Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-01-21
EDUCATION IS GREAT
AND PRESSING PROBLEM

Pennsylvanians have ever been proud of their public
schools and it is always more or less OF shock when we
forced contemplate statistics which show that
Pennsylvania is not in the foremost rank the States
standards by which such things measured not always
practical and the authorities quoted by in
fabe it is nevertheless fact that popular education in
Pennsylvania is highly developed it is in
places This is not it should be- and the direct
practical remedy is in the need of more money
for school purposes and BETTER uptodate school
organization The State of Pennsylvania approprates
to the support of its bc schools than any other State but
it give per capita than any other State While
the funds voted by the Legislature from the State Treasury
taxation materially than others
among the better organized States in the Union.
The question OF the of teachers has become
serious and the general movement for better for
these deserving public servants has the support of
who has given the matter thought One of the PROPOSE
ons advanced demands horizontal increase of
cent in teachers salaries at the sole of the
State and would provide for direct appropriation of the
required amount from the State Treasury OF course this
not practicable for many reasons the first and principal
Of which is that such plan would take large pro-
portion of the total of the State available
ainabe that there would be little left for of the other
activities of the do not believe, moreover,
that arbitrary increase Of fixed percentage
salaries is what is most needed My opinion is firmly fixed
that in the of the undepad primary the
rural teacher the increase should be much
percentage than that to be allowed the better paid nsuc
tors in the grades and in the richer communities Not
that there not need of all along the line but
must give immediate relief where the need is greatest
There hundreds of teachers working in Pennsyl.
eleven and twelve thousand teachers who annually
$500 or less This is not living wage for and
II
fed and refined life and to set example in the
munity.
Practically every improvement which has been made in
common school system has been the
legislation, and it will take same
kind to establish scale of salaries least
mum salaries, and such other conditions may
The State will help generously with increased bounty
the school districts but the State cannot do ALL
appropriations made this must be accompanied with
provisions for the local application of the money in salary
and some method should be worked for
particular assistance of those districts which already
high tax rate for school purposes based fair
assessment The child in the most remote township just
as valuable to the State and should receive the benefits
as the child in the most favored city.
There are for extension and improvement
In our educational system, to reach adult teraes
position OF Pennsylvania in regard this not
being hatterfng to selfesteem provide vocational
education, necessary corolary marvellous indus
trial Development to teach backward
fortunate, to help in Amercanzing forenborn
help In giving manned heroes from battles
and our industrial victims, chance to learn
sustaining and contented Some of these matters might
best be handled by the Department of Labor Industry
and Others perhaps by the recognized Ma
tona Defense but in all of them the Department Public
instruction should have hearty, broadysoned interest