The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-11-24
SERIOUS SHORTAGE
OF SCHOOL TEACHERS
EIGHTEEN TEACHERS TAKING
EXAMINATIONS NOW-MANY
MORE ARE NEEDED

Teachers examination is now being
conducted by Miss Lillian Skattaboe,
county school superintendent, who is
being assisted in the work by Miss
Myra Moody. The examination be-
gan Thursday and closes today. There
are 18 teachers or candidates to be-
come teachers, taking the examina- |
tion.
There is a serious shortage of |
teachers throughout the United |
States and our school system is
threatened with serious loss and the |
probable closing of schools unless
greater interest is taken and more
teachers become available, according I
to the statement of Phi. Soulen, head
of the department of education in the
University of Idaho. Professor Sou
len says that his. department has re-
ceived applications for four teachers
within week, condition never be-
fore met at this time of year. He s
says one school in Clearwater county |
is closed because it is short seven s
teachers. The department of educa- I
ton has an unprecedented enroll
ment, 120, which is SO per cent above i
the past two years, but he does not t
expect this condition to continue as
any one capable of teaching can earn S
much more in other vocations The fol
lowing statement sent out by the
National Educational Association
gives much interesting information
IN this subject. The circular letter f
follows: "A
The Teacher Problem. c
More tha 100000 teaching positions
n the public schools of the United 7
States are either vacant or filled by "
eachers below standard, and the at
enhance at normal schools and
eacher- training schooles has decreas- u
ID 20 per cent in the last three years. :.
These startling facts are shown by
he complete report of an investiga- n
ion made by the National Education N
association. =
Letters were sent out by the AS D
in September to every coun- .
Y and district superintendent in the 4
United States asking for certain def S.
lite information. Signed statements v
yere sent in by more than 1,700 sup q
from every state, rep =
esenting 238,573 teaching positions.
hese report an actual shortage of
4, 685 teachers, or slightly more
nan per cent of the teaching posi- a,
ons represented, and 23,OO6 teachers =,
Glow standard who have been ac- -
epted to fill vacancies or slightly TO
ss than 10 per cent. 1t is estimated er
lat there are 650,000 teaching posi- al
ons in the pubic schoos of the United ~
tates, and if tese figures hod good -
n the entire country there are &c. ne
10 vacancies and $4,000 teachers be- ns
w standard. on
These same superintendent report o
at 81, 798 teachers dropped out dur y
g the past year, a loss of over % al
II cent. On this basis the total ev
lmber for the entire country would Sn
$4,000. The reports show that sc
e shortage of teachers and the num-
r of teachers below standard are
eatest in the rural districts where bu
laries are lowest and teaching con- Th
lions least attractive. A..
The states in which salaries and
andards are highest have the most
equate supply of teachers. Cali
rnia shows a combined shortage and :
low standard of 31s per cent; Mas an,
cnuseIIs SHOWS 4zs per cent, and Sa
2 Southern states more than one ~
rd of their schools are reported Es
her without teachers or being am
light by teachers below their stand b;r
Is.
Nearly all of the superintendents PIE
,lare that teachers salaries have haI
increased in proportion to the in fre
ased cost of living, nor as salaries Wit,
~ a,.s M ~ o-a .on+;n,,;r = u iasr. As 4ha clip
'ession for other work. IN