The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1909-01-23
ADDRESS OF DIR. WILLIAM J. TODD.

cal Association January 81, 1909,
| -FAvoRING THE
Increase of the Salaries of Baltimore
County School Teachers.
ITO attain success we must get up every morn
| ing with the same quantum of courage; cour-
| age which looks easy and yet is rare; the cour-
| age of teacher, repeating day after day the
| same lesson, the least rewarded Of all forms of
courage. We bow with respect before man
| who. like you, has shed his blood upon battle
field, but we sneer atother men who slowly con-
sumo the fire of their lives In saying over and
| over again the same thing to children of the
same (Balzac-"The Country Doctor
| folio 64.)
On January Is, 1903, read paper before you
from which quote: "If any excuse is needed
for bringing this subject, The Consolidation of
Country Schools before the Baltimore County
Medical Association at this time, l will remind
you that, according to our constitution, one OF
the objects of our organization is the promotion
of public health and further that this associa-
ton has evnced great interest at all times in the
welfare of the public schools of our county
tried to Show that the tide of migration from
the country to the cities had taken turn. and
that the electric road, with the rapid transit af
1OrQ0Qs the LelcpQOU6e DTluBluB JuO OQJlyluk
districts in closer union with the cities the free
rural delivery of mail, encouraging the good
roads movement. were means Oh aHoroing more
man and his family than those of the cities.
"These improvements bringing the farmer
into closer relations with the city and its advan-
tages and conveniences-will, and has in some
states created desire for like advantages nearer
his own home, particularly better school facil1-
where even fair primary school is not possible
now because of the small number Of pupils in
vahced schools within a shorter distance from
the farmers home than are the city schools"
You will pardon me If have shown any pride
have been consolidated. new school buildings
have been built, neighborhoods have been
aroused with enthusiasm, subscribing many dol
lars to build new school buildings but alas, the
teacher has been forgotten, and while the ex-
pense of living has been increased from 33H to
80 per cent, the teachers salary has remained as
worker has turned and asked the taxpayers to
increase her salary few dollars, and am here
to urge the Baltimore County Medical Associa-
ton to give its endorsement to this movement
The quotation ] have given you above from
Balzac shows the condition that existed when ne
school grounds, beautiful buildings, all the
modern appointments, the finest sanitary con-
ditions, all of these do not make the school they
are the means to the end the teacher makes
the success of the school and to her we owe con-
sideration--great consideration for the high
standard of the Baltimore county schools.
Those of us who have acted as trustees of the
public schools know it is almost impossible to
secure young men as principals Tor our schools.
because other avenues of life are opened up to
them in which they can and do receive better
pay, and many of us know assistant teachers
leaving the profession of teaching having Sc
cured positions as stenographers, tyDewriters
and secretaries to business firms. The primary
teacher receives the smallest salary. have
always thought and maintained that she should
receive the largest salary, because under her
hand goes first the small child and upon whose
mind first Impressions are made which are the
tQatfnO m The methods and manner
of the primary teacher must and do influence
the training and habits of the pupil all through
his school life. not only in the public schools,
but throughout the higher schools.
Do you know that the young girl aspiring to q
teachers life must after she graduates from the
the State Normal School in Baltimore, paying
the tuition of $50 year and carfare and incl
pointment as an assistant teacher at the small
salary of $3.50 week. am informed that OF
the assistant teachers of Baltimore county re-
ceive $5.92 week; IL receive 1913; IL receive
1914; Is receive $500; receive $73l; 81 receive
$40; receive $S.0S q receive $S46; 2 receive
have 1--WE years experience. This makes total
of 226 teachers receiving from $692 to 1928
week. There are 20 vice-principals receiving
1891 week.
