New-York tribune., 1920-01-07
Shortage of 5000 Teach
ers, Due to Low Pay,
Forces Children to Get
Education Els ew h ere
Increased Salaries
The Only Remedy
Commissioners of East
ts<4.,
ern States Urge Public
Ito Aid Move for Raises

One thousand rural communities il
New York State have been forced t.
close their schools because of tn,
dexrth Of teachers and send their chill
dren elsewhere to get educations.
More than 400 schools in West Viz
8ania are empty this year becaus,
teachers cannot be obtained.
There is a shortage Of 5000 teachers
IA New York State alone, due to the
assertions from the ranks Of instruc
tors who had opportunities to earn
much more money elsewhere.
attendance at state normal schools
has fallen off from 25 to so per cent
hxoughout the East. The public school
system of tho country-is face to face
With disaster.
These facts were brought out yes
tsrday at conference at the Hotel
Astor attended by Commissioners Of
Edpcation from Maine, New Hampshire.
Vermont. Massachusetts, Rhode Island
New York. New Jersey, Pennsylvania
and West Virginia.
nSaiary Raises Declared Only Remedy
The seriousness of the situation was
discussed at length and it was de-
termined that substantial and imme
dlate increases in teachers salaries
WAS the only sure remedy.
Frank P. Gilbert, Deputy State Com
missioner of Education Of New York.
spoKe OF the need of state aid for
rural schools. In telling of the num-
ber that had been closed he said that
ono immediate result of this was the
increase of the number of abandoned
iarms. Families would not stav in
districts where their children could
not get schooling, he declared.
- West Virginia's plight was described
as desperate" by 81. B. Sharkey, State
superintendent of Education, whe said
snat despite the fact that the state
na0 increased minimum salaries for
teachers 90 per cent desertions from
their ranks were continuing Normal
schools In West Virginia, he said. are
turning out only one-ffth Of the num-
Der OF teachers needed. One teacher,
Mr. Sharkey explained, gave up her
post to run a hotel elevator, because
the pay she deceived from this work
was much higher.
Jersey Women Turn to Business
c. N. Kendall, Commissioner of Edu-
cation in New Jersey, said that the
crisis in his state had been brought
about by the tendency of young women
to take up business rather than teach
ing as a career these days Attend
ance at the normal schools in New Jer-
sey has fallen off 80 per cent, he said.
program was adopted by all those
present, calling the attention of the
pxblic to the situation and urging that
Ifape remedled by the immediate increase
OF teachers salaries to the point where
the profession could compete for mem
befs on the same terms with business.
Education" this says in part, "as
the chief concern of the people related
Closely to them in every social, civic
and industrial enterprise. must have at
once the serious attention of all citizens
tos the end that the compensation of
teachers be established on such
plane as will attract into and hold in
all schools, rural, village and city. COM
petent instructors of youth; that a
high standard of qualification in the
schools be assured; that there be suit
ab!e encouragement to young women
and young men to enter upon the work
Of teaching; that power, initiative and
skiil be retained in supervisory posi-
tjqns.
Citizens Called Upon to Aid
Nv QACeoAoE QEOUlcmS OF Lnc pres
ent time, the settlement of the new
tseues Of the immediate future, demand
from the people that public education
be not permitted to suffer any lapse.
tsis a paramount duty of the local
communities of the state and of the
nation, each in it's appropriate way.
to prepare forthwith to meet the
necessities of q most urgent situation. !"
Those who signed the program
were:
Augustus o. Thomas, State Superin-
tehaent OF Schools, Maine; Payson
Smith, Commissioner of Education.
Massachusetts; e. w. Butterfeld.
Commissioner Of Education. New
Hampshire: C. n. Kendall. Commits
sI0ner of Education. New Jersey:
Frank P. Gilbert, Deputy State Com.
missioner Of Education, New York:
George N. Wiley, assistant to state
Commissioner of Education, New
York; w. D. Lewis, Deputy Superin.
t4ndent Of Public instruction. Penn
sy&yania; Walter E.. Ranger. Comma.
siener OF Education, Rhode Island:
a. B.. Hillegas, Commissioner Of
Education, Vermont, and NJ. P. shaw
Key, State Superintendent of Schools.
West Virginia.