The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-05-14
TEACHERS AND COST OF LIVING.
Most of Teachers in United States Have
Salaries Reduced.

Most of the teachers in the United
States have in effect had their salaries
reduced since 1897. Despite an apparent
increase in money received, the higf
cost of living has cut into their salaries
just as definitely as if school boare
had sliced them. teaching position
which paid 5000 salary in 1897 is paying
in purchasing power the equivalent OF
about $4l6 to-day, if measured by 1897
prices; the teacher on the 81 900 salary
gets no more for his money to-day than
he would have procured fifteen years ago
for 1903. That is what the high cost OF
living has done to teachers and Others
on fixed salary schedule, according to
a report on teachers salaries and cost
OF living distributed by the United
States bureau of education.
DR.. Robert G. Brooks, executive Sec
ietary for the n. +. A. committee, which
labor figures that wholesale prices in
1911 were AL per cent. higher than in
1907; that retail prices had increased
500.2 per cent in the same period; while
in June, 1912, retail food prices were eli
per cent. higher than in 1896. With
these figures as basis he analyses
teachers salaries in five cities in differ
ent parts OF the United States and dem
onstrates the plight OF the teachers in
the problem of increased cost of living.
According to the Brooks report, teach
ers do not receive enough salary, even
in the cities, to save money to carry
adequate life insurance or to proceed
with further professional training. Out
of the ! 800 teachers investigated, only
IL were found who possessed property
over sl5,0005 and practically every one
of these thirteen owned their good for
tune to sources other than their salaries
of teachers Nearly all of the men
teachers carried life insurance, but few
of them to sufficient amount. Only
four out OF l3S married teachers would,
il they were to die now, leave an in
surance or any other property as much
as ten times their annual salary-the
lowest sum that might be expected to
provide for the family.
How the high cost of living affects
particularly the teacher, who seeks to
marry and have home is strikingly |
demonstrated. In Denver, city of rela !
lively high salaries, IA married women |
with no others dependent upon them had |
an average salary OF 81 PIP to meet their
own needs exclusively; l6 unmarried
women with others dependent upon
them had an average from salary of 1901
TO spend on each adult person in the
family including themselves; but the
married men teachers had an average
from salary of only Sab for the equiv
alent OF each adult person in the family
themselves; but the married
men teachers had an average from salary
Of only $4l3 for the equivalent of each
adult person including themselves.
Teachers spend more than working
men for some things, though their pay is
,bout the same. Rent and clothing are
bigger items in the teachers budget
han in the laborer's, indicating more
'xacting community demands. Teachers
ilso spend relatively more than work
ngmen for life insurance, religious pur-
,oses, charity amusement vacations,
md care of health.
They spent less for childrens clothing
iaving fewer children. Not all of them
in this way, however Il be-
ieve," writes a Denver principal ''that
eachers should attend concerts and good
lays and take trips. So does my wife, !
nut my salary necessitates a choice be- !
ween these things and raising a family.
We chose the latter" I
Many other significant side lights on
he high cost of living, particularly as it
fleets teachers. are brought out in the
eport on Teachers Salaries and Cost
Z Living" The commissioner of edu-
alton has a limited number of copies {
4 the report for free distribution.