The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-02-27
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY %, 1919
PAYING THE TEACHER

(From School Lie. PuDllShed at
the request OF j. Maurice Lane prln-
cipal Scion High SCHOOL,.
We may talk as we like about prog
ress In education. but IL we fail TO
spend money for teachers there Will
be no progress. School boards who
take complaisant attitude about
teachers pay should read the National
Education Association report on teach
ers' salaries. They will find there
solemn words about the Threatened
collapse of the teaching profession
sensational words used by men ac-
customed to weigh their utterances
carefully.
In the new world OF freedom and
democracy that Is emerging, intelli-
gence, knowledge, and skill will count
for more than in the old. Education
becomes the chief business OF legis-
latures and congresses, representing
the people.
In America we measure values in
terms OF dollars and cents, and men
and women have formed the habit of
selling their labor OF whatever kind
in the highest market they can com
mand. 1t Is only through increase OF
pay, therefore, that we may hope to
improve to any large extent the char
acter OF the personnel OF any profess
sion or trade. 1t Is only by very large
increases in pay of teachers that we
may hope to improve our schools APP
preciably Small increases OF b, 10,
or 20 per cent will not avail, for they
will not be sufficient to hold in the
schools men and women OF superior
ability. Teachers are now paid less
for their work than any other class of
workmen, and the increase in their
pay in the last few years has In no
wise been in keeping with the increase
In pay OF other workmen, or with the
increase in the cost of living. While
the cost of living has increased ap-
proximately so per cent-food, 90 per
cent; clothing. 106 per cent; drugs,
1903 per cent; fuel, So per cent; and
house furnishing goods, rs per cent
the salaries OF teachers have increased
only about IL per cent. The purchas-
ing power OF the salary of the teacher
In our public schools Is, therefore,
only about 81 per cent OF what 1t was
four years ago Mail carriers, police
men, unskilled laborers, cooks, tele-
graph messengers are paid much high
ed wages than are teachers. AS a
result many OF the better teachers are
leaving the schools and their places
are taken by men and women OF less
native ability, less education and cul-
ture, and less training and experience.
Many OF the places are not filled at
acter Of the schools Is being lowered
just at time when 1t ought to be
raised to a much higher standard.
Students now entering the normal
schools to prepare for teaching are
not OF as good quality as they were
formerly, which means that the stand
ARDS OF the schools must continue to
fall In some normal schools the en-
rollment is far less than in former
years.
The only remedy Is larger pay for
teachers II school boards, legisla-
tors, and county and city council
would Immediately announce the poll
cy OF doubling the average salary OF
teachers within the next five years
and OF adding not less than 80 per
cent more within the 10 years follow
Ing the expiration of this period. SO
that at the end OF Is years the aver
age salary OF public school teachers
would be not less than $l500-about
one and half times larger than they
receive at present-and then take
steps for carrying out this policy,
much good would be accomplished
thereby at once. Such a policy and
such a prospect would attract to the
schools, more men and women of SUI
perior ability and would hold them,
contentedly and. therefore,
profitably for the children and the
public welfare. Such increase in sal
airy should carry with it an increase
Of not less than rs per cent in the
average length OF the school term.
which is now less than 100 days.
To those who are not acquainted
with past conditions and who have
given the matter no intelligent
thought, the increase recommended
nay seem large, but in fact it is not
L would In most States, mean a range
II salaries from 1000 to $4,000. No
person who Is fit to take the time and
money and opportunity OF the chill
lren of this great democratic Republic
or the purpose Of fitting them for
life. for making living, and for vir-
nous citizenship. should be asked to