Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1920-04-01
LACK OF TEACHERS IN IDAHO

LACK OF TEACHERS IN IDAHO
A most unfortunate condition eI-
lists not only in Idaho schools but all
over the United States. The alarming
feature is that one of the most i'm
portant branches of our national ac-
tiyity, education, is losing its teach
ers rapidly because of the inadequ
acy of remuneration for their efforts
Everyone knows that a person hold
ing a position becomes more profit
cient as the length of term OF his ser
vice extends, but so strong has been
the call to teachers from other
sources and so unattractiye because
of the higkh cost of living and small
salaries has the teaching profession
in the grade schools become, that
out Of $50 positions in southern Ida
no, 391 teachers we're new to their
schools last year II is q situation
that every thinking man and woman
of Idaho must do their best to meet
Lack of Teachers in Idaho.
a survey and summary of the ex-
act situation has recently been made
There is an actual shortage of ap-i
proximately 100 teachers at this time
One hundred and fifty teachers be-
gan their work on permits last fall
and when examinations were taken
172 failed. Are We getting the quality
of men and women into the profess
sion that we should? What must we
do to attract the higher class?
Are the proficient people now
teaching being encouraged to con-
tinue? We are facing a great short
age of teachers, retarGation of pro-
gress. and we may feel sure that few
er applications for places as teachers
are to result from the fact that the
problem has not been properly solved
It seems to me that two fundamen-
tails stand out in the solution. WEI
must give better living conditions
and better salaries. BY better living
conditions it is suggested by those
who have carefully surveyed the sub
ject that the erection of teachers cot
tages and the provision of better
boarding places might meet the issue.
Situation Must Be Met Squarely.
While the salary question will have
to be boldly met, with the complete
understanding of the public that
teachers are like any other workers,
and they must have sufficient income
to meet their necessary and fair e1-
penses.
Unless we attract people who can
pass examinations and give high
class service into the profession in
Idaho it means that the quality of
our schools and the quality of the
future citizenship of our growing
boys and girls will be reduced. Idaho
people have always been intensely in
terested in education. No state in
the union furnishes better buildings
and equipment and the public schools
have received the loyal support of
the population, but buildings and
equipment and the desire to help on
the part of the people will not edu-
cate the children unless the people
themselves meet the two problems
which / have outlined.
Urges Discussion of Subject.
1 would. urge the boards OF educa-
ton to go into their local problems
with great care and Judgment and
put up the facts as they find them in
the most frank way to the voters in
the April elections. My experience
has been that the suffrage of the
people, when they know their subject
through frank discussion. usually
brings solutions that are just and
right to the questions before them.
(Signed) d. W. DAVIS.