The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-03-29
Offering definite Reward.

The biggest step forward that has
been made in educational programs In
Kenosha in years is found in the re-
cent action of the Board of Education
in setting q definite salary schedule
for the pay Of teachers in the higher
schools connected with the city's edu-
cational system.
Definite rewards for service are what
men and women need to spur them on
TO the highest degree of efficiency.
The trouble with Kenosha school sys-
TENS in the past has been that the men
who have directed them have failed to
see that the eduation of children is the
biggest business proposition that any
organized community had to deal with.
They have seemed to think that the
Job of being school teacher was one
to be handed out at the suggestion Of
friendship, that it was matter into
which sentiment should enter and that
the teaching of the children should be
made secondary to meeting the de-
mands of some people for positions ON
the teaching force.
Under the new plan the man and
woman who accepts position in the
Kenosha schools knows just exactly
what faithful and efficient service will
make that position worth three or five
years from now. He is able to make
diagram of his life. If he wants to
marry and become one Of the perma-
nent citizens of Kenosha, he knows
Just how to make up a family budget
for the succeeding years. He is now
able to know what measure he can
make in buying a home. He is as
sured Of chance of paying for it
which is pretty well defended against
the whims of some body of men who
may be short-sighted.
If Kenosha could draw from her own
schools all the teachers she needed, it
would be an excellent arrangement,
but this very arrangement has caused
a lot of loss of expert teaching to the
children of Kenosha.
in every balance where the demand
of a home teacher is put against the
best interests of the children, the lat
ter are liable to suffer. To guard
against this idea the board hase wisely
placed Safeguards against the employ
ment OF elementary and high school
teachers. 1t has provided a test of
experience and standard of educa-
ton which every teacher must meet.
hnr fnr
nor does it offer the home product any
easy way to break into the teaching
force. 1t is rule based only on eff
cheney and as such a rule it has proven
its value in many instances.
The new rule establishes depart
mental management in the high schools
of the city and makes it easy to place
responsibility for failure i'll any of the
departments. 1t provides that definite
advancement must come through sue
eessful work and not through success
full wire pulling among the members
Of the Board of Education. 1t relieves
the members of the board of the re-
sronsibility of raising salaries for au-
tomatically these salaries are raised to
a liberal maximum by the advance in
the efficiency of the teacher.
The plan is one that puts modern
business methods into the employment
Of the school teacher and his continu-
ing in the employ of the school board,
There is no doubt but that the plan
will bring efficiency to the teaching
force and bring a satisfaction in en-.
oloyment which will be new feature
among Kenosha school teachers. The
value of the plan will be found in the
ability Of the Board of Education to
carry it out. No chain is stronger than
It's weakest link and the first time that
a Board of Education shows a willing
ness to give up this plan conceived in
great wisdom and fraught with great
benefit to the schools and the cause of
education will fail.
1t is to be hoped that in the wisdom
of succeeding boards of education in
Kenosha the plan will be strictly adj
hered to.