The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-01-28
SCHOOL TEACHERS
ARE UNDERPAID
Mr.. L. D. Jennings Takes the
Position That Sumter Should
Pay Fair Salaries
Editor Daily Item:

Editor Daily Item:
notice in your issue of the 18th
that the teachers have requested ar
increase in their salaries, and have
given their reasons for. the increase.
1t does not need argument to con-
vince any right thinking person that
their request should be cheerfully
granted; in fact, the request is very
reasonable.
Our teachers render the basic SER
vice for all civilization and are the
poorest paid and apparently least ap-
preciated benefactors of the human
race. They with our children
from the age of six to twenty-one
they, in large part, shape the lives of
our citizenship; yet this same citizen
ship seems not to have appreciated
services which it received. do not
believe that our citizenship in Sumter
is unwilling to recognize and appre-
ciate the services rendered by our
teachers, but I feel that the reason
something has not been done hereto
fore along these lines is because Of
the fact that the matter was not call
ed directly to the attention of the peo-
pie.
Our teachers have never been prop
erly compensated They are less COM
pensated now, comparatively speak
ing, tran heretofore. As general rule,
living expenses have more than dou-
bled, while the salaries Of teachers
have not increased more than II per
cent. Notwithstanding the fact that
almost all Of those persons engaged
in business have been prosperous and
their percentage Of increase Of profits
has equalled, if not exceeded, the in
crease in the cost Of their living.
I do not believe our people realize
he scant salaries our teachers are re-
ceiving. The minimum salary is 1910
for the II months. a monthly salary
Of $3.50, while they state that the
expense of board, including table
board, room rent. fuel and laundry,
averages $50 per month, or $500 per
year, which would only leave s210 for
other expenses, such as clothing.
medical and dental treatment, and
other incidental expenses.
When you stop and think about
this salary for teacher who has to
buy everything, I do not believe there
is a single citizen, unless he is q miser
Or money-worshipcr, who would not
be willing to pay whatever additional
taxes that may be necessary to grant
these teachers request, and which
will only give them a bare living
wage at best, because that which
they are now receiving is nothing
more than a starvation wage, and
their request is only for a minimum
salary of $1,000 for. the IL months,
which is exceedingly reasonable.
I am satisfied our school board
would be more than glad to grant
their request, but the board cannot do
so unless the people will furnish the
funds with which to pay. It does
seem that our legislature in the past
has made it very cumbersome for the
people to express themselves on the
question of paying more taxes for
education. In the first place, they
have limited the number Of mills that
the people may vote for educational
purposes. This, it seems to me, ought
to be repealed, as the people in any
school district should have the right
to vote any amo mt Of taxes that they
deem wise for the education of their
children.
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