Evening journal., 1919-04-10
Increases Urged in Every Section of the CotyRepots Show
Situation S Serious.
(From School Life)

From every part Of the country come
reports indicating that the nation is at
last becoming aroused TO urged ne
/ cessity for better salaries for teachers.
Teacher shortage Is apparently becom-
ing worse instead of better in many
sections, and some of the States where
it has been impossible TO get any
teachers at all are beginning to real
ize the need for immediate relief.
Some States have already taken more
or less radical action. The Indiana
Legislature has passed an act to make
large increases in salaries over the
State Maryland counties that have
made increases find that the slight in
creases they feel able TO make are not
sufficient to hold any great body Of
teachers, with prices for other forms
Of service remaining as they are. The
New York Legislature has been consid-
ering a number OF measures intended
10 bring relief TO the teachers, but as
yet without result. In Pennsylvania,
where public sentiment has been
aroused 10 an unusual pitch at the
plight Of the teachers, the legislators
and administrative officials have been
studying methods Of raising taxes to
make possible the % per cent. increase
which is considered the least that will
be OF any use.
one Of the striking developments in
recent months has been the sudden
awakening on the part 0f the public as
to the actual pay received by teach
ers. An average salary Of about 5000
over the United Statcs-Which means a
huge number Of positions paying $500
and SiO0 a year and even less-has i'm
pressed business men and labor leaders
alike as a ridiculous amount TO pay for
the fundamental work Of teaching.
Business men in parent-teacher assOci-
atiOns, and also i'm their own OrganlZa-
tions, have been actively promoting
better salaries; and the labor Organiza-
tions, always interested in education,
have been Of powerful assistance in
m0ldng public sentiment in their COM
munities.
The press throughout the country,
almost without exception, IS enthusl-
aslically behind the movement for i'm
mediate raise in salaries. Elsewhere IN
this issue editorial opinions are cited.
The editor of the Wilmington Journal
in leading editorial addressed ITO the
Mean Minded and Tight Fisted," says
that salaries in his State are such as
should "bring the blush Of shame to
the school commissioners. A widely
published article from one Of the best
known syndicates takes for its text i.
p. ScOtt's humorous Introduction to
his series on saiaries-'We beg your
pardon for presuming to discuss so
small a matter"-and has called forth
considerable editorial comment.
In Augusta, Ga. the editor OF the
Herald asks, in large type 'How do
Augusta school teachers live on their
salaries?" and after analyzing the fig
ures carefully concludes that teach
ing school is an expensive luxury"
Wisconsin is one Of the better states
in teachers salaries, but here's what
the editor Of the Educational News
Bulletin finds:
In the first place there is a tremen-
dous shortage Of trained teachers.
From 1912 TO 1916 the State needed $500
new teachers each year. Since many
graduates Of teacher training institu-
tions never teach or teach outside the
State, actual figures showed that 1900
graduates would have been needed TO
get $500 new teachers net But all the
various public Misunderstanding institu-
tiOns in 1916 turned out only 29O0 grad
uates Of all courses or 100 short Of
the number needed. The need for new