El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-01-25

sity. and that no other necessity, city,
county or state, IS as great ne essity
as good teaching The result - thar
most Of our best young men and Wom-
en- go into other professions ana vo-
cations Teachers are employed az a
living wage. but not al a thrift wage.
To become economically independent
they must marry. 20 into other work
OF look forward to the old women's
home.
Teachers Not Paid Enough.
IN the past five years living ex-
penses have advanced more than 90
percent 200 percent in some thingsls
but the salaries OF teachers have ad-
vanced only from 10 20 Is percent
.Other lines OF endeavor have had
much larger increases and We have
APPEALED 10 the teachers 10 stay IN
the profession as a patriotic duty
Hundreds OF thousands OF them have,
OF course. done this. but many cities
have had an entire change in their
teaching forces in the past two OF
three years. and they have had 70 &C
cent instructors IN many cases with a
lower standard OF efficiency.
Problem 20 Be Solved.
or course. al OF these problems, II
they are 70 be solved. are also finan-
clal problems. Many cities have
reached their tax limits for educa fion-
Thee are ia debt for school buildings
and equipment. in some cases. almost
to the point OF bankruptcy When su-
perintendents and boards OF education
ask for more money for increased IA
ciiities and better salaries they are
met with the objection that the city
cannot afford 20 make the required
investment. And, IN some places. bet
ter fire and police protection and bet
ter streets take precedence over the
needs OF the schools
Edreafion Il An Insurance.
We have insurance, however.
against fire. and education itself is
some Insurance against law break
Ing. but We have no insurance
against a social and civic conflagra-
ton excepting that OF more and better
education The teacher IS the one
tax supported person whose whole
bus ness II Is 20 try to prevent fire
carel essness. poverty. insanity. hos
pital needs. anarchy, riot. and all
other social and civic diseases"
People VIII Wake Up.
WIN the people provide more money
for the better training OF their chill
fren2 The answer to this question al
depends on whether the people are
able to see that their children are the
most precious heritage they have and
whether they are satisfied with the
present educational program 7 be-
lieve that they will I believe that
the same people who provided $780,
900 .oOo. 900 in two years to meet a
world emergency cannot fail to see
that the present status OF education
IN this country IS a national emer-
Eencv. In fact. Ete-s are already be-
ing taken through the federal govern
ment 20 provide for this national need
CONGRESS 20 Act.
A bill has been Introduced IN con
Eress providing for this national
emergency in education The general
government has never hefore provided
means FOR the elimination OF fIliteracy.
raising the physical status OF our
boys and girls: but these are the spe-
cific things provided for IN the Smith
bill The sums 20 Be appropriated
amount to 500. 100000 annually for
the next 10 years And these sums
are 70 be apportioued to the several
states only on the condition that they
raise like amounts in addition to what
they are already appropriatinE for ed
ucation- So the outlook is more hope
ful, but Il took a great national trag-
sdy 70 make the national government
see its duties IN these matters
What T. Fl PaEo DoiuEg
I thus state the educational prob
lem before the nation as a whole and
before our community IN this nation.
Including Fl Paso, Texas
Now. having stated the educational
problem before Us as a nation, let Us
consider how Fl Paso r. solving Il. AS
stated before, the problem Is largely
one OF adequate finances. Nearly al
committees have constitutional or
other legal limitations. Fl Paso Is
no execution IN this phase OF the prob
lem The tax limit for educational
purposes IN cities OF this state Is 50