The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-04-15
NEED OF TEACHERS
Real SchOOlma'am Famine Is
Facing Kansas.
Schools May Be Forced To
Consolidate in State.
LOW SALARIES THE REASON
Instructors Can Make Much
More in Other Lines.
Fault of Districts That Hold
Down Living Wage.
LOW SALARIES THE REASON

Kansas is rubbing elbows with a
genuine famine-not a grocery famine
but famine in school ma ms. Miss
Lorraine E. Wooster, state superintend-
ent of public instruction. today warned
boards in charge of the employment of
teachers for next year to get busy
early-and not forget a substantial
boost in salary schedules if returns are
expected. Probably for the first time
in the history of the state there may
not be enough teachers to go arour d
and number of schools may be
forced to consolidate.
Competitive bidding for experienced
teachers is said to have already begun
in a number of counties in the state
Scores of teachers have fatty Served
notice that this is their last year. They
intend to quit the profession. That
is flat, positive and final. In a num-
Der of counties superintendent have
been advised that the cooperation in
the teaching game has been only a
responsibility on the teachers Salar-
les were neglected, opportunity for ad-
vancement withheld and in many in
stances districts and school boards en-
tered into combinations. to fight down
a living wage for the mistress of the
school room.
Earn More in Other Lines.
Now it looks as tho Kansas towns
and rural districts will have to make
the most of a perplexing situation
which was developed largely by their
own actions. The school ma'ams have
learned that they can earn more
money in other lines of endeavor, that
they can secure better hours, better
working conditions and receive greater
encouragement and opportunity for
advancement. One of the real troubles
at this time is the fact that the vaca-
ton season is not a vacation at all.
1t is merely more hard work for the
teacher-expense and labor for which
the teacher receives nothing.
In one day last week six school
ma Jams walked into the offices of the
state superintendent of Saline county
and fatty, but politely, announced
they were thru with the close of the
present school year. That was one
day in one county. 1t is happening all
over the state. pes
Serious Problem. ata
A whole flock of school ma ans
have been merely hanging on until
the war ended-Oh, well. gosh ding,
you know how those things are. Now
Miss Teacher is going to tell the school
board or the board of education or
the superintendent or someone to take
a good free plunge in the lake. The
little old $50 or $40 a, month that
makes the poor old tight wad district
groan when it pays its taxes, isn't a
temptation to the teacher at all. AT
all. She can earn more money else
where, can secure IL months employ
ment at regular wages and usually re-
ceive two to three weeks vacation on
full pay. y
ITS a mighty serious problem"
said Miss Wooster. The teachers in
all sections of the state have de-
manded more money. But many
school boards have refused to allow
increases. Unless there is a subsran-
tial increase in the salary schedule.
there will not be enough teachers to
go around. The school districts have
simply not been awake to the situation
and the danger of loss of a large NUM-
Der of teachers at this time is serious.
1t simply means we cannot get them
back" p
One handicap which faces the
teacher at the present time is the re-
quirement that she must attend nor
NAL school or complete certain studies
during her summer vacation period.
This all means extra work, extra sex-
pense and no encouragement in the
form of extra pay for the teacher.