Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-07-30

I was whispered that a very in
~fuential director for some reason.
personal. political or otherwise. had n
dislike to Professor Ellenberger. but
was not influential enough to secure
his removal, although he was power
ful enough to secure the abolition OF
the position or the plea of economy.
Be that as 1t may, lurid appeals for
economy was the only argument ad-
vanced for making every Harrisburg
teacher an exponent of harmony OF
sounds within his own room.
Salarie I'm 1874
Teachers salaries in 1874 were lot
outlined on a very muniticent scale.
The teachers at large and the drawing
teachers each received $500 annually.
'rofessor Ellenberger. as head of the
musical department, received $500;
his assistant, $500.
The highest salary in the city was
that of Professor l.. V. Foose, who,
as the head of the boys high school,
was paid 81, 200. The principal of the
girls high school received but 5000.
Male grammar school teachers were
paid $500 per year; but those teachers
of this grade who CHANGED to be no
unfortunate as to be females of the
species were, with n exception, cnt
down to $500.
In looking over the list of teachers
in the primary and secondary grades, |
find the majority of them rated at
$500 to $425 per year.. with come as
low as $3.50, Those on the substitute
list received $1.25 per day when en-
ployed. AS that was not very often,
the job of "watchful waiting" was not
a very remunerative one.
A Tribute to the Teachers of 1874
h writer Knew personally nearly
all the ninety-two teachers whose
names comprise the roll of the teach
ing force of 1874, a very largo number
Of them intimately. With less than
one hundred teachers in the city's
schools, n these brought together
twice n month in the city institutes
ably conducted by that noble man and
accomplished educator, Professor
Daniel S. Burns, there was an oppor-
tunity for intimate acquaintanceship.
The result was a feeling of conrad
ship that made for sympathy and mu-
tual respect.
A large number of the teachers of
1874 have passed over the silent river.
Some are still teaching. Others have
retired after many years of faithful
labor. 1t Is but Just hat / should
place here a tribute to these faithful
workers, the living and the dead.
Harrisburg had a noble corps OF
teachers in that far back time, the
peers, I believe, of those in any town
of our State or of the nation. They
labored under many discouragements,
Their salaries were meager. They did
not always have the full encourage,
ment and cooperation of the parents
of the community. They did not have
the fine buildings and complete edu-
c%ational appliances of to-day.
Day after day, ear after year, they
toiled on unweariedly, accomplishing
ly to train up the children thronging
into their rooms hat they might be-
come polite. honorable men and wo-
men. fitted to act well their part in
life's battle. The great world outside
of their school rooms saw little OF
this constant devotion to duty. But
they have seen the finished results
as thousands, who were then in train
ing in the public schools of Harris
burg are now in the arena of life.
nerved for its stern struggles and
triumphant in its conflicts because the
teachers of forty years ago did their
duty. Honor to those still living! A
tribute of affectionate memory to those
who have departed