The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-05-14
Justice For the Foster
Parents of Our Children"

boys and girls themselves, who have
had no professional education what
ever.
When we consider that the 740,-
600 teachers of America are paid an
average salary of $500 year; when,
moreover, we consider the fact that
living costs have actually advanced
1903 per cent. since the beginning OF
the war, thereby cutting the buying
power of these insignificant salaries
in half, we can easily determine that
only fool or a martyr would choose
teaching as a profession, or would
long remain in it unless these ter
rible conditions were swiftly rene
died.
What a crime is this! What an in
dictment! What an objectionable
sin at the doors of an enlightened
people who now find themselves at
the head and forefront of the democ-
racies of the world! How can we
better prepare for the great under
takings of reconstruction than by
setting ourselves Immediately to
remedy this perilous condition. In
these trying and chaotic times when
the world is beset with unrest, by
anarchy, by revolution, by the dew
IFS brood of appalling evils that fol-
low in the train of war, we must
make sure that the foundations of
our republic are set on a rock that
it may stand against the flood.
The peace and security of the
world of the future will be in the safe
keeping of the generation now in our
schools. These boys and girls must
"weave up the raveled sleeve" of
civilization. Their hands must minis
ter to the wounds of the nations.
Their minds must meet and solve the
difficult and crucial problems that
will be their inheritance. Their
hearts must be so imbued with the
horrors of war and with the power
ty and anguish that inevitably follow
in it's wake that they in their time
will enter upon it only as last re-
sort in national self-defense or in
support of some great principle Of
humanity.
Never has there beena more ur-
gent need for high-minded, great
hearted, splendidly trained, 100 per
cent. American instructors to drive
home the vital lessons than these
times hold. Never has the future Of
the nation been so clearly committed
into the hands of the teachers. And
yet thousands of men and women Of
ability who would prefer to teach are
reluctantly leaving their chosen call
ing, forced by the hard necessities of
their very existence.
The teachers asg no largess at the
hands of fortune. They enter their
profession for service, not riches.
But they invest years and money in
preparation for their life-work and
the knowledge they gain is shared
with others who themselves use it to
l
their own profit. Teachers then by
every right and in all justice expect
return that will permit them and
their dependents to live decently and
in comfort.
ln every community reached by
the Literary Digest there are readers
of foresight, of vision, broad-minded
men and thoughtful women who will
see-nay, perhaps, have long since
seen-the critical and compelling i'm
portance of this problem. We are
directing this appeal to them. We
urge them to compare the salaries of
their teachers with the wages of
those who are doing work of equal
value. There will be a challenge in
the facts that will stir the communi-
ty to action.
Let each community invest in