The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-12-09

TEE RICHMOND pALLADIUl
portion to the training in Americanization afford
ed them.
4. The permanency of a competent democracy rests
the intelligence and patriotism of its citizenry.
The per capita wealth in the United States is
about $1,712.77: there is one teacher for popu-
lation of 1891, and the wealth back of each
teacher is $3.50, 754OS Comparing the salaries
paid to teachers with the country's wealth, it is
easy to see that they are being underpaid. Ind
lana has 1858 teachers and would receive from
Congress 1878, 520.32. An equal amount from
the state would give $3,157, 040.64.
The Bill provides that no State shall share this
fund unless has least twentyfour weeks OF school
in each district unless it enforces an adequate COM
pusory attendance law and unless it provides
that he basis language of instruction in the
school branches in all schools public and private
shall be the English language only"
The Bill in the Senate provides $20000000
annually by Congress ito cooperate with the States
in the promotion of physical and health education
and recreation" including "the medical and dental
examination of children of schoo, age the determine
ton of mental and physical defects in such children
the employment of school nurses. the establishment
and maintenance Of school dental clinics, and the in
structon of the people in the principles of health and
sanitation" Indana's population in 1910 2.
700S76 She would therefore receive from Congress.
for physical and health education ss744o53 annually
An equal amount from the State would make avail
able s1174ss106 annually.
The Palladium has asserted for number of
years that the nation cannot expect capable men
and women to enter the profession at the ridcul-
ously low salaries that are paid. Young men and
women will not spend thousands of dollars to
prepare for a profession that hardly pays de-
cent return on the investment.
The Bill now before Congress provides $15,00O.-
600 annually. and demands equal amount by the
States, ito cooperate with the States in preparing
teachers for the schools. particularly schools
TO prepare teachers. to encourage more nearly
universal preparation of prospective teachers,
tend the facilities for the improvement of teachers al
ready in service to through the establish
ment of schoa rships and otherwise greater
Of talented young people to make adequate prepare
ton for publicschoo service. and otherwise pro-
vide an increased number of trained and competent
teachers" This money is to be apportoned the
public school teacher basis and amounts to $24.10
per teacher for the promotion of
Indiana had 1858 public school teachers in
1s15-1916 She would receive s473516so for the pur-
poses named above Doubling this amount would
make available minimum of s947,O33 so for teacher
preparation in her tax supported schools and
colleges.
The bill provides for the creation of an exc
cutive department with secretary in the presi
dent cabinet. This feature is an important one
In a democracy the safety of the state depends
upon the education of the people Education is
not a state, district, parochial or local problem
but has national significance. It deserves rec.
ognition by representation in the cabinet.
The present bill is the most comprehensive
school measure that has ever been presented tt
the American people. It seeks to obviate some OF
the greatest evils of the present system. It's
enactment into law will be boon to the educa-
tional system and of positive good to the public