Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-05
Teachers Hard to Get.

and to agriculture.
Teachers Hard to Get.
THE most serious problem In this un-
dertaking has been to provide teachers
who are prepared to handle this work In
19O6-O7 the University of Illinois first Of
fered a course for the training Of teach
ers Of agriculture for secondary and nor
NAL schools. Ten students, seniors or
graduates Of the College of Agriculture,
took the course the first year. Every
member Of this class is now teaching agri-
culture in colleges, and they are scattered
all over the west and south, in California.
Louisiana, Tennessee, Dakota, Ohio, Mis-
souri,. Kansas and Illinois. The public
schools failed to secure any one from this
class, though several of them have charge
Of work in agricultural colleges which Is
more or less closely related to secondary
school instruction.
teachers of agriculture for high schools,
normal schools and colleges have tncreas-
ed in numbers, and the positions to be
filled are steadily growing in Importance,
err as q rule than those paid to teachers
Of other subjects who have the same
amount Of experience and college train
ing.
Last year the college Of agriculture of
the University of Illinois received re-
quests from twelve states outside Of IL
linois for teachers of agriculture in nor
NAL schools and high schools. The sal
aries offered ranged from $500 to $1,000.
We sent graduates to take these places
in California, North Dakota, Louisiana,
Idaho. Minnesota and to a number Of
schools in Illinois. These calls were all
for graduates of a fOur-year course In
agriculture. Several graduates who were
recommended for places refused offers
of s., 200 to teach, preferring to go imme
fol Mt which
prepared themselves.
Spread Of the Work.
For three years we have given sum-
mer courses for training teachers In
agriculture. superintendent, principals
Of high schools and grammar schools
and high school teachers Of science have
taken up this work. Last summer the
class numbered twenty-five. Some of the
most successful work in agriculture in
the high schools Of Illinois Is being done
by science teachers who got their special
preparation In agriculture in our summer
school. While most Of these teachers
are from Illinois, last summer the states
Of Michigan, Indiana, Georgia and Cali
fornia were represented.
The demand for university men in
chemical lines is also greater than the
supply For many years the graduates
good positions. and I cannot recall that
any have been unable to find employment
in their chosen line within a reasonable
time after graduation. OF course, there
is a demand for helpers also, and low
priced positions make use of non-gradu-
ates. but the demand for graduates IN
chemistry has been steadily, increasing in
the past ten years. But 1t is very rare
that one can receive recognition In apply
ing for a place unless he has completed
h
standard institution
THE packing industries make a
steady demand for chemical graduates.
Graduates from the University Of Il
linois have had charge Of the chemical
work for one of the leading packing
companies in Chicago for the past
eighteen years. Many Of the subordi
nate positions with this company are
The majority of the assistant chemists
in the state food laboratory are from
the University OF Illinois, and numer-
GUS others are occupied in similar
work in the government laboratories
in connection with appraisers stores
cago:
testing departments make use of many
Of our men. University Of Illinois
graduates have had the positions Of
head chemists for the Sante Fe and
the Baltimore and Ohio companies Tor
twelve and fifteen years respectively,
and for some years past OF the Mis-
souri, Pacific. Subordinate positions In
this line Of work are also common. our
men being found with the Big Four.
the Rock Island, the Union Pacific and
the Vandalia lines.
Coal inspection a Field.
Coal inspection service makes uso
Of a number Of university-trained
chemists. Probably the most thorough
ly organized laboratories in the United
States for commercial work are the A.
D. Little laboratories OF Boston, Mass,
which have in charge Of their coal III
spection service graduates OF the Uni
versity Of Illinois in chemistry and
some demand for chemical graduates
in the corn products industry. four OF
our men being thus employed.
There are no state requirements Tor
practicing in any line. The nearest
approach to such arrangements Is met
in the examinations which all candi-
dates must take who apply for work
in the government laboratories under
the civil service rules These exam
nations are very thorough. and would
hardly be passed by any excepting one
who has specialized in chemistry and
completed university course.
1.-The demand for chemical graduates
by business houses Is confined almost en-
tirely to the wholesale drug trade. includ-
ing OF course the manufacture OF drugs
and chemicals. 1t has been the practice
of some firms to take from among their
chemists the men who are to become. the
foremen or superintendent OF branches
which are specifically based on chemical
processes: hence In this way, by sort
Of apprenticeship. business houses come