The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1918-01-05
Able Rejoinder in Behalf of Teachers

Able ReJoinder In Behalf or teachers.
Hohen Solms, La, Dec. 10, 1917.
Editor Chief:
In your last issue of the Chief there
appeared three excellent replies to
the letter of GA Taxpayer" in regard
to the salary of teachers, but too
much can hardly be said in order to
refute the wrong ideas expressed by
Taxpayer" and to correct any false
impression his misleading statements
might have made.
Taxpayer" wants to be shown
"Why his taxes should be increased
in order to raise the salaries of teach
lers.. He figures the minimum aver
age salary OF teacher from the
monthly salary paid while school is
open, but he forgets that unfortu-
nately the schools are closed during
three to even FIVE months in the year,
and that teacher gets nothing during
this time. The average minimum
salary of a teacher figured for the
whole year amounts really to only
S1.O5 to S1.35 per day, princely (?)
sum, and with this Taxpayer" would
make us believe that s'the teachers
are able to dress well, look well fed,
and travel about a good deal.
Then he goes on to say that a
clerk has to work much more for
much less pay, and that he ("Tax-
payer'') does not have to contribute
toward clerks salary. It is ridicu-
lous to make such a comparison. A
clerk is employed by firm solely for
the benefit Of that firm. But what is
teacher employed for? Directly for
the benefit of all the school children
and parents living within a school dis
trict, and indirectly for the benefit Of
the community as a whole. 81.
Did it ever occur to taxpayer,
what an eminently responsible posi-
ton of highest trust a school teacher
really holds? Did he ever stop and
consider that a GOOD teacher is do
ing infinitely more for children than
to Just teach them the three RS and 50
on? A GOOD teacher studies and
watches the children, impresses and
molds their minds, builds up their
good character, brings out and de-
velops all that is good in them, helps
them to follow high ideals, and en-
courages and guides them to grow up
to righteous and useful man and Wo-
manhood. Indeed, a teacher is not
simply entrusted with the education
and welfare of the children, but with
the shaping of the very future of our
country. That is why it is SO highly
important to have GOOD teachers,
teachers who with heart and soul are
living uu to their noble calling, teach
ers who are really able and competent
I'd fill their most important position
with the highest credit. But to get
and keep such teachers, we not only
must have the highest. opinion and
regard for them-we must also prop
erly compensate them, otherwise they
are compelled to seek employment IN
more lucrative and comparatively
| easier vocations. :,
Instead of begrudging the teach
ers their meager and insufficient pay,
ssTaxpaver," as well as everybody
else. should be anxious and proud to
do everything possible toward the bet
tering of our school system, so that
all the children may be fully prepared
and equipped for the ever-increaslng
requirements which the future will
exact from them. We should con.
slider that paying school tax is not
"wasting lot Of needless sympathy
on the poor teacher nor is it even
an expense; but on the contrary, it is
a sound investment from which moi
/ only the individual taxpayer, but the
community and even our whole coun'
try will reap the most profitable re-
Turns. KARL GEIST.