Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1918-04-18
RURAL SCHOOL NOTES

Good teachers are scarce this
year. And why shouldn't they be?
When boards persist in paying them
less than they can make in other
lines that require much less prep
aration and no additional from year
to year When boards persist in
paying a mere pittance-less than a
living wage, what will be the effect
on their children? How can thev
hope to get teachers who will ID
their best on five per cent raise
when they are asking 100 per cent in
crease on the price of their farm
products? Why should they ask a
SIS or 800 teacher to accept 800
job for $50 that they may keep their
levy down to 40 cents? Why not do
like Canada did, vote the limit of 65
cents although she had $500 in the
treasury and has valuation OF
more than 100000, according to the
1916 assessment? Canada will have
more than $1,000 to run her school
next year. And why not? Who will
say the children are not worth It?
Or why not do like, Ellis? Last year
with considerable opposition they
got an eight months school and
State aid. This year when the prop
osition was put to them to vote SIS
cents that they might again get
State aid, they went right over the
top. Why shouldn't every district
vote Ga cents? 1t would not hurt
anybody and it would make a good
school. If you have not enough
children to justify a 65-cent levy,
close your school and send your
children to district that does have.
The law provides for it, 1t is a pa
triotic thing to do 1t is for the best
interests of the children. See Sec
ton 10776 of the School Law.
If you voted more than you need,
the board can cut it down and will
do so, and nobody will ever kick.
Boards, If you want good teach
er, don't wait. If you wait, you may
not get any at all. Pay her all you
can. If that is not enough, and your
district cannot or will not vote more,
then pay her her price for four, five
or six months and have good
school while 1t does run.
Most of the teachers have been too
timid-they have asked for a five
dollar raise when they should have
asked for SIS or 500. They ought to
have $40. And many of them could
have got it. In Galloway they are
paying SIS, $S5 and even $780, And
why not? Fifteen months ago $50
would buy what 800 buys today
Good teachers are scarce. I got a
letter from a board in Montgomery
asking me to recommend a good
teacher for Superintendent Hupe
had informed them that he had no
more. Teachers, don't be in too big
a hurry. Be sure before you accept
contract that you will not regret
it, but will fulfill no matter what the
cost. I expect every teacher this
year to stay on the job until school
is out. I shall expect no board to
release a teacher. If she leaves
without the consent of the board.
she will lose her certificate. Then,
make only contracts you expect to
carry out
Some of the teachers who have
been employed.
Miss Yea Smith, McClintic, 8
$65.
Miss May Hofreihter, Mt. Pisgah, 8
$40.
Miss Ruth Rouse, Dye, s months,
s65.
w. E. Cauthorn, Moline, months,
$40.
Miss leila Brown, Lawder, 8
months, $65.
Miss Alma Brown Eureka, s
months, $65.
Miss Amelia Knoebel, Cant,
months, $50.
Miss Mildred Cook Gatewood, Z
months, $65
Miss Gladys Furber, Cauthorn,
months, $40.
Miss Emma Sutton, Prairie Hill, 9
months, $3.50
Miss Elizabeth o'Brien, Prairie
Lea, s months, $685.
Miss Nola Hanna, Rush Hill, 3
months
Miss Anna Miller, Rush Hill,
months,
wish teachers and school boards
would report contracts where made