Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-04-18
VACATION PAY FOR TEACHERS

VACATION PAY FOR TEACHERS
CTATISTICAL and official reports
- of municipal and other activities
contain much of inspiration if
they are read in the right way and
with an open mind. Since the great
parade OF the school children of Har-
risburg last September our own peo-
pie have been taking a more direct
and personal interest in the school
problems of this city. And those who
have not been in touch with what has
been transpiring here during the last
fifteen years in the development OF
school facilities should get copy OF
the last annual report of the school
district and also read the paper of Su-
perintendent Downes, which was read
at the educational meeting in the
Technical High school auditorium at
the beginning of the municipal cele-
bration.
One cannot peruse these official
statements without feeling of pride
in what has been achieved in so short
a period. DR.. Downes tells the story
in modest, yet, convincing man
ner, and concludes with the hope that
the achievements of these few years
are to be prophetic of infinitely better
and greater things for the future. He
tells of the erection of one fine school
building after another, and relates in
detail the important factors that have
given TO Harrisburg school facilities
which are in many respects sign
boards for other cities. He tells, for
instance, of the increased compensa-
ton for teachers, the establishing of
the manual training and the outdoor
schools. the teachers training school,
the creation of a board of supervisors,
the retirement plan for teachers, medi-
cal inspection and the dental clinic,
the school for mentally deficient pu-
piis, cooperation with the Public Ii
Brary and many other things which
have contributed to the growth of a
fine school system.
OF course, all interested in the
schools are now looking forward to
the proposed Central High school
building which will be the high wa
ter mark of the decade in school archi-
lecture.
But there is still one other thing
remaining that exact justice may be
done fine corps of teachers. Under
present conditions the school term
ends in June and these faithful work
ers are then given a vacation of al
most three months-WITHOUT PAY.
If these teachers were not giving the
highest class of service, the fact that
they are denied almost three months
of compensation through an arbitrary
arrangement of the school district
might be overlooked. But when it is
recalled that more than 800 teachers
are compelled to spend the summer in
enforced idleness at their own ex-
pense the injustice of the thing must
be apparent to all. Nor are they al
ways idle. 1t is a fact that many of
these teachers attend summer schools
at their own expense in order to still
better fit themselves for their life
work. They even attend night lee
lures during the regular school term
that their mental equipment may be
improved in every way and that the
children of Harrisburg may have the
benefit of the best instruction.
While splendid headway has been
made during the last flften years in
the matter of school buildings and
school facilities generally, and while
the average compensation has been
increased for all teachers. the record
of achievement here will lack some-
thing until full pay for teachers is pro-
vided all the year around.