The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1919-05-29

swiftly remedied.
What a crime is this. What an in
dictment! What an objectionable sin
ut the doors of an enlightened people
who now find themselves at the head
and forefront of the demOcracies Of the
world! How can we better prepare
for the great undertaking Of recon-
struction than by setting ourselves inn
meiiately to remedying this perilOus
condition? In these trying and chaotic
times when the world is beset by un-
rest. by anarchy. by revolution. by the
devils brood of appalling evils that
follow in the train Of war. we must
make sure that the foundations of our
republic are set on rock that it may
stand against the aood.
The peace and security of the world
OF the future will be in the safe keep
ing of the generation now In our
schools. These boys and girls must
weave up the unraveled sleeve" Of
civilization. Their hands must minis
ter to the wounds Of the nations Their
minds must meet and solve the diff
cult and crucial problems that will be
their Inheritance Their hearts must
be SO inlbued with the horrors of war
and with the poverty and anguish that
inevitably follow in its wake that they
in their time will enter upon 1t only as
Il last resort In national self-defense or
In support Of some great principle of
humanity.
Never has there been Il more urgent
need for high-minded, great-hearted
Splendidly trained, 100 per cent Ameri-
can instructors to drite home the vital
lessons that these times hold. Never
has the future Of the nation been 80
clearly committed into the hands of
the teachers. And yet thousands Of
men and women Of ability who would
prefer to teach are reluctantly leaving
their chosen calling. forced by the hard
necessity Of their very existence.
The teachers ask no largess at the
hands of fortune. They enter their
profession for service. not riches. But
they invest years and money in prep
aratien for their life-work and the
knowledge they gain is shared with
| others who themselves use it to their
profit. Teachers. then, by every right
and In all justice expect return that
will permit them and their dependents
to live decently and in comfort.
In every community reached by The
Literary Digest there are readers OF
foresight, of vision. brOad-minded men
and thoughtful women who will see -
nay. perhaps have long since seen -
the critical and compelling Importance
of this problem We are directing this
appeal to them. We urge them to com
pare the salaries Of their teachers Will
the wages of those who are doing work
of equal value. There will be chal
lenge in the facts that will stir the
community to action.
Let each community invest in school.
SO that it may thereby invest in a
trained manhood and wonanllOOd that
can play their part in the great period
Of rebuilding and reconstruction that
lies before us. Let each community sci
for it's goal. as far as is practicable, a
| ulAlHfuHl wage VI dI l6tSI %lOUU y CAl
for the teachers of America. Thi.
would cost the nation perhaps as mucl
as we spent so glOriously in but one
week of the Great War.
We are not pleading merely for tht
welfare of some single profession; w
are not pleading for a special class
we are pleading for America: for hel
larger, her brighter. her richer future
for the fulfilment Of her glorious prom
ise. We are pleading for coming rae,
of men and women who shall be quail
fled to make complete the work of Oul
forefathers who founded this natiOl
and dedicated it to liberty. and VIII,
will bring to full fruitiOn the new vic
tories that we have won in freedom
cause. We are pleading for a wide
teaching of the principles. the purpO
seS. and the ideals Of this nation tha
! all men shall know her meaning an,
, shall have equal access to her OppOrtu
mites; that the light Of Americanisll
will so shine that it will flood ever
home. every heart, iii our great land
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