New-York tribune., 1918-06-23
A Comparison
From Los Angeles

In Los Angeles building inspectors
salary is $4,000, a deputy city attorneys
S2,l00 TO S2,700, gas meter inspector's
S2,100, Health Department chemists
Sl,920, an oil inspectors $2,100, q super.
intendent of parks $2,7o0. With few
exceptions, it is said, do these places
require training equal to that Of tn,
high school teacher in time or in ex.
pense; nor do they require the same
amount of continued preparation.
Eloquent human documents such a.
these are on file giving practical rea.
sons why men and women are discour-
aged with school teaching:
II have been a schoolmaster since
1882, in the meantime graduating
from college, taking graduate work
at Goettingen, at Leipsic, and at the
University of Chicago. | have been
an employe and an employer, but al
ways a subordinate.
Il have taught country school at
$35 month, college academic work.
high school as teacher and principal
in. three states, superintendent of
schools since 1914. My present SAL
aryl is $4,000,
Gas result of long experience,
can give you some reasons why peo-
pie won't teach school.
"ln the first place, it is a profess
sion requiring long, careful and ex-
cellent preparation. We embark in
it for life. We are enthusiasts. but
sooner or later we lose our illusions
and seek other work. To us it is a
profession, but to the people it is a
job, and anybody can teach school.
I'VE have absolutely no tenure of
office. We are wandering, intel
lectual hoboes, dismissed at the i'll.
Will or insinuation of any black
smith, carpenter or shoemaker.
"The final word in all the prob
lens OF education is settled not by
men of education, but by laymen, in
most case without education, a multi
tude OF whom have never completed
the seventh grade. Yet these men
under our system pronounce solemn
judgment and their word is law up
on the most important problem Of
human life, the education of the
rising generation.
I'VE find ourselves worn out in
body and in mind, with nothing be-
fore US except pennilessness and old
age. Only in large cities is there any
alleviation of this condition.
why should people of education
and culture engage in such profess
sion? More and more inefficient.
incompetent and helpless persons
VIII take up teaching, especially in
the present and future.
Tackle this and do not pitch into
the teachers. Except in the small
communities, We are social interiors.
n1
cheap clothes, and our wives have
to work like slaves that we NAV
make ends meet, and, if possible, save
few thousand dollars to buy us
PIT OF land that we may not starve.
AT nifty years of age we are going
to be summarily dismissed. I know
from thirty-fve years of experience
what | am talking about
Some of these days school shall
see me no more. ] shall proceed to
that ,poverty-stricken vegetating until
death which awaits me-"
What They Do With
Their Salaries
Perhaps this particular teacher ha:
special reasons for bitterness and dis
heartenment after life of high activ
ity and earnestness of purpose unre
warded.
But there are others without mum
Der who will testify to the impossible
ity of keeping body and soul togethe
without revision of the salary sched
ule.
In Kansas City during 1917 10:
teachers. at salary of $1,000, spen
$16,537 on war and local charities ane
Liberty Bonds. OF these no spen
$5,553 on recreation during 3e5 days
$50 teachers on various salaries spenr
S42,1S2 on war and charities ane
$1S,995 on recreation.
More experienced teachers on sal
aries of $1,000 last year, after payins
board and clothing bills, doctors fee,
and necessary car fares, reported tha
they had left for recreation, opera, the
atrc, social clubs, parties and trip
sums like there:
Total spent last year. So weeks. 3e5 days
l No. '' 'oo uaSs
| years For ror d...
| taught. recreation ava deut;s,
| ~. -......... $S $40