The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-12-22

teachers 20 a serious e.teEss. the ma.
tority are continuing on. scrimping in
their expenditures far beyond the
point OF other workers.
We are not mentioning scrimping
as something exclusively practiced by
our teachers,-we are fully aware
that ii Is the most common practice
in our homes-but we must remember
that the teachers salaries have not
advanced in any relation TO the de-
crease in purchasing power of the
dollar That the general increase in
pay elsewhere has constituted an
actual reduction in the intrinsic value
Of these salaries and that as true men
and women we will begin setting our
house in order.
The salaries should be increased
Immediately at least so. per cent more
than the prewar amount for a given
experience and status. Due consid
GRAFTON must be given to the natural
advance In salary that a teacher
would have had at this time if there
had been no war On this there
should be at least a fifty per cent in
crease. 1t should begin not later than
February 1st and earlier if possible
This is, not philanthropy. This is not
q needless action. 1t is something
i that is necessary if we are TO pro-
| tect this country from the scourge of
the so-callea radical trend Of thought.
1 Not that our salaried teachers
would be leaders III dissention but
that they would actually see no fair
deal in our scheme of government
when special groups can put over an
increase of one hundred per cent OF
more in remuneration, while others
not SO organized must be content to
suffer an actual cut by reason of the
increased cost of existence, duo to
the raise in pay forced by others.
We can preach Americanization un-
til we are all hoarSe We can say
that all conditions of inequality car
be rectiied By our regular procedure
OF elections, law making and law en-
forcement, and that this can be done
by depending on the intelligence o.
the American people. We can alst
go down to the seashore with broom
and optimism fully confident of on
ability to sweep back the sea; but
gentlemen, We will not get results b,
such methods We win get result
by telling the plain facts-that on
dollar does not buy so much as it di,
before the war, that a square deal t
teachers is absolutely essential t
keep the inner sense of equity Of gu
system of government, that withou
that true inner sense or true inne
conviction Of possible equity GU
teachers may continue to preach tru
ideals of Americanism. They ma
strive to serve loyalty. but their word
will not fit their inner sense of jus
tice. and. like all words that are nc
backed up in the heart, they wi
actually produce an opposite effect.
II is up to the School Directors I
carry forward this plan. OF course "
all know that there has never been
plan of progress that has not raise
flock of questions regarding the wa
OF attainment, and we also know tina
! on the other hand, there never was
ccuntry's need that could not be ALL
Waited by a determined push of q
awakened people.
. When our people truly sense tn
situation there will be badness {
the part OF everyone, whether an III
6erpaid wage Garner, an underpa
salary Garner or never paid hous
wife, to rise as one body to give Il
teachers and Americanism squa
deal