The Topeka state journal., 1919-05-06
THE POOREST PAID WORKERS

.
Recent estimates made by the bu-
reau of education of the United
States, based on nationwide surveys
and investigation, show that there
were at least $4,000 vacancies in the
teaching force of the public schools of
the country at the opening of the
present school year. In addition to
these vacancies. which caused the
complete closing of many schools and
schoolrooms. it was estimated that
there were at least 100, 900 unframed
and inexperienced persons who had
been placed in teaching positions SIM
ply in order to prevent schools from
being closed.
! While the conditions revealed hy the
estimate are serious enough to arrest
the attention of all persons who are
at all concerned in the welfare of the
public school system, it seems reason
able to assume that tl.ey indicate a
vastly more serious condition of af-
fairs for the future, unless steps shall
be taken at once to correct the ten
dency now all too apparent.
The fact is, as all must admit, says
the Christian Science Monitor. that
the profession or vocation of the pub
lie school teacher, under present in
| dustrial and economic conditions. is
I not. economically considered, attrac-
tive. Hundreds of thousands of
trained and capab!o teachers. who
have made teaching their 1ifework,
and who 9eel themselve es inadequately
|
| 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 a fair living
wage. So long as these experienced
teachers. feel themselves forced, be-
/ cause of circumstances. to continue in
| their chosen work, perhaps disaster
to the pubhc-sch system as 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 and alien
pupils of school age all sections
There recently y as 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 a certain month was
SPLITS, while the average wage for a
like number of school teachers in the
same town was $55. In the same
town. 1t appears. certain miner, an
Austrian alien. was paid more than
$2,70O in wages last year, while the
principal of the high school. an Amer
lean WOMAN with a university training
received an annual salary of s7G5.
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. 1t is
claimed that school teachers are now
paid less for their work than any other
class of workers in the United States.
There can be but one result, logi-
cally, unless conditions are changed.
comments the Monitor The places of
those who leave the schools will be
filled, If they are filled at all. by those
Of less ability and training and of less
experience and culture
Among the many reasons being