The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-01-02
SCHOOL PAY.

SCHOOL TEACHERS PAY.
There is proposed. in North Dakota,
as in other states, a teachers pension
plan, which has been decided where
1t is in practice to be a good thing.
There has also been progress made IN
that matter Of better wages for teach.
ers. which is also a good thing. On
the latter topic the New York Ameri-
can has this to say:
"A fair proportion Of the ablest men
in the country should make q Mfework
Of school teaching. The pay for teach
ers in the public schools should ap-
proximate the rewards Of other pro-
LESSONS.
President Winthrop Of the board
Of education, in his annual report.
published yesterday. expressed the
fear that one Of the results OF the new
law giving equal pay to teachers Of
both sexes. would be a marked de-
crease In the number Of men teachers
in the schools Of this city. He said
that competent menwould not be will.
ing to accept the lower initial salary
of $3.50 a year.
mi. Winthrop Is right. Competent
men cannot be got for any such sum.
II women teachers Of high qualihca-
tions can begin their school career on
such q wage scale 1t is because they
depend upon male relations for . part
Of their support.
mo teacher in the public schools Of
New York should DO asked to work
for $3.50 q year. That is not q decent
living.
'The policy that offers less than q
decent living to beginners in the teach
ing profession Is a mistaken policy.
We ought to pay all public school
teachers literally. To do otherwise
is to dishonor ourselves and our chill
dren.
"1t is beside the mark to say that
men and women Of high devotion will
no, hesitate at financial sacrifices. It
May he true hat people born to teach
will teach. though they starve for It.
But . community that complacently
accepts such sacrivces proves itself
20 he stupid and unteachable. The
public schools Of America cannot
flourish in an atmosphere Of mean
ness.
"Americans should realize that the
public schools Of this country are our
most unique possession. They form
the spinal substance Of the national
life. II we lead the world in working
and thinking power. It is because Of
our schools.
THE right education Of = child is
the making Of an efficient citizen.
The republic cannot succeed unless
its citizens are efncient. The country
that has the most efncient citizens Is
the most ehicient country In the
world.
The most efficient country IN the
country that not only creates and &C.
cumulates the greatest store Of mate
rial wealth, but also the greatest store
Of intellectual and moral wealth. Such
Is the United States today. With all
its faults and failures, It leads the
civilization Of these times. It cannot
continue to do 50 without the most
generous and liberal nurture az its
school system.
Nothing Is 80 important to us as
h education Of our children. The
work Of education should be commit.
ted to the very best men and women
that we have. We should pay them
We'll.
I'm these school matters the people
of New York must be overruled nv
nigardly and narrow.minded fanatics
in high municipal onices. Neither
should they be governed by foolish
and illiterate aldermen.
President Winthrop says. with az.
cessive restraint. that the cut in next
years school budget. recently made
by the aldermen and the mayor. was
not based on any thoroughgoins inyes-
tigation. and. apparently. was not the
result Of careful consideration.
THE plain truth is that tho mayor
n the aldermen were playing q very
disreputable political game.
Politicians in public ONCE must let
the schools Alone"
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