Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1919-12-25

arn energlZlng the strong IimcrIr".'
ism n orr teachers, so that this p.we
81 he public schools i'll continue .
engine for true Democracy instead
hot bed for the spirit OF dist1u
and opposition to our goverrm ~.
WNH' { has heen ~
some branches Of labor to rescrt
StllAeS ~ @.Ca-L e-t.,..
and in some instances this Il
turbed the economic balance g,
muneration for service, the %.
scheme of lifH is one :
faith and trust in people tina. ;e
consistent with the s..
Many Of the teachers kl,.
forced to go into other wOrI.
living enumeration, and Nh
has depleted the body OF
teachers to serious extent tao II.
jority are continuing on, s>r mD.4s i
their expenditures far bey ond the
point Of other workers.
We are not mentioning scrimping
as something exclusively practiced by
our toache"s,-we are fully aware
that il IS the most common practice
in CIR homes-but we must remember
that the teachers salaries have not
advanced in any relation to the de-
crease in purchasing power Of the
dollar. That the general increase in
pay elsewhere has constituted an
actual reduction in the intrinsic value
Of these salaries and that as true men
and women we will begin setting our
house in order.
The salaries should be increased
Immediately at least so per cent more
than the prewar amount for given
experience and status. Due consid-
Grafton must be given to the natural
advance in salary that a teacher
would have had at this time if there
had been no war. On this there
should be at least fifty per cent in
crease. 1t should begin not later than
February 1st and earlier if possible,
This is not philanthropy This is not
needless action. 1t is something
that is necessary if We are to pro-
tect this country from the scourge Of
the so-called radical trend of thought.
Not that our salaried teachers
would be leaders in dissention but
that they would actually see no tair
deal in our scheme of government
when special groups can put over an
increase of one hundred per cent or
more in remuneration, while others
not so organized must be content to
suffer an actual cut by reason OF the
increased cost of existence, due to
the raise in pay forced by others.
We can preach AmericaAization un-
til we are all hoarse We can say
that all conditions Of inequality can
be rectifed by our regular procedure
OF elections, law making and law en-
forcement, and that this can be done
by depending on the intelligence OF
the American people. We can also
60 down to the seashore with brooma
and optimism fully confident Of our
ability to sweep back the sea; but,
gentlemen. we will not get results by
such methods. We will get results
by telling the plain facts-that our
dollar does not buy so much as it did
before the war, that a square deal to
teachers is absolutely essential TO
keep the inner sense Of equity Of our
system of government that without
that true inner sense or a true inper
conviction of possible equity uur
teachers may continue to preach true
ideals of Americanism. They may
strive 10 serve Loyalty but their words
will not fit their inner sense of jU.
tice, and, like all words that are not
backed up in the heart, they will
actually produce an opposite effect
1t is up to the School Directors to
carry forward this plan. OF course we
all know that there has never been a
plan of progress that has not raised
flock Of questions regarding the way
of attainment, and we also know that
or the other hand, there never was a
country's need that could not be allie
Waited by a determined push OF an
awakened people.
When our people truly sense this
situation there will be a eadiness or
the part of everyone, whether an IN
| derpaid wage Garner, an underpaid
salary Garner or a never paid house
wife, to rise as one body to give the
! teachers and Americansm a square
deal