The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-04-14
PAY FOR TEACHERS.

" HARTMAN sELIGMAN Of the democratic state committee, In
cuustieaiy % DE failure Of thr republican state administration
20 inlude better pay for school teachers in the business Of the recent
timed ~ that il was made just the day before what IS at least a
Mr. Wagner. and The attorney generals office
school superintendent holds that when the statate says a maximum
Of loo a year for New Mexico school teachers ii means what it says
and not pay for q school term only, as has heretofore been the IN
depreciation In !his conclusion The sehool. superintendent is sur,
seems 20 be very complete in its findings
II This interpretation Of the law is permitted to stand the result
will be immediate relief for hundreds Of New Mexico school teachers
who have been miseraby nnderpaid and who, under the existing
living costs. have had a bitter struggle e make ends come anywhere
near meeting Chairman seligman and his partisans being enihusi
asiieals IN favor Of better pay for the school teachers, certainly viii
been reached By republican officials. Tie object sought by every
one. without a doubt, is justice for the faithful school teachers OF
The Herald regarded the failure Of Governor Larrazlo to in.
elade the teachers salary question in his call for the special session
Of the assembly. ~ unfortunate. We said so at the time II appears
now that the solution reached by superintendent Wagner was being
considered by the attorney generals office at that time aud if the
governor was then aware Of the probable early solution of the prob
lem, our criticism was perhaps hasty even though ms assurance to
include the salary question in the call had been given to the committee
Of the state teachers association.
However this may be, the solution reached IS helpful and will
bridge the situation very well until the next regular Legislative SEES
state to retain the services Of a great inany highly valuable men aud
women who otherwise would go seeking positions 50 easily 10 be
this time. The fact should not be lost sight Of that this solution is
feaehers must be taken up and dealt with by The Legislature. broadly
and generously and with the sole object Of securing and MAINTAINING
rompetent tcaehers IN It's public schools, and nowhere in our schools
Is this need greater than IN the primary grades OF all the schools and
IL an grades Of the rural schools
Both Of the political parties, If they are wise, will include IN
their platforms of the coming campaign, planks favorng justice m
fhe matter of pay for teachers and plcdging their nominees Tor legs
lative positions to stand for proper adjustment at the earliest posi-
BILE moment. Il is a question not only Of justice 10 the men and wo-
men who have stayed on the job through the long period of made.
qaate pay; but it $ also a matter OF justice to our children VINO are
entitled to the very best that can be given them in school room
scrvre.
From a somewhat close knowledge Of his work and hs aims,
The Herald feels safe IN saying that School Superintendent wagner,
in his efforts 20 secure adequate pay for teachers, has not been in
spired By any political objective whatever. Mr.. Wagner has never
permitted politics TO enter the state department Of education. He
has often been the determining influence in barring politics there
from. Moreover, under the fool provision Of our constitution which
limits the period Of service Of a competent official Of the state TO two
terms Of two years each. Mr.. Wagner Is automatically retired from
any state official candidacy. He Us out Of politics. His work IN this mat
ter aud in all matters connected with the department of education has
been singularly unselfsh and exceptionally efficient. No one is more
fully aware of this than the chairman of the democratic state com
mitiee, Mr.. Seligman
II may be said further, in this connection, that whatever party
or political leader undertakes 10 make partisan thunder out Of this
question Of adequate pay for New Mexico school teachers viii find
That he has opened up a notably unhappy line Of noise The organ
lied teachers Of New Mexico, while remaining faithfully on then
Jobs. are in deadly earnest about this matter of pay that will permit
them 10 eat regularly, wear decent clothes and put an occasional
dollar into the savings bank. Also the general run of fathers aud
mothers throughout the state are equally interested in seeing justice
done TO the teachers ON one hand and to their children ON the other
Any effort 10 extract partisan political advantage out Of this situation
will not get any leader Of either party anywhere except to the scraT
heap.
In the meantime we congratulate the teachers Of the state on
having STAYED off the wolf until permanent relief can come, and ahC
the men who have found a way 10 do the STAYING.