The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-05-23
THE PAY OF SCHOOL TEACHERS

| United States, to elicit the admission
that, fundamentally, the public school
has proved itself the chief ally and
bulwark of the free government which
has been enjoyed since the republic
was established. Education for the
masses has proved safeguard
against all revolutionary tendencies,
Of serious proportions, up to the pres
ent time, and there is no reason to
doubt that its continuance, on an even
broader and more comprehensive scale
than heretofore, promises more for
the continued stability of genuine de-
mocracy than any Of the political or
industrial theories concerning which
so much is now heard in all parts of
the world. Americanization, in the
past, has been the work of the public
school and the public school teacher,
and the call for continuance of that
work is more insistent today than ev-
er before. In the larger coastal cities,
on both the Atlantic and Pacific shores,
where the percentage Of alien popu-
lation is largest, the demands upon
the public schools have increased, in
recent years, very greatly. The
same problem is presented, in less de-
gree, perhaps, in every community of
considerable size in the United States.
What is being done to meet this in
creasing demand upon the public
school system Of the country? Real
ly. it would seem, less than nothing at
all. Recent estimates made by the
Bureau of Education of the United
States, based on nationwide surveys
and investigation, show that there
were at least $4,000 vacancies in the
teaching force of the public schools of
the country at the beginning of the
present school year In addition to
these vacancies, which caused the
complete closing of many schools and
school-rooms, it was estimated that
there were at least 100000 unframed
and inexperienced persons who had
been placed in teaching positions SIM
ply in order to prevent schools from
being closed.
While the conditions revealed by the
foregoing estimate are serious
enough to arrest the attention of all
persons who are at all concerned in
the welfare of the public-school sys-
tenn at the present time, it seems
reasonable to assume that they in
dictate a vastly more serious condition
of affairs for the future, unless steps
shall be taken at once to correct the
tendency now all too apparent. The
fact is, as all must admit, that the pro-
fession or vocation of the public school
teacher, under present industrial and
economic conditions, is not, economi-
cally considered, attractive. Hun
dreds of thousands of trained and ca
pable teachers, who have made teach
ing their life work, and who feel them
selves inadequately qualified to enter
successfully any other profession or
occupation, are today continuing their
work in the public schools in spite of
the fact that they are not being paid
fair living wage. So long as these
experienced teachers feel themselves
forced, because of circumstances, to
continue in their chosen work, per-
haps disaster to the public school sys-
tenn as whole can be averted. But
their work will not continue indef-
nitely. This fact cannot, of course,
be denied. Neither can there be re-
cruited from the ranks of seasoned
teachers and instructors for the thou
sands of new schools being estab-
lished to provide for the Increasing
number of native and alien pupils Of
school age in all sections.
There recently was made public the
result Of Investigations carried on by
the secretary of the Illinois State
Teachers Association, showing that
the average monthly wage of fifteen
miners in Illinois for a certain month
was $217.78, while the average wage
for like number of school teachers
in the same town was $55. In the
same town, it appears, certain min
er, an Austrian alien, was paid more
than $2700 in wages last year, while
the principal of the high school, an
American woman with a university
training, received an annual salary Of
$765. All over the country, it is re-
ported, the younger men and women
teachers are leaving the schools SIM
ply because of the low salaries paid,
and, in addition, that the attendance
1T normal and teachers training
schools has decreased to an alarming
extent. 1t is claimed that school
teachers are paid less for their work
than any other class of workers in the
United States. There can be but one
result, logically, unless conditions are
changed. The places of those who
leave the schools will be filled, if
they are filled at all, by those of less
ability and training and of less ex-
|perience and culture.
It would seem that the time has
come when the public must assume
different attitude toward the subject
Of education as a whole, and toward
the public schools in particular. Vast
sums are spent annually by the peo-
pie of the United States in providing
buildings and equipment for the pub
lie schools. There never has been Sc
rious complaint on this score, except,
perhaps, in isolated cases. But no
school is adequately equipped, no mat
ter what its material surroundings,
unless its teaching force is wisely Sc
lected. Until the standard of eff
cheney and the qualifications of the
faculty are maintained at the highest
possible degree, the aim sought cam
not be attained. This aim is, in very
large measure, the Americanization Of
boys and girls. The people of every
community ne irdividua5c hold fho