El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-09-02


progress in America comes the problem
of meeting the demands for thetrained
men and women who compose the
teaching force of the country. Fully
500. 900 teachers are now employed in
the public elementary school system
of the United States, while the enrol
ment of instructors in the colleges and
universities, technical schools, normal
schools, public and private high schools
will reach at least 100000 more.
Teachers Training.
Because of its larger numbers and
the fact that it deals with the greatest
portion of American youth, the train
ing of the public school teacher for
work is of great economic value. With
the broadening of the public school
curriculum to include the elements OF
vocational training along many lines
comes the need of a more highly equip
ped teaching force than that required
even 10 years ago. The lack of sur
ffcient number of thoroughly qualified
teachers is one of the greatest draw
backs to the progress Of education at
present A certain provision has~been
made for the training Of public school
teachers in the public normal school.
which in many places supplies gra-
tuitous course of pedagogy designed
for eouipping the teacher in the reg
ular common schools Thus prepara-
ton for the vocation is easier to OBJ
tain than that for most callings, but
there is still not enough properly pre-
pared teachers to meet the demand
Poorest Paid Profession.
The chief reason for this is due to
the fact that from a financial stand
point teaching is the poorest paid OF
the professions With the maximum
salary for a public school teacher much
below $4,000, as it is in the majority
of American cities. comparatively few
men are willing to devote their lives
to a calling which promises SO small
compensation Even those having the
most altruistic inclinations are COM
PEELED to consider the practical side of
the question Consequently, the work
of teaching in the public schools of the
United States is largely IN the hands Of
women. Only about one-fifth of the
number of the teaching force in the
public schools is composed of men.
Since matrimony is likely to put an
end TO womans professional career,
the force of teachers changes contin-
uaIIy, and this in itself is detrimental
from an economical standpoint, to the
work of the school. AT present, the
average term OF service for q public
school teacher is a little less than five
years Consequently, each year, 100.-
600 new teachers take their places in
the school rooms of the country, and
Of necessity much valuable time is
wasted while these new teachers are
becoming acquainted with their work.
The two most frequent reasons given
for the short term of office on the part
of school teachers, are marriage on the
part of the women and the offer Of
higher salary in some other line OF
work for the men.
Need OF Raise Acknowledged.
Since no teacher can properly teach
pupils IL IN a position to worry over
his or her own future. the fact that the
teacher must receive higher remunera-
ton is becoming generally admitted
During the past five years there has
been an advance, averaging p percent,
IN the salaries OF teachers in "a of the
leading cities in the United States.
This advance runs from a percent in
crease in the city of Philadelphia, to
an increase OF A percent in Toledo.
Ohio In the rural schools also the
salaries are being increased very gen.
orally. With the unification Of the
school curriculum comes also the prob
lem of standardizing the teachers sal
airy for each grade, and this will
doubtless be achieved within a few
years.
Skilled Normal Trainers.
With the introduction of vocational
training into the public schools. comes
q closer cooperation between the
teaching profession and the industrial
pursuits. In all of the technical schools
it is deemed desirable to place skilled
workmen in charge of each trade
taught Such man is almost without
exception a member of his trade union.
and because of this organization, is
frequently able to demand a much
higher salary than is paid to the teach
er of literary or classic subjects, even
though the latter has had years of ex-
perience- If the tradesman is worth
large salary, the income of a man who
is supposed to belong to higher pre-
fession must not be less, if employed
In the same institution. Consequently,
the introduction Of vocational work
into the public schools has tended to
aid the movement toward the general
increase of teachers salaries, even
though the majority of teachers are
not yet ready to unite themselves with
the labor organizations.
The Pension System.
The growing tendency towards re-
warding a certain term of service with
a retiring pension is quite as strong
towards teachers as any other class of
workers. Andrew Carnegie has taken
this matter up with his accustomed
generosity, and his foundation fund of
.$15, 100000 placed with the general ed
vocational board for the purpose of CIV
ing a retiring pension to professors of
colleges and institutions of higher
learning having certain standing, has
now reached s1e,114,056 by surplus ac-
cumulation during the last five years
During this period. the fund has pro-
vided for the retirement of 81 profess
sors. each of them man OF unusual
attainment, who has been especially
prominent in his special line of work
Under certain conditions, it also will be
possible to provide suitable pensions
for the widows of college professors
from this fund.
Teachers Organizations.
Most of the large cities have taken
some steps towards providing for a re-
firement fund for the teachers of the
public school In some cities the teach
ers themselves have arranged II by
contributing a certain percentage of
their salaries Tt is generally felt,