South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-04-28
BEGIN CAMPAIGN
TO SOLVE PUBLIC
SCHOOL PROBLEM
Representative of o. Amer
lean Cities Hold Meet
ing in New York.

NEW YORK. April 2s.-A ma
Honwide campaign 20 measure ser
vice Of teachers. school equipment
and courses Of instruction" so that
every municipality may know now
20 deal with Its public school prob
icm. has been started. Ii was an
nounced here today. ~ a Natt1nnl
Committee composed II secretaries
uf Chambers Of Commerce and sup
eri1tendents OF schools representing
"a American cities
ION the ground that the public
schools OF the United States are fac
Ing a grave crisis due 10 the alleged
need Of $500 100000 10 provide
adequate buildings, and 100000, 900
for raising salaries 10 stop the IN
creasing shortage OF teachers the
National Committee says that IL is
eElist.ng the aid Of Chambers or
Commerce all over the country for
the purpose OF acquainting every
citizen and tax payer with the facts.
Organize Committee
The committee was organized last
February at "a meeting IN Cleveland.
o., called by DR.. George u Strayer
of Columbia university. chairman or
the Commission on Emergency in
Education OF the National Educa-
ton association. and the American
city Bureau. Officers Of the COM
mittee were elected as follows: DR..
Strayer. chairman: Herbert 5. Weet.
Rochester, y. Y, Harold Davidson,
Erie Pa. Fred A. Richardson, sec
rotary. New York; executive com
Inittee. Henry Snyder. Jersey City.
n. J.; Il. G.. Jones, Cleveland, o.; j..
IL Beveridge Omaha, Neb.; Ray
Inond u. Gibbs. Kansas City, Kan;
s. 3. Price. Bridgeport, Conn; +. l..
McColgin. Dayton, o.
The conference decided that the
chambers Of commerce could render
effective aid only upon the basis or
q careful survey Of local school con-
ditions for the purpose Of compari -
them with other cities, the idea be-
ing thereafter 70 enlist all COM
munirN forces for the development
OF the public school system.
Send QuestiOnnaircs.
The first QUESTIONABLE sent TO
chambers Of commerce and super
fntendents Cs schools OF all cities
with a population of 5000 and more
and which will be followed by four
other questionnaires makes the fol-
lowing inquiries: How much train
ing do your teachers have? How
we'll do you pay your school en-
ployes2 What special inducement
do you offer the teachers IN your
schools " Later missionaries will
ask, among other things: How well
do you house your school children
What is your educational program
How adequately do you Safeguard
the children's health2 How much
does education cost your city? How
will the rising cost be met
Carry Out Plans.
The American City Bureau here
which. with Or. Strayer. initiated
and is carrying out the present
plans. announced its desire ito take
the main facts in the present emer-
gency quickly available for those
cities where school problems are
pressing hardest for solution. The
question Of getting high grade teach
ers and school employees. he SAID,
has become more perpleNlnS one
than ever before. May men ana
women it is said, have stopped go
ing 10 normal schools and teachers
colleges to prepare themselves as
pedagogues In round numbers
secretary Richardson said there will
De so percent fewer graduates from
these schools IN the United states
3n 1920 than in 1911.
81. OOC Teachers Short
"The United States is now actual
ly $4,000 short of the number OF
teachers required 10 fill positions
said Mr.. Richardson. This short
age exists after about $1,000 make
shift teachers have been employed;
In other words. the real shortage OF
trained and experienced teachers Is
fully 100. 900, The cost OF living
has increased az least so percent In
the past six years and yet teachers
have had a salary increase OF less
than 30 percent siuce 1914. Build
ing programs also have been held up
bv the war Many communities
have overgrOwn their school plants
and overcrowded halliday sessions,
and the forced use Of portable and
Temporary school buildings have
been evils which cry out for rem
edy."