Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-12-05
Has no Sympathy With
Pauperizing of School
Teachers.
SHOULD GET MORE PAY
And Not be C!asscd as Dependents
Bidding Sympathy. Favors and Pat
ronagc

he "has no sympathy in the world
with the effort which is generally
made to patronize and pauperlze
teachers. and to hold them up to the
world as objects Of charity" and
that adequate salaries should be
paid them" are the sentiments of
Charles G. Mapnis, director Of the
summer sch,Dl of the University of
Virginia, espresso last night.
Mr.. Maphis was asked his opinion
Of the present agitation Of the nor
NAL schools. He had nothing TO say
regarding the views Of Attorney
General Williams, but talked freely
Of the poor pay uf the teachers, and
the tendency to tre;S, tchm as de-
serving Of charity.
While believing that the cost OF
attendance upon normal schools
should be made as small as possible,
and expressing hope that larger ap-
preparations will be made ne gave it
as his opinion that the root Of the
trouble lies in the small salaries paid
to teachers.
II have no sympathy whatever with
the efforts which is generally made
10 patronize ami pauperize teachers,
and hold them up TO the world as
objects of charity he declared. "As
long as we do this, we lower the
dignity of the profession. and lessen
the respect in which the teacher
should he held. l am heartily in
favor of an increased appropriation
for summer schools in order that the
cost to the teachers m:y be reduced.
not as a charitable gift to the poor
teacher but on exactly the same
principle that we appropriate money
for our free schools, normal schools,
am, institutions of higher learning
as IN investment on the part of the
State
"Thc State does not offer practical
" free tuition in the University OF
Virginia and other State schools be-
cause the students who receive the
advantage of it are all objects OF
ch.rity. Neither should a plea be
made for free tuition for the teacher
on that ground. The remedy. in my
opinion. does not lie in this indirect
way OF penSioning. but in paying
them adequate salaries for the selv-
ices they render. | believe we should
do both. But after the Legislature has
increased the appropriation for sum
mer schools so that free tuition may
be given, there will still be travelling
expenses. board. laundry and inciden-
tabs to pay. and nothing but Increased
salaries will adequately provide for
these.
Teachers should be paid salaric:
somewhat n.parable with other
lines Of employment, which requires
much less preparation and real aoll'
iry. They should be paid so that the!
rav be treated as other independent
human beings, and not be forced mt
n class of dependents. bidding To-
sympathy. patronage. favorS ant
ch3ritv."
Dr.. Maphis said that there is ne
doubt about the value of the summer
school to the tcccher and 10 the
school system. 1t has become per
manent national institution, he sal7
which has raised the standards of ef'
iiciency Of the teachers as q Who'll
body, probably more than any othei
educational agency. Many Of th'
teachers can, not complete their pro
icnal training entirely, as thtt
lawyer or doctor. before he begin!
the practice of his profession. hi
said. end summer schoo, enables hin
= 20 this in vacation.
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