State Superintendent C. P.
Cary has sent his biennial report to
the governor. Among other things he
recommends q change in the method
of electing county superintendent; a
betterment Of the township and rural
schools and that limit should be plac-
ed on the aid given to high schools.
"The high school directory of 1907-8
contained 1853 names,' says the re-
port Of Mr.. Cary. EOf these 527 were
Of teachers new in their positions
This means that only Sc Of the 527
changes were due to the employment
of additional teachers, and that 461
or 40 per cent. of 1.153 teachers of the
year 1867 either left teaching or
changed their positions.
"While a certain amount Of change
is unavoidable and is desirable in any
healthy and growing system the pre-
centage indicated above is altogether
too great and would be considered al
most ruinous in commercial or man
ufacturing establishment. Were the
changes mainly confined to the sub
ordinate positions the results would be
less detrimental, but this is not the
case; "a of the 268 principals OF. 81 per
cent. were also new. No argument is
needed to show the detrimental effects
Of such policy in the management of
the schools. -
sMr. Cary then declares that such a
policy is wasteful and adds that the
time of the school child is most valua-
bic and demands the greatest tact and
judgment
1t is often claimed that statistics
show that the pupil s time in good
high school is worth $40 a day for the
whole period Of 800 days usually re
quired to complete a high school
course" he continueds. Gin other
words, high school education for q
boy at least, is worth $4,000. IF this
be true, the value of a day for a high
school of 100 pupils is 81 900. IF the
output is worth $1,000 day, it is
worth while to see that the work is the
best possible. =
He then declares that salaries are as
good for beginners as for experienced.
teachers and often people teach for one
or two years to determine what pro
fession they would like to follow later.
Under all these circumstances he con
cludes it is no wonder there is lack of
permanently, with low salaries, short
terms of employment and an entire
lack of provision for old age. The en-
ployment Of inexperienced teachers for
responsible positions should be dis
couraged, ne says.
A bettec system Of country schools
would be accompanied by certain
changes, according to the recommends
tions Of the state superintendent. He
would have the county superintendent
appointed from a Board of Directors
elected by. the people. This would re-
suit in the selection of a competent
school man, and not one who devoted a
part of his time to farming or the
practice of law It would follow much
the same method as is now employed in
the selection of city superintendent
+" For more than forty years the
present system has been in use in the
state, he says, tand it has failed to
give us a profession Of county super
intendents and never until such pro-
fession exists will the county superin-
tendency be what it should be- -