Mexico weekly ledger., 1918-04-18
COUNTY SCHOOL NOTES
By W. Clyde Johnson

By W. Clyde johnson
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 preparation and no
additional expense from year to year?
When boards persist in paying a mere
~pittaneeless than a living wage, what
will be the effect on their children?
How can they expect to get teachers
who will do their best on a five per
cent raise when the board, are asking
a 100 per cent increase on the price
Of their farm products? Why should
they ask a SIS or 500 teacher to ac-
cept a 500 job for $50 that they may
keep their levy down to forty per cent?
Why not do like Canada did-vote
the limit of 65 cents, although she had
$500 in the treasury and has a valua-
tion of more than 500, 900, accord
ing to the 1916 assessment? Canada
will have more than $1,000 to run her
school next year. And why not?
Who will say that 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 propo-
sition was put to them to vote sixty
cents that they might again get state
aid, they went right over the top.
Why shouldn't every district vote
Go cents? 1t wouldn't hurt anybody
and it would make for a good school.
II you have not enough children 70
justify a IS cent levy, close you;
school and send them to a district that
does have. The law provides for it.
1t is a patriotic thing to do. 1t is for
the best interest Of the children, See
Section l0776 Of the School Law.
If you voted more than you need, the
school board can cut it down and will
do so and nobody will ever kick.
Boards, if you want a good teacher,
don't wait. If you wait you may not
get n at all. Pay her all you can.
If that is not enough and your district
will not vote more, then pay her
her price for four, five or six months
and have a good school while it does
run.
Most of the teachers have been too
timid-they have asked for a five dol
lar raise when they should have asked
for fifteen OF twenty. They ought to
have twenty dollars and many of them
coulu nave got II.
In Galloway they are paying SIS,
$50 and 800. And why not? Fiji
teen months ago $50 would buy what
500 buys today.
Good teachers are scarce. | 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 a
contract that you will not regret III;
but will fulfill it no matter what the
cost. expect every teacher this year
to stay on the job until school is out.
| 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 con-
tracts you expect to carry out.
Some Of the teachers who have been
employed:
Miss Yea Smith, McClintic, s
months, SOS.
Miss May Hofriehter, Mt. Pisgah,
8 months, $40.
Miss Ruth Rouse, Dye, 8 months,
SOS.
Miss Zella Brown, Lowder, 8
months, sos.
W. E. Cauthorn, Moline, 8 months,
$40.
Miss Alma Brown, Eureka, 8
months, $65.
Miss Amelia Knoebel, Cant, 8
months, $50.
Miss Mildred Cook, Gatewood, 7
months, $65.
Miss Gladys Furber, Cauthorn, s
months, $40.
Miss Emma Sutton, Prairie Hill, 0
months, $3.50.
Miss Elizabeth o'Brien, Prairie
Lea, 8 months, SGe.
Miss Nola Hanna, Rush Hill, 8
months, s.
Miss Anna Miller, Rush Hill, 8