The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1919-12-25
SCHOOL TEACHERS
SALARIES AND
AMER|CAN|SM

, consider the critical condition OF on
school system, due TO underpai'
/ teachers. Chairman Hartness present
; ed the problem as follows
This conference is called in reeog
milton OF the right Of Public Schoo
Teachers TO have material Increase
In salary.
We are fully aware that there hai
been q change In the purchasing pow
or OF the dollar
Il is not essential al this time &
find all the causes that have pro
duced this result II is the fact tha
faces our teachers and ourselves.
BY various avenues OF approach w
all arrive at conclusion that oul
dollar Is worth about fifty cent
when measured By the pre-war buy
ing power
Wages OF unskilled and skilled
workers have been generally ad
vanced. but there still remains vast
majority of incomes which have not
been adjusted. There must be uni
formity in change In all compensation
II we are to avoid the calamity Of q
national upheaval.
Under the pre-war condition there
were lamentable inequalities OF com
pensation We know that we have
always had proiteers. parasites and
other burdens for the people to carry.
We know that the trend OF the times
Is toward equality OF compensation
for given quality of service rendered
We know that on this new basis
there will be not an exactly uniform
change OF pay from the pre-war ba-
sis, but il willie be something diner
ent from the extreme condition that
now exists
! We know that our law makers have
suggested only partial and sometimes
destructive cures, but We are conf.
dent that an investigation conducted
by men competent by record of ser
vice will bring the needed light and
remedy for the correction OF the old
and new Irregularities of remunera-
| ton.
The method of change will not hurt
the people; II will not hinder produc-
ton; it will no. kill industrial life,
an dit will predicate all Its conclusions
on the fitness for service for every
man for the job or ofYice--eliminating
parasites--but since we are face to
face with a condition that requires
prompt action let us take care OF this
emergency.
Our object in mentioning the
broader problems Is to satisfy our
selves that we are on the right track
In our course toward correct deter
mination OF our immediate problem.
Our problem today is to give our
teachers a square deal.
II is for us, as officers intrusted
with the administration OF educational
system, to act wisely in the present
crisis
In the teacher of the public schools
we have the highest type Of Amer
icanism, and, consequently, spirit OF
true devotion to the interest OF the |
American home on which American
ism Is based.
In our public schools we have the
most powerful engine for good or III.
1t has dependability OF action. 1t |
will not run away. 1t cannot easily
be stampeded.
The teachers have not struck for
higher salaries and they are not
spreading unrest doctrines. They
know the great power Of their infu-
ence, not only on the pupils who in q
few years will be the citizens Of the
state and country, but also the great
potency of their attitude in forming
the public opinion of the family and
1t is for US and for all good and
oyal Americans to recognize the pow
Or OF our schools and the high value
II our teachers ideals.
We must not permit q continuance
II this inequality Of remuneration that
places each teachers ideals in jeo-
,ardy.
We cannot evade our responsibility
by pleading existing contracts or
change OF tax rate. for that would
merely feed the repressed spirit OF
'ebellion and unrest
Our teachers are not bomb throw
rs, or anything but the highest type
II humanity, but loyalty is hard to
against the insistent de-
hands Of the body for ample raiment
md other needs such as could be pro-
-ided with the pay In other fields OF I
ervice. Loyalty can live and even {
hriye under adversely. provided II is
lot subjected to the sickening thought
4 unfalrness and lack OF apprecia-
Ion.
This is not carelessly set forth Ii
3 a careful statement OF facts as they
xist.
We know that Vermonters are
enulne Americans. that they stand
or a square deal. and for maintaining r
nd energizlng the strong American
SIN OF our teachers, so that this power 9
I the public schools viii continue an :
ngine for true Democracy instead OF D