Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-11-24
UNIONS AND TEACHERS

1THE attempt of teachers to organize
II into unions for their own protec-
..-4i as salaried employees will not meet
with popular approval in this coun-
try. The people do not look with Ia
vor upon a possible strike among in
structors in the public schools. The
school teacher holds position some
what similar to the sworn officer of the
law, or to the state. county or city Of
fetal. We do not expect strikes among
them, although in rare instances this
has happened. Teachers to great ex-
tent mould character in their students.
They are often times the idol of the
child. In them the student. anxious
to advance in his or her studies, can
see no wrong. The slightest word OF
praise from q teacher to the struggling
pupil trying to master his lesson, Is
often an inspiration. From her the
unkind word cuts like lash. The
teacher is supreme in the class room,
the very embodiment of discipline. -.
Unionism in her profession would
greatly cripple her influence among
the students. She would be sub
iect to outside influence and con-
troll that would mar her usefulness as
nm instructor. Instead of being master
she would be mastered. This is not
iy,c ha ,,rir, Ctnle
of unionism. The right to organize
among practically all workers is con-
coded, with few rare exceptions. We
maintain that the instructor in public.
educational institutions comes within
the excepted class, just as do other
public officials, just as do those who
enforce the law or those who protect
life and property in case of fire.
The educators themselves are d.
yided on the ISSUE This is true in
North Dakota for instance. The edu-
cational association of that state went
strongly on record against unionizing
yet several county associations have
advocated unions to secure living
wages and more permanent tenure OF
office" Even the instructors In the
state universities and in the agricul-
tural colleges have unions.
There is no question but what the
teachers and instructors in UNIVERSE
ties, colleges and schools have a griev-
ance. Wages for them have not in
creased in proportion to the increase
In the cost of living. In Idaho for in
stance the average wage paid teacher
in a one-room school in the country
was SIS per month. This wage has in
creased until today it is $S5 per month,
or practically the same wage as is paid
In the elementary city school. The av-
erage wage for the high school instruc-
tor is about $110. These wages are for
but nine months in the year. In 1917
the cost of living for teachers increased
II per cent in Idaho and the increase
In wages was but per cent Cost of
living advanced rapidly in 1918 and
1919 and wages have not kept up with
the increase. However. there has been
an inclination toward wage increase
for teachers all over Idaho in the past
year.
1t is logical to conclude therefore,
that teachers are entitled to higher
wages and if they are to be held in their
profession, they must be given increas-
ed compensation. But unionizing will
not secure this increase, nor is it the
right way to go about getting it. Teach
ing. being profession which does not
need the reinforcement of strike or
walkout. the union would be more of
a detriment than help. Teachers are
in reality officers of the state govern
ment and they can never advance their
profession by resorting to the greatest
weapon OF the union, the strike.