The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-06-06
FOR BETTER TEACHERS.


Every citizen of Escambia county should take
pride in the fact that at last the salaries of the
teachers of this county have been raised to meet,
in a measure the growing need that has been so
long apparent. The extension of the terms of
the rural schools of the county is also matter
for congratulation.
The percentage of increase in salaries of school
teachers of Escambia county is good, and COM
pares very favorably with the increases made in
other sections of the state.
There is much in the schedule of salaries
to arouse discussion and it has been pointed out
to The Journal that there is an unfair difference
between the salaries OF the men teachers in the
schools, and the women teachers. At first sight
this may seem to be true But it must be remem-
bered that there is nothing in the statutes of
Florida which makes it obligatory for school to
have man principal, or to place a at the
head of any department of public school,
The time is not far distant when the woman
vote will be felt in all public affairs, and if the
women teachers of the public schools feel that
they have been or are being unjustly discrimi-
mated against they will have recourse to the vote.
At melting of the Teachers Association of
Escambia county it was pointed out that the
school teachers all over the United States were
decorating, and that this movement would ip all
likelihood spread to Florida by next fall. The
movement for federation in any line of public
work is good one and is along democratic lines.
In all probability, should the teachers federate,
they would find that through banding together
for common purpose they would be enabled to
bring about many legitimate school reforms.
AS far as The Journal is able to measure the
increase in salaries of the teachers of this coun-
ty, there is cause for much qualification. The
teachers of the county have been poorly paid
and during the war and the period Immediately
following, it was difficult to secure good teach
ers at the salaries paid by the county board
|. The same troubles were experienced all over
the country, "and it has been suggested that the
salaries were often quite as adequate as were
the teacherst But it must be borne in mind that
the teachers will never be adequate until the sal
aries are adequate. Teaching is not popular as
vocation. The time has passed when teaching
and preaching, law and medicine were the fav-
orite professions.
The professions and all lines of business have
| thrown their doors open to women and men in
every walk of life, and opportunities for the
! bilious man so great that, until
| teaching is placed upon a level with the other
professions, the ranks of teachers will continue
| to be depleted. It is poor rule that does not
work both ways-and if the board of education
wants good teachers they will be forced to pay
| good salaries If the teachers want good SAL
aries, they will be forced to be, or to become, good
| teachers.
| While the scale of remuneration for teachers
may be unsatisfactory to the teachers themselves
| in some particulars it must be borne in mind
that this is neither the beginning the end of
plans that the board of education has for the de-
velopment of education in this county and it must
be remembered that with the teachers them
selves rests largely the question of their remnu-
Grafton
Federation of teachers of this county will do
more to bring about school reform than anything
else could possibly do. The teachers all the
country are federating, and through this fed
Grafton, are bringing to pass many desirable
school measures. The lawmakers of every state
have their bar associations in which the profess
sion is represented. The county has its medi-
cal association. The preachers have their fedora
ton. Certainly their would seem to be no argu-
ment against the federation of teachers who
would work not only for their own common good
but towards raising the standards of their pro-
feSsion