The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-05-16
TEACHERS AND THE
 COST. OF LIVING

Most of the teachers in the United States have in effect had their salaries reduced since 1897. Despite an appar- ent increase in money received, the high cost of living has cut into their salaries just as definitely as if a school board had sliced them. A teaching position which paid $500 sal ary in 1897 is paying in purchasing power the equivalent of about $416 today, if measured by 1897 prices; the teacher on the $1,00O salary gets no more for his money today that he would have procured fifteen years ago for $693. This is what the high cost of living has done to teachers and others on a fixed salary schedule, ac- cordfng to a. report on teachers sala- ries and cost of living distributed by the United States Bureau of Educa- tion
 Dr. Robert c. Brooks, executive sec retary for the N. B. A. committee, which prepared the report, shows by prices in 1911 were Al per cent higher than in 1907; that retail prices had increased 50.2 per cent in the same period; while in June, 1912, retail food prices were 61.7 per cent higher than in 1896. With these figures as a basis he analizes teachers salaries in five cities in different parts of the United States and demonstrates the plight Of the teachers in the problem of increas- ed cost of living.
 According to the Brooks report, teachers do not receive enough salary, even in the cities, to save money to carry adeouate life insurance or to proceed with further professional train ing, Out of the 1,6OO teachers inves- tigated, only 13 were found who, pos sessed over $15,0Oo, practically every one of these thirteen owed their good [1,rav fE1<af rE2 laries of teachers. Nearly all of the men teachers carried life insurance, but few of them to a sufficient amount Only four out of 13S married teachers would, if they were to ole now, leave in insurance or any otner property as much as ten times tnelr annual saIary-the lowest sum that might be expected to provide for the
 How the high cost Of living affects particularly the teacher who seeks to marry and have a home Is str1king4y demonstrated. In Denver, a city or relatively high salaries, 14 married women with no others dependent upon them had an average salary of $1,2lS to meet their own needs exclusively; 16 unmarried women with others de- pendent upon them had an average from salary of $8o1 to spend on each adult person in the family including
  teachers had an average from salary of only e$418 for the equivalent of each adult person including them selves. 4
 Teachers spend more than working men for some things, though their pay is about the same. Rent and clothing are bigger items in the teach CTS budget than in the laborer's, In dicating more exacting community de- mands Teachers also spand rela- lively more than workfngmea for life insurance, religious purposes, charity, amusement, vacations, and care of health. They spend less for chtldren's clothing having fewer children. Not all of them economize in this way, however. t'I believe" writes a Dem yer principal, 'tthat teachers should at tend concerts and good plays and take trips. So does my wife. but my sal ary necessitates a choice between these things and raising a family We chose the latter"
 Many other significant side lights on the high cost of living, particularly as it affects teachers, are brought out in the report on Teachers Salaries and Cost of Living The Commis- stoner of Education at Washington has a limited number of copies of the report for free distribution.