The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-07-10
THIS AND THAT
BY G. p. Cary

1t is very gratifying to note the at
titude OF mind aud the action of many
boards Of education in Wisconsin in re
lating to the salary question. The lit
tie city of Middleton, for example, has
increased the salary of high school
teachers from $50 a month to $l25.
Stoughton asked the superintendent TO
surrender his contract fer next year
and accept in its stead a contract at an
increase Of Sl00. His salary, as agreed
upon for the next three years, will be
$4,000, $3400, and $500. 1t is reported
that Edgerton will pay the superinten-
dent $4,000 next year and $4,000 the fol-
lowing year, Two Rivers will pay
S3250. Many country districts have al
most, if not quite, doubled salaries,
These are merely illustrations and
indications. This is as it should be.
We have today an inflated currency
which makes the dollar worth only
about half what it was worth but a
short while ago. But even before this
took place salaries we're much too low.
The writer Of this article recently
asked the tailor whom he has patron
lied for the last fifteen years what he
would charge for making an unlined
summer coat. The reply was, 1850. y
This WAS not suit but an every day
coat,-not even a vest with it. Three
or four years ago $50 would have been
a high price for the same article. This
is merely concrete illustration of the
point. The reader can draw illustra.
tions from his own experience indie
fnitely. People on a salary catch it
coming and going. The man in busi-
ness has to pay more, but he can charge
IN Ore, and he does.
am not greatly concerned about a
Giving wage" for teachers Teachers
presumably Especially the younger
ones) can either in the beginning steer
away from teaching entirely or get out
of it and adjust themselves quickly to
some other occupation. That is what
they have been doing; that Is what they
will doubtless continue to do until there
is proper adjustment of salaries and
proper recognition,
am much concerned about the wei
fare OF society not only in the present
but also in the future, the future in
which the school children Of today will
be the chief actors DR.. Thorndike of
Columbia University uttered nro
found truth when he said. "rbe socie-
ty that lets incapables teach 1t, while
its capable men and women feed, clothe
and amuse it, is committing intellectu.
al suicide" DIR. Thorndke might well
have added 'moral and spiritual sui
eide" to his statement.
Justice to the teacher from the sal
AIRY point of view is by no means the
most fundamental consideration. JUS
tice to our children, to the rising gen
GRAFTON, and the coming age is the
thing we should talk about and should
regard as of primary Importance.
Teachers can get along without schools
they do not have to teach, but schools
cannot get along without teachers. 1t
is high time for society TO wake up,
not here and there, but everywhere,
and take thought as it has never done
before with respect to the training Of
the young.
So many new words have come into
the language OF late, especially on
account OF the World War, that even
late editions of dictionaries frequently
do not contain words which readers
desire TO look upwith regard to deiini.
tion, pronunciation, and other matters.
1t is therefore with pleasure that we
learn that the G.. and G.. Merriam Com
pany, publishers of Webstcrs New
International Dictionary, are willing
to sell copies Of the latest addenda to
owners of the New international Die
tionary. This, Of course, will include
schools having copies of said diction.
airy. These addenda will be sold at
twenty-five cents per copy. They
should be ordered from the G.. and G.
Merriam Company, Springfield, Ma9sa-