The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-05-12
FOR THE FosTER-PARENTs


It is strange that the generous-haarted Amer
lean people, who poured out their riches SO prodi-
gally in response to every patriotic every char
table appeal and who accorded such enthusiasts
tic and liberal support to every measure and 10
every group that helped win the war, should
have neglected to properly encourage and re-
ward the services of one of the noblest profess
sions in the field of human activities-the pro-
fession that in lofty ideals. in unselfish prin-
ciples, in sacred responsibilities, stands side by
side with the ministry of the Gospel itself, says
the Literary Digest of May 10.
We wish to bespeak, with whatever power and
authority we may have and wish such words as
may be granted to US, some measure of consid-
GRAFTON for the foster-fathers and mothers of our
children-the school-teachers of the United
States of America.
There is no class of workers of which we de-
mand so much. We commit into their keeping
the minds, the bodies, and the very souls Of our
children in the tender and formative years of
their lives, and they receiving these children
indeed be said to hold in the hollow of their hands
the future Of America. We expect these devoted
men and women to watch over and care for our
sons and daughters as though they were their
very own, to drill them in the arts and sciences
to train them for business and for citizenship to
instruct them in manners and in morals, to do for
them those things which we would do had we
the training and the leisure.
No class has assumed so heavy, so trying a
burden and a responsibility with such willingness
as these consecrated men and women. No class
has performed their increasingly heavy tasks
more devotedly, more conscientiously, and with
less thought of self. No class served their coun-
try more intellectually, more Loyalty, during
day pursuing their round of duty, day by day
helping the young people, and through the chill
dren the parents, to see the struggle in its true
light, thus securing the cooperation of the com
munity in every measure undertaken by the
government to win the war.
Truly they have made the nation their ever
lasting debtor Truly had they not done theil
work so well this republic would not outlast the
span of generation.
What then have the teachers received at our
hands in return? They have received little 0.
honor and somewhat less of pay. Other classe.
have prospered; other classes through powerful
organizations have secured generous wages. This
teachers have no spokesman, however to demand
even the simple justice of living wage, tt
them we give their petty pittance, so meagre, Sc
pitifully inadequate, that it places a burning
brand of shame and disgrace upon this nation.
The men and women who are making tn,
Americans of tomorrow are being treated will
less consideration than the janitors who SWEEP
out the buildings in which they are employed
they are earning on the average, less than tn.
wages given to the scrubwomen employed in tn,
public buildings of the United States govern
ment. Normalschool graduates receive less sal
airy than street sweepers; high-school principal.
and superintendent less than section foremen
farmers children than he pays his hired man t.
feed his hogs.
In certain town in Illinois, for instance tn,
average wages 70 fifteen miners for one month
was $217, while the average monthly salary o.
fifteen school teachers in the same town was S55
In another town miner, who, by the way, waI
an enemy alien, drew more than 81. 100 last year
while the salary of the high-school principal il