Evening journal., 1920-02-06
Teachers Salaries in he S XIII Century
lFrom lhe Reylew.l

One OF the advantages or disadyan-
iagos OF classical scholar is that he
is forever reminding us that there IS
little or nothing new under the sun,
and that situations in human society
are constantly repeating themselves
How much benefit accrues from these
reflections IS very much a question.
Certainly teachers and professors can
not derive any too great satisfaction
from the thought that they belong TO
a profession that from earliest times
has not received adequate compensa-
ton; indeed, such a thought may be
entirely disappointing, since blasphem-
ers viii say that II the world has for
a thousand years or more been able 10
secure men and women who Will teach
at absurdly low salaries, IL is prob
able that the world can get along IN
the future without worrying too much
about the justice or even the expe-
diency Of proper compensation. Prob
ably in Ian Hays phrase, the teach
er's calling VIII be for many years 90
come "the most responsible, the least
advertised, the worst paid. and the
most richly rewarded profession in the
world"
It IS also probable that there will
always be men in public life who see
clearly the irony Of the situation and
who make strenuous efforts 10 improve
It, II after all the college drives and
publicity there are anywhere in the
United States men who are stlll reac-
tionaries on this point, would COM
mend TO them The words Of King Atha-
laric 10 the Senate Of the City OF Rome
written shortly before his death, which
took place October >. a. ID, 53i. He be-
gins HIS letter IN a manner familiar 30
all those who have had reason TO adj
dress Boards Of Education, school COM
mitiees. or college trustees: You who
are called Fathers should be interested
in an that concerns the education OF
your sons" lie then goes on to say
what might be repeated today IN New
York or Boston: I'VE hear by certain
whisperngs that The teachers of el0-
quence at Rome are moi receiving
their proper reward" And This is fol
lowed naturally enough by praise OF
what the school accomplishes fshe
common school is the buiWark Of
American Institutions. "Olher nation,
have arms, the lords Of the Romans
alone have eloquence' Accordingly,
the king lays il down that the SEN
ate should support with its full au-
thorily and with generosity the teach
er Of rhetoric and grammar III he be
found suitable for his work and obey
the decrees Of the prefect Of the city
Were there Bosheyists lying loose
about tho Forum, disconnected by rea,
son OF poor pay. one asks?) Apparently
in those days not only were teachers
poorly compensated but they had also
sometimes 10 wait for their pay. Anc
so The king with fine insight writes
"The Grammaran is a man 10 whom
| every hour unemployed IS misery anC
| 70 is a shame that such a man should
| have 10 await the caprice Of a public
! functlonary before he gets his pay
But the most interesting parallel fol
/ lows we are reminded Of train th,
| mind and mind the train" when W,
read further: II we provide geneR
ously salaries for The play-actors VIII,
minister only TO the amusement Of tn
| public, and take pains 20 pay thesl
who are not really necessary, how
much more should we look after thos
who are the moulders Of the style anC
character Of our youthw
Athalaric concludes with the argu
ment, now so familiar, that teachers
cannot do their work II they have tc
worry too much about their salaries
therefore let them not have to try the
! philosophical problem Of thinklne
about two things at onoe; but with
their minds at ease about their subsis-
tence, devote themselves with an theii
might TO the teaching Of liberal arts.
This whole letter Of Athalaric, grand
son Of Theodore the Great, from which
/ these extracts are taken is we'll wortl