The sun., 1916-09-28
WHAT TEACHERS WANT.
Authoritative Statement on Behalf If
an Appreciated Profession.

To THE f:prroR NJ THE St'S-Su: NJ
a meeting OF the Professional Elementary
Teachers Association on September 20
il was unanimously agreed 10 send TO
THE SrS tho following communication
In rcpl, TO an article in THU StN OF Sep
TENDER ~ entitled "Whcn Teachers Re
facctiously:
ResoIrcd. That the Professional Ele-
men'ary Teachers Association calls at
tention to the following facts:
That the future fate Of New York
city rests with its school teachers.
That IN the realty world II is On ac-
knowledged fact that no one factor
works to the increased valuation OF
property SO much as good schools"
That Il is a fact known very com
cretely to school teachers tina very soon
after any layman has a member Of his
immediate family. or any relative. or
friend, enter the teaching force of any
large city. So that he Ia see for him
self. md have coucret.ly before him the
evidence Of the havoc which teaching
works upon the physical and nervous
VOL being OF the teacher. and can him
self observe the mount OF school work
which teachers do outside of school
hours. lie turns deliberately "abaut face
and no amount OF sympathy il suiii-
GENTLY great for him to bestow upon
these boncfartoTs Of society, nor any
criticism Of the System which works
this havoc. or makes this never done
outside work necessary. too severe.
We would Therefore suggest that the
writer o. the article familiir.z- himself
with this question In general, and In par
t!cu!ar with the question rs 10 whether
the cities are Obliged TO offer pensions
10 obtain talent for the schools. - hold
that talent. and TO dispose of tia, talen,
when. by reason OF long Years of doyo-
tlon To that most valuable Of al civic
acts the formation Of honorable and
Law abiding citizens. this talent has lost
its power to render effectively this civic
benefit, e. maintain tHc "~,i'ici,uc!" OF
the schools.
We would ask the writer: Would he
consider si66.SS IA year such wonderful
provision FOR a rainy day" particularly
IL he had contributed a large share OF
that sun from his own earnings:
Salaries of ciomcntary teachers are
SEQ for three years, 500 Increase until
at the end % sixteen Years OF teachiuC
the muu!Aceut sum Of $1,000 is reached
! And this after six or seven years OF
specific preparation.
The teachers Of this g%roupyare too IT.
orally exhausted after a days teaching
to do many things which would work
TO our material benefit. "" therefore
cannot call at YOU office. but instead
| would cordially invite tho writer OF the
article TO visit us AZ one uf the meetings
OF our association. II he h,- not t'm,
to visit us ia our class rooms from : 30
Ut $40 \. ". until whatever time ".
may leave. lie II : or i J.. NJ. at wAict
meeting We will give him IN" most cour,
teous reception. and gladly hear his
side, II lie will allow us to reply.
The Professional Elementary Teachers
! Association c~ourtrou>ly challenges tn,
editor TO publish his reply, hut at tn,
same time is perfectly sincere in it's cor,
dial invitation to one II our meetings
and harbors 10 III viii. feeling pos.tiv,
that II both forces could ONO together
harmony would result,
AyN l.. lARRorr. President.
MAtpE L. osborne. Secrc;ary.
NEW YoHK. september -.