The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1919-05-14

Qualified to enter successfully any
other profession or occupation, are to.
day continuing their work In the pub
lie schools IN spite of the fact that
they are not being paid fair living
wage. So long as these experienced
teachers feel themselves forced, be-
cause Of circumstances, to continue IL
their chosen work. perhaps disaster
to the public-school system as a whole
can be averted. But their work will
not continue indefinitely. This fact
cannot, of course, be denied. Neither
can there be recruited from the ranks
of seasoned teachers the instructors
for the thousands of new schools be
ing established to provide for the in
creasing number of native alien pupils
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 min
ers in Illinois for certain month was
Splits, while the average wage for
like number of school-teachers in
the same town was $55. In the same
town, it appears, certain minor, al
Austrian alien, was paid more than
$2700 In wages last year, while the
principal of the high school, an Amer
lean woman with a university train
ing, received an annual salary of $765.
All over the country, it is reported. the
younger men and women teachers are
leaving the schools simply because of
the low salaries paid, and, in addi-
ton, that the attendance at normal
and teachers training schools has de-
creased to an alarming extent. It is
claimed that school-teachers are now
paid less for their work than any 9th
er class of workers in the United
States. There can be but one result,
logically, unless conditions are chang
ed. The places of those who leave the
schools will be filled, if they are filled
at all, by those of less ability and train
inc and of less experience and culture.
1t would seem that the time has
come when the public must assume a
different attitude toward the subject
of education as a whole, and toward
the public schools in particular. Vast
sums are spent annually by the people
of the United States in providing
buildings and equipment for the pull
lie schools. There never has been SER
ious complaint on this score, perhaps
in isolated cases. But no school is
adequately equipped, no matter what
it's material surroundings, unless its
teaching force is wisely selected. I'm
til the standard of efficiency and the
qualifications of the faculty are main
tanned at the highest possible degree
the aim sought cannot be attained
This aim is, in very large measure
the Americanization of boys and girls
The people of every community, as in.
dividuals, hold the remedy for present
and future conditions in their owr
hands. Primarily, the public schoo
problem has been, and, so far as car
be seen, will continue to be, loca
problem. Questions of federal and
state aid, even, are too remote to OF.
fer the necessary solution. The true
patriotism which has always guided
in times of great emergency should bt
! the guide at this time The duty Of
the public is not primarily to tbs
teachers as individuals, but to the
schools as an institution Christian
Science Monitor.