The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-08-11

community, deserve the most careful
consideration at the hands of the
parents and taxpayers Of this city
, The well prepared, devoted, faithful
teacher cannot be rated too high
her services can not be adequately
measured in dollars and cents. But
this fact Is patent to all fair-minded
lcitizens-every teacher should re-
celve a fair compensation for the SER
vice rendered the community, and
that wage should not be grudgingly
doled out by the community. The
teacher should receive a yearly wage
at least as high as is paid to other
employes of the city in its other de-
Ipartments. As Il Is, at present, the
yearly wage of the average teacher
Is less than that paid 10 the unskilled
employe on the streets, who has no
expenses to meet to keep himself
fitted to do his work The teacher,
however who keeps mp to date in
her work, has to spend every year
quite a considerable amount OF her
meager income for books, magazines
and summer schools, not to mention
the matter OF increase cost of good
clothes which the public demands
that she must wear If she is to Sc
cure its approval.
Your Board Of Education is thor
oughly cognizant of the situation as
II exists In our city. and | am we'll
aware OF the fact. that only the lin
tied revenues which we receive from
our local school levy. and the further
fact that there Is a considerable in
debtedness on account Of the erection
of two new school buildings in the
past two years. has prevented a sub
stantlal increase in teachers salar.
ies. But the average citizen, who is
engaged in his own affairs. and I'M
acquainted with the schools and the
teachers, and the demands made up
on them, and the needs OF the times
for thoroughly prepared and trained
teachers, often Is inclined to criticise
Boards of Education who are in favor
OF spending more money for good
teachers. sanitary school buildings
and materials necessary to do effec-
tive work
II Is my experience in school ad-
ministration, that any man elected
as a member OF a Board OF Educa-
ton only needs TO become acquainted
with the schools and their needs TO
become an ardent advocate OF lib
eral policy in dealing with the teach
ers and the schools.
The liberal allowance made for
the schools in all their departments
by hard-headed business men of the I.
great cities of this country-men ?
who do not recklessly squander
money-should convince us that
these men regard the outlay as an
investment that will insure good I
profits in better citizenship. and in ,
more efficient service TO the country /
by the thoroughly trained and educa-
ted men and women coming from
the schools.
Certainly the Importance that is
laid upon all these subjects by the
great majority of practical men and /
women. not to mention educators, |
proves that they are not mere "fads" .
II the great majority OF other boys
and girls of this nation are 60 have |
these things in school. Paducah can
not afford TO handicap her boys and I
girls by depriving them OF these ad- j
yantages. IL is not mere question
OF dollars and cents. but one of the ,
duties laid upon a community to ,
give its boys and girls equal advan- !
tages in the race OF life with other 4
boys and girls.
The public schools must meet the I
demands of our modern. complex
civilization. II Is not to the point to |
say that the school of the past. with |
its three or four subjects df study |
was good enough for the people of
that day and. therefore. that such a
school with its limited curriculum
Is good enough for today. The same
course of reasoning would put out of
commission every industry and bust
ness in our city that is using up-to-
date methods.
The public school of today is an
institution that attempts to reach
every boy and girl in the community
and give every one of them, not
the limited few that the old school
reached "a chance 60 gain an edu-
cation that will ht them to become
helpful members of the community.
and not ignorant drudges, bound
down to teradmill existence be-
cause Of lack OF knowledge to per-
form intelligent service.
make the assertion. without any
fear of successful contradiction. that
the well-graded city school Of today
is as much in advance of the COM
fortress .ungraded school of fifty
years ago Cor even less) in its re-
suits, az the modern automobile is
ahead OF the ox-cart, as a mode OF
conveyance.
Our own schools are not yet giving
our boys and girls all that they
should give in the way OF advantages
We are behind many OF the progress
slve cities of our size both north and
south. Most OF the work that we are
doing compares favoNbly with that
done by the best schools-but In the
a. L.