South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-01-24
INCREASING TEACHERS SALARIES
WITHOUT THE MONEY.

Incident TO the local agitation, and demands for
an increase of pay for school teachers might be
well to stop and consider in connection thar neither
the agitation the demand is For years
there has been discussion. some of il animated,
some of it desutory. and much Of useless involy-
ing this subject 40 outside the teachers
themselves has champioued The necessity. nor adj
vocated better pay for the school teachers more
Vigorously than has The News-Times ever since
the present editorship-even at times standing
quite alone. and taking Iublic condemnation for
IAN advocacy OF public eNtravasance." as other
publications in the local field termed IT, while them
selves incidentally refusing print signed
muuicatons from educators pleading for such sail
AIRY inReases.
Speaking somewhat therefore. in the capacity
of pioneers in the champonlng of the cause OF
the teachers not opportunists of that moment.
nor sobber-jacks of now-for the sake of gaining
temporary popularity.-our disposition is TO as
what feel in the light of the present and
IT, In the best interests of the teaching pro
fession. of the schools and of The Public.
school teaching is the nobIest. most important
and highly serviceable pro fesSon oH earth-and we
do not except the clergy They should be paid sal
aries consistent with that nobility Importance and
height of public service and that soIary should be
paid them regularly stHL when the board OF edu-
cation considering the tax levy for the cornin@
year. and the extent of bonding possibilities
submitted its teachers contracts for 191s-ts2O
with salaries stated. and had them accepted. it
had right 10 anticipate the aggregate those
salaries constituting am item in its budget The
board at least placed a position that
served approach from the teachers ON the basis
Of unantoipated hardships aoerung TO them rather
than Of organized insstence with covert threats
school disruT tion lurking around the corner,
plainly the original attitude the more hot
headed. To the great credit the teachers they
did not show any such disposition at their meeting
with the school board They listened TO what the
board had TO say and showed splendid Judgment
leaving the matter open TO further negotiation.
Which doesn't mean that The negotiations should
stop there by any They should kept alive
for purposes of agitation and education OF the pub
lie. II nothing more quite Commissioner Drum
mond put it. South Bend needs 10 learn what ii is
up against this school problem with the popu-
lation increasing at such rapid rate as now. And
the only way the public can learn viii be to keer
hammering it in Everybody agrees ON yes. that the
teachers are underpaid. ana that the immediate
future has in store ms an insistent demand for
more school houses. solution
he problem not al han d. Legislators and national
state and local officials AN ia quandary They
TO meet the situation but how TO do il with
failing back the taxpayer for the means
he dear taxpayer. YOU know. who is always Ions
public doing every thing until II time
or him 20 help pay the bills the big stump that
favor Of more and better school houses and bet