The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1917-02-02
What Are We Going To Do About It!

For the Advocate.
We read in the newspapers, and
must believe that it is true, that this
country is now passing through the
greatest age of prosperity it has ever
known. True, indeed, is the fact that
possibly never before have such eX-
orbitant prices been asked for the
necessities of life. But we may dis
regard the advanced costs of bread
and meats of all kinds if, as we have
said, the present era of prosperity be
not a fictitious one, for expense does
not count when there is an equal or
greater increase in profit.
So much for the commercial world
at large, but what of those who pa
tiently train the youthful mind up to
the point where it may go forth and
successfully cope with present day
men and methods? Does the High
School teacher get his proportionate
share of the wealth now flowing SO
freely in this great country OF ours!
No, he certainly does not!
A mans success in life is governed
by so many external and internal
forces. His family, the locality in
which he resides, his friends, his
exert their direct influence, but is
there one of these forces which has
any more to do with the shaping Of a
mans destiny than his teacher? And
since IEis country is now admitted 20
be the greatest and most powerful,
both intellectually and morally, of all
nations. does it nO5 reflect well upon
the forces 90, I.-..l our people, and
~ ig.rr. ..1fy~ n
The High School teachers of today
are better qualified than ever before.
As civilization advances, so must the
teacher. And when u pupil graduates
from High School today he has al
ready some very definite ideas Of
business.
With all this additional knowledge
and with all these new qualifications
required Of the teacher, he must be
content to plod along for the same
salary, or for a nominal increase OF
fifty or a hundred dollars gained by
years Of service.
Take for example the average High
School teacher who receives six or
seven hundred dollars as princely
reward for his years of preparation
Imagine the feelings of this teacher
when his pupils start out in life, after
graduation, by receiving ten or twelve
dollars per week In short while
they are raised; in a year they are
sometimes making more than their
teacher is. Is it to be wondered at,
then, that these boys should look back
TO their teachers and say: why do
they continue to plod in the same old
rut? ny not get out into the world
and nave their views brOadened by
the feel Of some real" money in
their pOcGets?" And why not? What
induCcMGEt j. there for anyone to
devote MS time TO t. aching others TO
make gOOd III this business world
when he himself must ever remain a
financial failure by remaining a
teacher? The greatest tinanciers of
today were but Yesterday pupils in the
hands CT an und2rpaid teacher. And
tie one great consolation left for the
teaching profession is TO be able to
point to some real successful person
and say, II was direct means to-
ward tina, end
If We are to hold car place in the
world Of commerce: il we wish TO
continue at this high pinnacle of sue
cess Wh;>. We have now attained,
then the future generation must re-
produce the brains Of the past. If
The teachers should suddenly 1eGl that
they should 90 for,l IN the world,
abandon E-i' l0wly positions. and lie
successful. what then?
ANONYMOUS.