New Britain herald., 1919-10-02


 9 temporary loss of a considerable degree in efficiency
 What is true of New Britain is equally true of other towns and cities throughout the country. General dis satisfaction, consequent upon the con- stantly increasing cost of living com bined with inadequate salaries, has taken possession of the teaching pro- fessiOn. Tn not a few places teachers have sought to secure a higher re- ward for their work through afilia- tion with national labor organizations. In individual cases not few teachers have sought an increase in salary by leaving the profession for other fields of work. All along the line this dis satisfaction has expressed itself in un- rest and change so that such a thing as stability in any teaching force is no longer to be found.
 Public Must Act.
 It is high time for school authori- ties to cease trying to cope with the situation. It is no longer a school board concern. The public must be awakened to the situation and every thing possible and reasonabIe must be done to save the schools from per- manent injury and ultimate disaster by giving the teachers the compensa- tion to which they are justly entitled. A. careful study should be made of the local situation and such action in increasing salaries for the teachers of New Britain should be taken as is warranted In view of all of the facts disclosed
 Every teacher, whether experienced or inexperienced, who has given time and money to prepare for the work of teaching and is efficient in tho work, is entitled, first of all, to a liV- ing salary-a salary that will enable the teacher to live in @ comfortable home or boarding place; to have sufficient amount of wholesome food; to dress appropriately and comfors- ably; to enjoy reasonable amount of recreation: to provide for the ex- penses of laundry and medical at tendance; to travel sufficiently to in- crease intelligence and efficiency, and to provide for professional reading, study and improvement, A thousand dollars a year is none too large for a basal salary to cover all of the above necessities. To this amount there should be added such increm ents as will appropriately recognize increased length of service, gain in efficiency of work, additional professional study and all other things that make a teacher more valuable as an in- structor of youth.
 1 hi io1 q O f,o tNyl in salary must be given to men attracted to the profession in order that the salary may be sufficient to maintain not only the individual man, but a family as we'll How any man can possibly maintain & family in reasonable comfort and can keep himself mentally and physically fit for the work of teaching on a salary of $1,2o0 is beyond cemprehension-and yet, some Of our men teachers are re- ceiving that amount.
 It is, therefore, urged CD that the question of teachers salaries be re- opened again and that a thorough m vestgation be given the subject; (2) that the conclusions resulting from this investigation be given the fullest
 
 be made to do tardy justice to the teachers of our children.
 The teacher who maintains a thor oughly professional attitude toward his work has regard for other com- pensations than financial satisfaction. He desires social recognition, profess sional responsibility. and participation in the consideration of school policies.
 From the teaCher-nan and wom- an alike the general public has too long withheld the social recognition which should be accorded to mem- bers of a profession which renders a very valuable and indispensable pub lie service.
 Teachers Must Live Better,
 The lack of suitable living condi- tions for teachers and the scanty so- cial recognition which most of them receive is a matter for serious con- cern, both here and elsewhere. It