The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-11-18
TEACHERS STILL
HOPEFUL FOR
SALARY RAISE
Quote From Government Bull
letin Showing That Peda-
gogueS Of Nation Are
Undergrad.

Members Of the Memphis Teachers
association are stil hopeful Of receive
ing a raise in pay and have prepared a
statement quoting from a bulletin is
sued by the bureau Of education of the
United States government showing that
public school teachers of the nation are
underpaid. Their statement compiled
by the publicity committee of the as
ISOLATION also presents a series Of adj
vertisements selected from the daily
papers for workers in other lines. These
advertisements offer remuneration in
excess Of that given teachers and are
shown by the teachers in order that
comparison may be made. The state
ment follows:
From the Bureau N Education bull
letin Nov. 4, 1919, we quote the follow
ing:
Salaries of teachers are so low that
they offer neither incentive TO profess
sional preparation nor encouragement to
long tenure, Moreover, the new and
more lucrative opportunities which the
war has made available to teachers
have made serious inToads on the pro-
fession. II cannot now be expected
that qualified persons will continue to
teach or that capable ones will prepare
for teaching unless radical and sweep
ing changes are forthcoming In the
salary scale"
"Dr. P, P. Claxton. United States
commissioner Of education, In a recent
ly puDlSneu article states
More Pay Imperative.
1T is only by very large increases
in pay of teachers that we may hope
to improve our schools appreclably.
Small increases Of five, 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. Teach
ers are now paid less for their wCrk
than any other class of workers, and
the increase in their pay in the last
few years has in nowise been in keep
ing with the increase in pay Of other
workers, or with the increase in the
cost of living, Many Of the better
teachers are leaving the schools and
their places are taken by men and
women Of less native ability, less edu-
cation and culture, and less training
suit, the character of the schools Is
being lowered just at a time when 1t
ought to be raised to a much higher
standard"
Continuing, DIR. Claxton declares that
the remedy Is to increase teachers sal
aries until they shall average at least
81 500 q year,
''The following are a few concrete in
stances Of wages paid in Memphis to-
day: I. r.
papers:
OCner salaries E1lgueT'
"Wanted-Two mule drivers, Pay
So. so per day.
"Wanted--Linotype operator. $50 per
week and overtime.
"Wanted-Two first-class BARRIERS.
Guarantee $25 per week. Good for 500
to $40. -.
"Wanted-Good cook. Win pay $40
per week. Nice room on place.
"A Central High school graduate, on
the day after school closed In June,
began work at the Memphis Cotton
Terminal corporation for S75 per month,
Had this graduate decided to teach, she
would rave had to teach 9 years be-
fore she could get SIS.
"A Memphis teacher after teaching
10 years gets $S5, while her sister, g
Western Union operator, gets sos with
only four years of experience.
"a Memphis teacher, who was max
ing $75.eieft the system one year ago,
She is now working with n cotton firm
and Is making 500.
IAN experienced teacher In oui
schools, who receives $85, has q sister
in the business world making $3.50, plus
"At the Miller Manufacturing. Co.
garment makers get $27 to $50 pei
week OF A hours. Gir's learning tht
trade receive $16 to SIS. :,
zone thing is certain, II the schools
of Memphis are to attain and preserve
a high standard OF efficiency, the teach
ers must be paid a salary com
mensurate with their needs