The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1919-05-29
From The Literaru Diuest.l

From The Literary Digest
1t is strange that the generous-heart-
ed American people, who poured out
their riches SO prodigally in response
to every patriotic, every charitable APP
peal. and who accorded such enthusi-
astic and liberal support to every
measure and to every group that help
ed win the war, should have neglected
to properly encourage and reward the
services of one of the noblest profess
siolls in the field of human activities
Il profession that in lofty ideals, i'll un-
selfish principles, in sacred RESPONSE
bilfties, stands side by side with the
ministry of the Gospel itself.
We wish. to bespeak, with whatever
power and authority we may have and
with such words as may be granted to
U.S. some measure of consideration for
the foster-fathers and mothers of our
clildren-the school teachers of the
United states of America.
There is no class of workers of
which we demand so much. We COM
NIT into their keeping the minds, the
bodies and the very souls of our chill
dren in the tender and formative years
of their lives. and they, receiving these
children. can indeed be said to hold in
the hollow of their hands the future of
America. We expect these devoted men
and women to watch over and care for
our sons and daughters as though
they were their very own. to drill them
in the arts and sciences. to train them
for business and for citizenship. to in
struct them in manners and in morals.
to do fer them those things which we
would do had we the training and the
| leisure.
No class has assumed so heavy. so
| trying burden and a responsibility
| with such willingness as these cOnse
| Grated men and women. No class has
| performed their increasingly heavy
task more devotedly. more cOnscien-
tiously. and with less thought of self.
No class served their country more
whole-beartedly, more Loyalty, during
the trying and tempestuous times Of
war; day by day pursuing their round
of duty, day by day helping the young
people, and through the children the
/ parents to zee the struggle In its true
light, thus securing the cooperation of
the community in every measure un-
dertaken by the Government to win
the war.
Truly they have made the nation
their everlasting debtor. Truly had
they not done their work so well this
republic would not outlast the span Of
Il generation.
/ What then have the teachers re.
ceived ut our. hands in return? They
have received little of honor and some
what less of pay. Other classes have
prospered; other classes through pow.
erful organizations have secured gen
erous wages The teachers have nt
spokesman. however. to demand ever
the simple justice Of a living wage, 81
to them we give their petty prevail
pittance so meager, SO pitifully made
quate. that it places Il burning brand
Of shame and disgrace upon the nation
i The men and women who are max
ing the Americans of Tomorrow arr
being treated with less consideration
than the janitors who sweep out th'
buildings In which they are employed
they are earning ON the average, les
than the wages given to the scrub
women employed in the public build
ings of the United States Government
Nornal-school graduates receive les