The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1919-12-04
THE TEACHER PROBLEM.

sitions in the public schools of the
United States are either vacant of
filled by teachers below standard, and
the attendance at normal schools and
Understanding schools has decreased
20 per cent in the last three years
These startling facts are shown by
the complete report of an investiga-
ton made by the National Education
Association.
Letters were sent our by the Asso-
citation in September to every county
and district superintendent in the
United States asking for certain def
mite information. Signed statements
were sent in by more than LOO
superintendent, from every state,
representing 23S,573 teaching posi-
tions. These report an actual short
age of 1865 teachers, or slightly
more than 6 per cent of the teaching
positions represented, and 23,006
teachers below standard who have
been accepted to fill vacancies, or
slightly less than 10 per cent. 1t is
estimated that there are 100000
teaching positions in the public schools
of the United States, and if these
figures hold good for the entire coun-
try there are $4,000 vacancies and
$4,000 teachers below standard.
These same superintendent report
that 52,798 teachers dropt out during
the past year, loss of over % per
cent. On this basis the total number
for the entire country would be 143,
900. The reports show that the short
age of teachers and the number of
teachers are greatest in rural dis
tricts where salaries are lowest and
teaching conditions least attractive.
The states in which salaries and
standards are highest have the most
nearly adequate supply of teachers.
California shows a combined short
age and below standard of 81 per
cent; Massachusetts shows Az per
cent, and Illinois per cent. In at
least six of the Southern states more
than one-third of their schools are
reported either without teachers or
being taught by teachers below their
standards.
Nearly all of the superintendent
declare that teachers salaries have
not increased in proportion to the
increased cost of living, nor as sal
aries have in other vocations, and that
teachers are continuing to leave the
profession for other work.
Reports received by the National
Education Association from normal
school presidents show that atten-
dance in these Misunderstanding in
situations has fallen off alarmingly
The total attendance in rs normal
schools and teacher training schools
located in 35 different states for the
year 1916 was 33,051. In 1919 the
attendance in these same schools had
fallen to 26,134 The total number
OF graduates in these schools in 1916
was 1925, and in 1919, SPA. The
total number in the graduating classes
of 1920 in these 70 schools is 7.119.
These figures show decrease of over
30 per cent in four years in the fin
ished product of these schools.
The presidents of these institutions
state that in order to induce promising
young men and women to enter the
teaching profession and thereby fur
nish the country an adequate supply
of competent, well-trained teachers,
there must be:
l Higher salaries for trained teach
ers;
2. Higher professional standards
excluding the incompetent and unpre-
pared.
3. A more general recognition bv
the public of the Importance of the
teaching profession.
a. More liberal appropriations to
state normal schools and teacher
training schools in order to pay bet
ter salaries in these institutions and
furnish better equipment.
5. Extending the courses and rails
ing the standards in the teacher-train-
ing schools.-Report of Investigation
by the Field Secretary of the National
Education Association.
The efforts of the school authorities
OF Garrett county have met with un-
usual success when compared with the
general conditions that prevail
throughout the country in reference to
the shortage of teachers, for there are