The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1909-01-30
OF Interest to Teachers.

Taking a view Of the schools of
Lincoln county at present we find
them in a fourishlng condition.
And as teachers of this county we
should maintain this standard.
We all know that this standard can
only be held by earnest, faithful
and systematic work.
But there are forces at work that
are just as sure to destroy the unity
of our schools as they are allowed
to take their course. You are all
aware of the fact that our salaries
will be cut for the last four months
of this term. Why this is | do not
know. have been told that it
was on account of having about
twenty teachers more this year em-
ployed. | have also heard that the
county had to pay the interest on
the money that was borrowed to
pay the teachers for the first three
months of the term.
Now, if these twenty teachers
are causing this great cut in sal
aries, they must be getting an
enormous amount for their work.
1t takes about ,ythirty-five hundred
dollars to pay the teachers each
month, and if you give each of
these twenty teachers their pro
rata share of even this twenty per
cent discount on salaries for four
months they will get a salary equal
to the average teacher.
For the second proposition, if the
salaries are cut twenty per cent.
we will teach four months for what
we should have for three. Leaving
about thirty-fve hundred dollars to
pay the interest on ten thousand
five hundred for a period of four
months, for in January the county
gets its first two thirds of the State
apprpiation, a good investmet for
the Brookhaven Bank & Trust Co.
If these are the existing conditions,
let every salary be cut, even to the
Superintendent, who gets salary
of one hundred dollars per month.
1t all comes from the school fund.
Why should these conditions ex-
list? We get more per capita from
the State this year. The valuation
of county property is nearly eight
million dollars, and the poll tax is
far greater. Note these things
and solve the problem.
The Superintendent will tell us
we should be loyal to HIM and the
people. | heartily agree with him
in this. | believe the. schools
should be run as long as possible
for the benefit of the children.
But the question is, can the teach
ers afford to teach for cut salary?
In the first place will teacher
work as hard in a school where
they are not being paid, as they
will where they are paid for their
work. And what is more pesky
than a school on the drag? Can
the average teacher make enough
to pay board, missions, Sunday
School, livery bill, and attend the
Normal in the summer? Have all
of us father to fall back on when
board is due Can we dress below
the average and maintain our
selves? Is our work in the school
worth a living? If not, there is a
work somewhere we can get a living
from.
Teachers, let US go as one and
ask for a cut in term rather than
salary For deep down in my soul
! believe it far better. The pa.
irons all over the county are say
ing, shorten the term and hold the
salaries. We will do more faithful
work and more effective work.
Think of these things and let US act
accordingly. and next Saturday we
will leave Brookhaven with a
brighter hope for the future.
A TEACHER.