You will see from the above statement that a
teacher attending the State Normal School for
four years, at the average expense of 500 year,
and after graduating begins teaching for the
ridiculously small salary of $5.92 week, and
after having taught for f1ve years receives
Moreover. if a teacher receiving $5.92 week,
or 81 .18 day were to remain out of school on
account of illness. or for other reasons, she
cents more than she would have received had
she taught that day. A teacher tells me, ana
use her own words: when we CONSIDER the tax
for her work and energy expended IN carrying
out her plans, and more than all, the nervous
strain under which she is forced to labor at all
times, the present rate of salary by no means
compeneates her outlay.
1 am credibly informed that every means is
the Individual teacher to take training at sum-
mer schools, and in one particular case that
Of the tf I9S Ike P For HE
extra expense the teacher was encouraged and
remunerated by the school authorities to an in
crease in her next years salary of $40. This in
crease was not continued second year. Rather
an excellent investment from commercial
for the patrons fSs a9d eh as
been placed-she gaining the latest advanced
ideas Of teaching for the school at an expense to
AT this writing do not know the average life
of teacher, but do know of the worry and
fret of her duties; not only this but the unjust,
unkind criticisms of few OF the patrons OF the
schools making, in some instances, the teachers
| life burden.
At this time ten improvement associations of
Baltimore county have endorsed the movement
of the assistant teachers asking for an increase
| in salary.
dorsing as physicians and as members of an asso-
CATION having the interest Of the public schools
of Baltimore county at heart, and having taken
many times in the history of our organization
| advanced steps in the development of the pub
| lie school system, ask you at this time to en-
dorse the request OF the ASSISTANT teacners Iot
7G the honorable Board Of County Commissioners
and TO the Honorable Board Of School Commission
| ers believing the salaries of the assistant
school teachers should be increased we, the tax
payers and citizens reSomme f1, Inc increase
Teachers having taught six years, salary sou I;
five years, $500 four years, $500; three years.
salary to be 800. To take effect at the school
| term beginning September. 1909.
We also approve of an increase Tor the primer
pals of the small rural schools sufhc1ent TO make
| their salary $780,
The association unanimously adopted the fol-
~ Resoiced. That the Baltimore County Medical
Association endorse the efforts of the assistant
| teachers of Baltimore county to have their sala-
| ries increased, and that we recommend that the
| minimum salary of these teachers be not less
than 5000 per year. the other salaries to be graded
| pro rata.
MARYLAND Evangelistic Association
This institution, as others, was last year finan-
| cially cramped, but went ahead with its work
| with vigor and effectiveness. Its work is main
| " in behalf of the neglected. 1t enters fields
| where there are no churches or Sunday schools
| and awakens an interest that results in the es-
| taDllShment OF DOLn. IL alSO ROes lnIO tno
| slums of the city and seeks to promote better
| conditions by placing the children under re-
| ligious influences and awakening higher i'm
| pulses in the parents. State Superintendent
| George H. Mock is full of "reminiscences and
| can point to many instances where drunkards
| have been reclaimed the home life redeemed
| and the children trained to good citizenship.
| One of the important features Of the work OF
| this institution is the Mothers Meeting. This
| is an informal gathering of the mothers OF
| community, conducted by the State Superin-
| tendent. It is intended to be conversational.
| Such topics as these are introduced; The
/ mothers relation to the Sunday school and to
| the public school; home religion prayer In
| the home; home example, etc. These meet
| ings have accomplished great good This in
| stitution merits generous support.
Farmers Club Elects Ofacers.-At the
| last meeting of the Junior Gunpowder Agricul
| tural Club officers were elected for the ensu-
ing year as follows:
Executive Committee-Laban Sparks, T.. Il.
| Scott and T. P. Williams France.
Nominating Committee-Daniel 3: Pearce,
| William D. Curry and II. Amos Matthews.
Treasurer-Calvin d. Price.
/ Committee on Machinery-George u. Smell
| lev. Frank G.. Scott and Charles II. Price.
Committee on Fertilizers-Thomas Y. hicn-
ardson, E. E. Scott and Granville Matthew's.
Committee on Roads and Highways-Joshna
| G.. Bosley, Frank G. Scott and George Il.
Shelley. am.
| Committee on Testing Seeds and Fertilizers